And just like that an era ended.

Robert Murphy arrived at the Kennel way back in 1999, and Matthew Boyd two years later in the 2001 Rookie Draft. 

Many have come and gone since, but as two men who will loom large over the club for many years to come it was somehow fitting that they finished together.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Boyd, Murphy and retiring Hawk Luke Hodge were chaired off before 48,000-plus fans at Etihad Stadium last night.

Statistics don’t do either career justice, although there’s some pretty good ones, but it’s the legacy that they’ve left behind that could be their greatest gift to the club.

Luke Beveridge was asked about the void left by players of this calibre stepping away at the same time, and the coach was full of optimism largely because of the way the two players have guided their teammates over the years.

“One of the great things that Boydy and Murph has done is that they’ve bridged their teammates into that space and now the likes of Jason Johannisen and Lachie Hunter… we know how much of an outstanding leader Easton Wood is, Marcus Bontempelli will continue to step up, Dale [Morris] will probably go on and they’ll be some other players who will be candidates to fill that leadership space [like] Jordan Roughead, he said.

“So in one way it’s really exciting, I’m optimistic they’re going to form a different constitution, I suppose but we need all of our players to fly that flag.”

And with that, it was all over. The Murphy family will now be test driving Winnebago’s for the long promised holiday up the coast, and Boyd will probably be up early in the morning to go for a run.

But the future has never been brighter at the Bulldogs, thanks in no small part to the contribution of those two men.