Adelaide forward Lachlan Murphy says he has “fallen in love with the Crows” over his six-year journey at West Lakes.
The 24-year-old signed a two-year contract extension over the weekend, tying him to the Club until at least the end of 2025.
Murphy has featured in the AFL side on 18 occasions this season, and averaged 14.7 disposals and 2.7 tackles per game.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Murphy said he was “honoured” to be able to continue his career at the Crows.
“I’m rapt and honoured to be able to keep playing for this footy club,” Murphy said.
“I honestly have fallen in love with the Crows and to be able to continue my career and keep working on my game is something I’m really grateful for.
“Over Christmas and the off-season I was in the twos and leading up to Round One I wasn’t picked there, they just wanted me to prove my worth and get back in the side.
“So I’m proud of the way I handled that period and happy I’ve been able to contribute to some wins this year.”
Murphy’s journey to the AFL differs from most.
After initially missing out on being drafted, he moved to Adelaide to take up an opportunity with the Crows’ SANFL side and was rookie listed by the Club at the end of 2017 after an impressive State League campaign.
“Everyone has a different journey, there is no real right or wrong way to get here,” Murphy said.
“I am probably someone that reflects as I go, and I always think back to the first day I walked in here as a SANFL top-up with braces and mullet. I also crashed the company car on my third day.
“So I often look back and think this really could have gone pear-shaped, and to be able to stick through it all and forge a career which will now be at least seven years.
“I am quite proud of that.”
The Crows kept their finals hopes alive on Saturday night with a convincing 47-point win over Port Adelaide in Showdown 54.
He said the performance showed that Adelaide’s best football was capable of getting it to its first finals appearance since 2017.
“The four quarter effort we put in on Saturday was fantastic, personally I felt we had control of the game for all four quarters and just in sync as a team which was great,” Murphy said.
“We are still a big chance (to play finals) and I think it is pretty clear now that this year our best footy is good enough.
“The reality is now we are in a position where we have to bring it every week to be a chance, so it’s a fantastic opportunity for us leading into this last month of footy.”
