Essendon Football Club will get the best of Justin Murphy – that was the promise the 27-year-old made to coach Kevin Sheedy this morning. Essendon has completed its second deal of trade week with Cory McGrath traded to the Blues in exchange for Murphy. “I know I have plenty of football left in me and coming to a great club and a good side will really bring the best out in me,” Murphy said after the trade was completed.

“It (a trade to Essendon) nearly eventuated in 2002 and I said that when I met with Kevin (Sheedy) this morning. I’ve always enjoyed playing against Essendon, it is a great club with great people and it will be an honour to play for them. I am pretty close with Matthew Allan so it will be good to have a friend at the club.

“I met with Mark Harvey and Adrian Dodoro a couple of weeks ago and I suppose they would like me to slot into the midfield somewhere – I suppose just carry the ball and dispose of it well. That would be my main role.

“My best mate followed Essendon when I grew up and we would go and watch them – I saw them win the 1993 Premiership and I have always had a great respect for the club. You always wanted to play well against Essendon because it was a measure of how good a player you were.""

Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy is confident Murphy can do a job for the Bombers. “We lost a goal-kicking midfielder in Blake Caracella and I think Murphy is that type of player,” Sheedy said. “He’ll fit into the midfield mix for us.”