As a tall 18-year-old, Len Murphy was desperate to join his older brother Frank in the Collingwood colours.

Despite being four years younger, Murphy was nine centimetres taller than his brother and a ready-made ruckman when he joined the Magpies in 1928.

Prior to his debut, he was a talented junior for VFA side Williamstown and had been approached to join Essendon.

The lure of family, as well as the guidance of legendary coach Jock McHale was enough to see Murphy become a Collingwood player.

It was here where he quickly forged his path as a strong and powerful forward and ruckman.

At 189cm tall, he played 19 games in his first season, before adding another 16 (and kicking 24 goals) in 1929.

A third consecutive premiership came the following year, as Murphy completed three seasons any other young player could only dream of.

While Murphy’s professional football career would continue for another 11 years, 1930 would be the last time he would taste premiership success.

A shoulder injury kept him out of Collingwood’s 1935 Grand Final victory, before an eight match suspension prematurely ended his 1936 season.

He watched from the sidelines as the Magpies defeated South Melbourne by 11 points in the season decider.

At the conclusion of the 1937 season, Murphy departed Collingwood, as a result ending a 13-year association between the Magpies and the Murphy family.

Tonight it is an association that is celebrated and remembered. After three premierships, life membership and two top-three finishes in Collingwood’s Best and Fairest, Len Murphy is now a member of the prestigious Hall of Fame.