Murphy has declared he's ready to return, yet senior coach Brett Ratten wasn't so sure.
“He’s not a lock in,” Ratten said.
“He was out on the track, but we’ll just have to wait and see how he pulls up and what the risk is to play him. We think he’s heading in the right direction, but we’ll make a call after today and we’ll see how he goes Thursday before we select him in the team or out of the team.”
With North Melbourne's key position players sure to cause headaches for Carlton, Jarrad Waite and Lachie Henderson would have been welcome inclusions.
According to Ratten, Waite is 'still another week away', while Henderson is touch-and-go.
“I think most of these boys have just got back into the program, whether it’s straight line skills or some game simulation work. It’s nearly a session by session assessment of those players and we’ll have to keep going down that path.”
With Shaun Hampson sidelined, Robbie Warnock would have been the logical replacement. However, he is facing a rough conduct charge in the VFL and may be ineligible to take his place in the Carlton line-up this Friday.
North Melbourne v Carlton
Friday July 13, 7.50pm
Etihad Stadium
