Nick Murray (footballer)

Murray is the younger brother of Sam Murray, who played 13 AFL matches for Collingwood before Murray began his career.^[1] He is also the older brother of Toby Murray, who is currently listed as a rookie for Adelaide.^[2] As a junior, Murray played 21 games for the Murray Bushrangers in the NAB League across the 2017 and 2018 seasons, becoming the team's co-captain.^[1][3] He became a member of the Greater Western Sydney Giants academy and played eight games for the Giants' reserves team in 2019 as a key defender^[1][4] and also played seven matches with Wangaratta Rovers in 2019.^[5]

Murray was overlooked in the 2019 AFL draft, then signed a contract to play for Williamstown in the Victorian Football League in 2020.^[6] Murray played for Williamstown in two practices matches against Port Melbourne Football Club and Footscray, but the 2020 VFL season was cancelled without a game being played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[7][8] Murray returned home to play for Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong in the AFL Riverina Championship, where he was one of the standout performers. He predominantly played at centre-half-forward during the season and kicked 12 goals from seven games.^[9] His season came to an end when he injured his collarbone in a final.^[a] After he recovered from this injury, he did some pre-season training for 2021 with the Wangaratta Rovers.^[6]

Murray was overlooked for the second year in a row in the 2020 AFL draft, but in December while working at a family friend's farm he was invited to train with the Adelaide Football Club.^[10] Adelaide had one spot left open on their list and, unable to decide between Murray and their own delisted player Ayce Taylor, the club decided to give the two players the opportunity to train with the rest of the team during the pre-season to decide which player would join the team's list.^[6] Murray won out and signed a rookie contract with the team on 7 March 2021 as part of the pre-season supplemental selection period.^[11] Murray played in two pre-season games against Port Adelaide but was unavailable to make his debut in round one.^[9] In round two, less than three weeks after he officially joined Adelaide's list, Murray made his AFL debut against Sydney at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he tagged four-time Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin.^[11][12] Former Adelaide player Stephen Rowe said of Murray's rise to the AFL: "It is remarkable. I doubt there will be a bigger football debut story than this one. Three weeks ago not on a list, six months ago playing for a 'buckle wheel league'. And now he's playing Buddy [Franklin]..."^[12]

Alongside fellow rookie Jordon Butts, Murray became an important part of the Crows' backline. In July, after playing just eight AFL games, the Crows gave him a two-year contract extension to keep him at the club until the end of 2023.^[3][11][13] Through the 2021 season, Murray played for Adelaide in a total of thirteen games, averaging nearly six spoils per game.^[11]

When Tom Doedee ruptured his ACL in round 12, 2023 against Gold Coast,^[14] Murray became Adelaide's first-choice key defender. He excelled in the role, becoming one of the highest-rated players in his role across the competition, until he himself ruptured his ACL in round 19 against Melbourne.^[15] His injury ended his season, opening the door for Mark Keane and James Borlase to make their club debuts. Murray's younger brother Toby was invited to play with Adelaide's SANFL squad following the 2023 season,^[16] and in May 2024, Toby was drafted as a rookie in the mid-season draft.^[2] Nick made his return to football through the SANFL where he played two games alongside his brother, and finally returned to the AFL for round 14 against Sydney. At the conclusion of the season, Murray swapped his 28 guernsey number for 9, recently vacated by club legend Rory Sloane.^[17]

Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.^[18]