FORMER Henty premiership player, Sam Murray, has been traded to one of Australia’s most famous sporting clubs – Collingwood.
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Murray, who has spent the last two seasons with the Sydney Swans, has been targeted by the Magpies as a running back man.
It was a move from attack to defence that has reignited the left footer’s career after Swans reserves coach Rhyce Shaw promoted his transition with Swans reserves.
Murray, after a slow start to the NEAFL season, hit his straps once moved into defence and capped off a wonderful season by making the NEAFL team of the year.
He averaged 22 possessions a game and it was his form that caught the eye of the Magpies ahead of him being traded last week.
Murray, who was picked up from Wodonga Raiders in the 2015 rookie draft at No 66, is yet to play a senior AFL game.
He will start pre-season training on November 6.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed with the opportunity to go to Collingwood,” he said.
“They have been a powerhouse club, not so much on the field for the past couple of years, but always with its supporter base.”
Collingwood recruiting manager Derek Hine said Murray’s ability to break the lines from defence would make him an asset.
“Sam is a product of a great football system at Sydney, and is a player we identified as filling a key need on our list as a skilful defender who takes the game on,” Hine said.
Murray averaged 22 possessions this season.
Another footballer with ties to Henty, Iilish Ross, has also been snapped up by Collingwood’s AFL Women’s team, going at pick 13 in the AFLW draft.
“I was very nervous, I had spoken to a couple of clubs, but anything can happen on draft day,” Ross said.
“Collingwood was keen leading up to it and I had a couple of conversations with them, so they were the club I wanted to go to.”
Ross is a motorcycle champion in her own right, becoming the first female to win in a male class when she competed at the Australian Junior Long Track Championships in 2013.
Former premiership teammate of Murray’s at Harrison Macreadie just completed his first season of AFL with Carlton.
Murray was recruited by Wodonga Raiders following the Swampies premiership in 2014. Murray finished in the top three of the O and M Football League best and fairest that year.
