WESTERN Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy has opened up about his struggles last year supporting his teammates while battling the personal pain of being sidelined by injury.

The Dogs broke a 62-year premiership drought by winning the 2016 flag, but did it without their skipper, who suffered a season-ending injury to his left knee in round three.

"I knew straight away (how serious the injury was)… that's the game, that's probably the end of the season, that's probably the end of the career and that's no premiership,” Murphy said in the fifth episode of The Chase video series.

He had to be mindful not to mope or be an anchor to "a group that was just flying and bouncing on top of a wave".

"No way I was going to be the sad guy and bring any of that down and halt some of that momentum," Murphy said.

"That took a bit of energy, being that leader of the footy club, and then at home it would all fall apart … I'm a lucky man that my wife [Justine] is an incredibly strong, brave woman and she nursed me through it.

"It wasn't easy, but that was my role … to have a quiet word to the players, put an arm around them and put them at ease as best I could. But they were going to war, a football battle, and I wasn't going with them. All I could do was wave them off at the pier."

Murphy, 35, said he was well aware "the chance of glory is running out", and decided to play on this season for a chance to win a flag.

"There is a definitive line on the 22 players – those that played [in 2016], and then there's the rest of us. To witness the bond they now shared … I want that experience. That's what I work for ... what I get out of bed every morning for."