Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has hailed skipper Bob Murphy's "monumental" comeback ahead of his 300th AFL game.
Murphy is set to become one of just six active players to reach the milestone when the Bulldogs face Brisbane at the Gabba next Saturday.
It's a special achievement for any player but it will come with extra significance for 34-year-old Murphy, considering how close he came to calling it quits.
After tearing his anterior cruciate ligament early in the 2016 season, Murphy was forced to witness the Bulldogs' drought-breaking premiership triumph from the sidelines.
By that stage, he had already vowed to continue his career but only after coming close to hanging up his boots.
Few would have held it against him considering how difficult it is for any player to come back from a knee reconstruction, let alone a veteran.
But ahead of his 35th birthday in June, Murphy has been simply outstanding in his AFL return.
Once a half-back stalwart, Murphy has been swung forward throughout games and proven to be a damaging link-up player.
He was kept mostly in the backline during the Bulldogs' three-point Good Friday victory over North Melbourne but still had plenty of impact, finishing with 24 touches, six inside-50s and a goal.
"At the start of this year he's played different roles and still been a very, very good player," Beveridge said.
"Tonight he settled and just played across that backline. We're fortunate to have him back in this capacity.
"All things going well, he plays his 300th game next week which is an incredible achievement ... to think that you claw your way back as a 34-year-old from an ACL injury and play at the top level.
"To play at this level again and then to be playing his 300th is a monumental effort."
Murphy will join Hawthorn's Shaun Burgoyne, St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt, West Coast's Drew Petrie and Sam Mitchell and Adelaide's Scott Thompson on the 300-game list.
Essendon's James Kelly (296) and Brendon Goddard (292) and Gold Coast star Gary Ablett (291) are among those in line to reach the milestone this season.
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