Adelaide has signed emerging tall defender Nick Murray as a rookie for the 2021 season.

The 20-year-old was overlooked in the past two drafts but has earned his spot on an AFL list after impressing since joining the Crows for pre-season training in January.

After playing in both pre-season games against Port Adelaide, he joins Adelaide’s list via the AFL’s pre-season supplemental selection period which closes on Tuesday.

Murray hails from southern New South Wales and played eight games as a key defender in Greater Western Sydney’s reserves side in 2019.

Last year the former Murray Bushrangers co-captain was planning to play with Williamstown in the VFL before Covid-19 hit and he returned to NSW where he played mainly as a forward for Ganmain Grong Grong Matong in the Riverina Football League, booting 12 goals from seven games including a bag of four against the Wagga Tigers.

“We’re delighted to have Nick at the Club and now officially on the list,” Adelaide General Manager List Management and Strategy Justin Reid said.

“He has been on our radar for some time and in January we had the opportunity to bring him to the Club and see him on a daily basis while training with the rest of the squad and he hasn’t put a foot wrong.

“Nick is a versatile player and has been training as a key defender and that’s the role we see him developing into.”