Adelaide forward Lachlan Murphy is still waiting to wake up from this dream he’s living.

A member of the Club’s SANFL Development Squad last year, Murphy was told he had a “five per cent chance” of being picked up the Crows in last year’s AFL Rookie Draft.

Fast forward four months, the driven teenager has already played two AFL games after being called with the Club's last live selection in the rookie meet.

“I’ve done a bit of reflection on it, (the past) 12 months from being a (SANFL) top-up player, to finishing out the season and (deciding) whether I’d come back (to the Crows), or go to the VFL or local footy.

“I put in the work and it’s just unreal to be where I am now.

“I go home every night and just think how lucky I am to be able to play in the AFL.

“It was once a dream and now it’s becoming a reality.”

Murphy won the Dean Bailey Award as Adelaide’s best and most dedicated SANFL development player last season after relocating from Melbourne.

The 19-year-old played mostly as a rebounding small defender, ranking second at the Club for intercept possessions behind League leader Tom Doedee.

In 2016 when he was overlooked in the draft, Murphy played as an inside midfielder in the TAC Cup, winning the Northern Knights best and fairest award from just 10 games.

But Crows coach Don Pyke identified the skilful left-footer, who kicked two goals in the final round of the SANFL season, as a small forward capable of filling the role played by Charlie Cameron.

“I don’t know how ‘Pykey’ saw me as a forward because I didn’t play there at all last year. He must’ve seen something at training, I don’t know,” Murphy said.

“From day one of the pre-season, I’ve been training as a forward.

“When you’ve got Eddie Betts down there telling you what to do it becomes a little bit easier.”

On debut, Murphy put two kicks through the big sticks against Essendon.

Unfortunately, the first was overturned after a score review showed the ball had been touched.

His second goal was also reviewed, but given the benefit of the doubt and awarded six points.

On Thursday night, Murphy kicked two goals in a minute to give Adelaide a 14-point lead in the second quarter. 

“It was a bit of an anti-climax (last week), wasn’t it? That’s 2018 for you with all the modern technology!” he said with a laugh.

“It was great to be out there again (on Thursday night) and kick a couple of goals that weren’t sent upstairs (to be reviewed).

“Other than last week, the biggest crowd I would’ve played in front of was a few thousand people.

“To have 43,000 last week and nearly 50,000 people here tonight, and to kick a goal and have everyone screaming and clapping for you is a phenomenal feeling.”

The score reviews last week deprived Murphy of the opportunity to fully celebrate his first AFL goal.

But he more than made up for it on Thursday night, giving an animated fist-pump and pointing to the adoring Adelaide Oval crowd.

Coach Don Pyke said the enthusiasm of Murphy, and fellow second-gamers Tom Doedee and Darcy Fogarty had a flow-on effect.

“That’s the beauty of playing young players, they come with a real energy and excitement about playing AFL footy,” Pyke said post-game.

“You could see it in their eyes … and Lachie Murphy’s celebration after a couple of his goals, he was enjoying being out here in front of another great Adelaide crowd.”

Lachlan Murphy celebrates a goal on Thursday night

Murphy’s mini-celebration after a goal against the Bombers involved waving his hand under his chin.

To the majority of onlookers it was random and a little odd, but the fun-loving Crow explained the ‘secret’ behind it.

“I copped a fair bit of feedback about it!” he said.

“It was just a bit of a secret with Mitch McGovern going on, The Little Rascals.

“Tonight, I thought Riley Knight’s out of the team so I have to cover his absence with a bit of a chainsaw.

“He can thank me later.”

The gesture from the movie 'The Little Rascals' that inspired Murphy's celebration last week

A proud and relieved Murphy described the feeling on the final siren against Richmond as surreal.

He savoured his first AFL win on the ground with his teammates before hastily making his way down to the change rooms, not realising the players were to take part in a ball presentation before walking off together.

“I wandered down the race to find out that no one was here and everyone was looking at me like I’m an idiot!” he said.

“It wasn’t my greatest moment.”