It’s the draft dream Ollie Murphy (very) occasionally allows himself to ponder.
The East Brighton Vampires and Sandringham Dragons product, by his own admission, is “a huge Saints fan” after following in the footsteps of his St Kilda-mad dad.
Murphy also models his game on St Kilda vice-captain and 2023 AFL All-Australian Callum Wilkie.
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The Saints have two first-round selections in this year’s draft: Picks 13 and 21, which will almost certainly be pushed back several spots due to bids on Suns academy prospects and, highly likely, two father-sons. Murphy, too, is in the middle to late first-round mix.
While rival clubs spoken to by foxfooty.com.au believe the Saints are looking at run and class between the arcs, St Kilda ultimately has two first-round selections, meaning it can address that speed need while also addressing a list chasm early in the draft. And the Saints just delisted key defenders Oscar Adams and Tom Highmore.
So considering all that, what would it be like for Murphy to be drafted to the club he’s passionately supported all his life? And train and play beside his favourite player?
“That’d be amazing,” Murphy told foxfooty.com.au at last month’s AFL draft combine.
“It’d be a lifelong dream, but I can’t get too ahead of myself. I could be anywhere.
“But if it was, I couldn’t put words to it.”
Murphy got a brief yet whirlwind glimpse into Saints life at the combine when he was interviewed by a St Kilda panel, which included coach Ross Lyon.
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“Oh, for me especially, it was just nerve-racking,” Murphy said of his Saints and Lyon encounter. “I didn’t want to say a bad word. It was a bit scary.
“He made a few comments, I think he corrected me a couple of times – but I was kind of expecting that.”
The fact Murphy is being touted as a possible first-round pick this year is remarkable as he entered 2023 as a relative unknown.
“Considering going into the year I didn’t really have that much expectations, I’m pretty grateful and happy that I’m fortunate I’m actually in this position right now,” Murphy said.
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“Looking back and seeing all the people who have helped me throughout this year – it’s not just me, it’s the resources around me like my friends and family – it’s not possible without them.
“I hoped I was going to be an AFL player (at the start of this year), but how true that was I don’t really know. I wasn’t really involved in anything like Metro hub or AFL Academy. My hopes were high because I knew I’d put in the work and I thought I had some talent, but I knew it was a long year ahead of me.”
After playing as a key forward and second ruck for the Dragons as a bottom-ager in 2022, Murphy surged towards the top-end of many draft boards this season, thriving in a new tall defensive role.
The 18-year-old starred in the back 50 for Sandringham during the early rounds of the Coates Talent League, impressing with his athleticism, aerial competitiveness and composure with ball in hand. That earned him a call-up to the Vic Metro squad.
And it was at the national championships where Murphy truly caught the eye, claiming Metro’s MVP award and earning All-Australian selection after averaging 11.2 disposals, 4.5 marks and 4.0 rebound 50s per match. One of his more impressive games was against the Allies where he did a great job on Suns academy star Jed Walter – after being moved onto him after quarter-time – while also finishing with 10 touches and five marks.
“At the start of the champs, I was just grateful to play the first game and from then on I just tried to play some good footy. I was pretty fortunate to get the MVP. There were a lot of good candidates there up for it, so I definitely take it,” he said.
“I think I just put the head down and got to work. When I started playing some good games, the confidence builds up … and the confidence just to keep playing consistently good footy. I think that’s brought me up a bit – and a lot of hard work.”
Murphy credits his parents, as well as Dragons coach Rob Harding – “he’s one of the nicest people, you could go up to him at 2 o’clock at night and he’d still answer questions without complaint” – for his rapid rise.
But he’s also grateful for the “good life lessons and good football lessons” from Calder Cannons coach Andrew Sturgess, who was Metro’s backline coach this year.
“He taught me a lot … Just not giving up when it gets tough,” Murphy said.
“There were a lot of times in the Metro carnival where I’d be under the pump – their midfield is beating us, their forward line is beating us – but just ‘don’t get too ahead of yourself and stay imposed’ was what he told me.”
While Murphy probably didn’t kick on as significantly as recruiters expected after the championships, he still played a key role in the Dragons’ Coates Talent League premiership, highlighted by his 18-disposal, seven-mark display against the Geelong Falcons in the preliminary final. He then ran a personal best 2km time trial at the combine (6:18)
Murphy should still be on the board by the time the Saints pick, but clubs like Adelaide, Geelong, Sydney and North Melbourne could also look at the key defensive product.
“I’m not going to come off the field with more than 15 touches, but that’s not my role. It’s intercept marking, spoiling, one-on-ones and stopping my man from kicking a goal. It’s just aerial competitiveness and endurance,” he said.
“I like to use my strengths across four quarters and putting my body on the line.”
All of those traits also helped Wilkie gain maiden AFL All-Australian selection in 2023 – and Murphy was watching closely.
“I love how he plays with his intercept marking and how he leads the backline. It’s pretty cool,” he said of Wilkie.
“Balance has been hard for me this year because when you’re playing on the key forward, if you run off and try to take an intercept mark, you leave your man out free. But looking at Wilkie, his ability to play on the best man and still take intercept marks and win one-on-ones but also lead – because I’ve wanted to work on my leadership since the start of the year and that’s one of my biggest improvements this year – with voice and communication, that’s what I’ve been able to take.”
The lightly-built Murphy said he has “added a couple of kilos” throughout the year, but knows he needs “to put on a lot more muscle to compete against the bigger bodies” at AFL level.
It’s why AFL clubs see him as an exciting, long-term gain prospect – for when he’s ready to go at AFL level, watch out.
“Mentally I’m very ready (for AFL footy) and physically I’m almost there – besides the strength I have to put on. But I feel more than ready because mentally I know I have to put in the work – and I’m ready for it. I’m just excited to get in there,” he said.
“I’d love to play some good footy (in 2024), whether that’s AFL or state league at least, put a bit of size on and just learn as much as I can. You’re going into a job with some who are 30 years old and been in the system for 10 years, so picking their brains out every day, getting better.
“If I can end the year a better person and player all-round, I’d be happy.”
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