He made his AFL debut against Sydney in Round Two, just 18 days after arriving at the Crows, and had his contract extension announced mid-air - but those two moments aren’t Nick Murray’s favourite of 2021.
Murray’s best moment of the Crows’ season came in Round 10; the one-point triumph over eventual grand finalists Melbourne.
“That was unbelievable and the best footy experience I’ve had in my whole life,” Murray said.
Speaking to AFC Media post-season, Murray reflected on his whirlwind first year at West Lakes.
Hailing from southern New South Wales, Murray joined the Crows’ list as a rookie via the AFL’s pre-season supplemental selection period.
The backman went on to play 13 games and averaged 5.6 spoils - a far cry from where he was last year playing for Ganmain Grong Grong Matong in the Riverina Football League and working on a family friend’s farm.
Murray signed a two-year contract with the Club in July and a flight attendant announced the news to the team on the way to Melbourne ahead of the match against Essendon.
The 20-year-old said he was pleased to be staying at the Club for at least another two years and hoped to get even better next season.
“My debut was a very surreal experience,” Murray said.
“Coming from where I was last year, I wasn’t sure if the dream was ever going to become a reality but to play in Round Two was unbelievable and I’ll never forget it.
“I had my airpods in and when they called me over the speaker on the plane and I was like, ‘What have I done wrong?’
“Then it ended up saying I had extended my contract.
“I’ve loved my time in Adelaide and I want to build a big career here.”
Murray said he was thinking about helping out on a farm in SA during the off-season, but was looking forward to coming back bigger and better ahead of 2022.
“Pre-season will just be about getting my body right and putting on another couple of kilos of muscle, working on my running, getting my fitness up to the level and hopefully playing every game next year,” Murray said.
