Murray repays Magpies’ faith
COLLINGWOOD’S mystery trade continues to prove early doubters wrong with unheralded acquisition Sam Murray landing the Round 3 Rising Star nomination.
The Magpies have now earned at least one Rising Star nomination every year since 1998, with every other club enduring two at least two empty seasons.
The Pies approached the Sydney rookie last October after scouting Murray’s standout form in the NEAFL and landed the halfback dasher for a swap of draft picks.
Based on current ladder order, the Magpies acquired Murray by sliding down from draft pick 23 to No.48 in this year’s draft.
According to the AFL’s points index, the Pies have lost the equivalent of about pick 37.
Murray, 20, asked the Swans for a trade to open up senior opportunities after two years on their rookie list.
The Magpies were the perfect fit with coach Nathan Buckley searching for a rebounding backman. The Henty kid debuted in Round 1 and is averaging 418m gained for the Pies.
“He definitely has a crack, doesn’t he?” Buckley said.
“He won’t be pushed back off a mark and when he sees the door ajar he pushes his way through it.
“We love the way he takes the game on. He definitely breaks the lines for us, which is handy.”
Murray was overlooked by TAC Cup Murray Bushrangers and developed at Wodonga Raiders in the Ovens and Murray league under former Swan Daryn Creswell. The Swans drafted Murray as a forward with pick 66 in the 2015 rookie draft.
Magpies recruiter Derek Hine reacted angrily to criticism of the deal last year. “Everyone can smash it [taking Murray],” he said. “But they don’t know him. They’ve got no understanding of the player or the rules.”