Sam Murray

Recruited from the Wodonga Raiders in the Ovens & Murray League, Sam Murray began his AFL career on the Sydney Swans' rookie list after being selected in the 2015 Rookie Draft. Although he spent two seasons in Sydney without breaking into the senior side, he successfully transitioned from a forward to a rebounding defender in the NEAFL, showing enough promise for Collingwood to trade a future second-round pick to secure his services. The move paid immediate dividends in 2018, as Murray debuted in Round 1 and quickly established himself as a dashing half-back who used his speed to break lines and take the game on, earning a Rising Star nomination in just his third match. However, his breakout season was cut short late in the year when he tested positive for an illicit substance on match day, resulting in an 18-month suspension under the anti-doping code. While Collingwood briefly re-rookied him to support his welfare during the ban, he was delisted at the end of 2019 without adding to his 13 senior games, eventually returning to state-league and country football.