FORMER Henty junior and premiership player Sam Murray made an impressive debut for Collingwood on Saturday evening.
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Murray, who was traded to Collingwood in the 2017 November trade period, racked up 19 possessions and three tackles.
Unfortunately for Murray it was not a victorious debut, with the Magpies going down to Hawthorn by 34 points at the MCG.
Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley is again coaching the famous club with Scott Pendlebury captain.
They face old rivals Carlton in their next match.
Murray who played in Henty 2014 Hume Football League premiership as a 16-year-old played across half back and rebounded the ball superbly.
He was super impressive and his selection came on the back of a 24 possession final practice match the previous fortnight against the Western Bulldogs.
Murray’s debut match was highlighted by his former Sydney Swans teammate Tom Mitchell collecting a record 54 possessions for Hawthorn.
(He) racked up 19 possessions and three tackles.
The road to his AFL debut has been a process of continued improvement with his eagerness to test himself.
Murray, after playing at Henty, had a stellar season with Wodonga Raiders in the 2015 Ovens and Murray season.
He finished third in the Morris Medal count and represented Ovens and Murray at Under 19s before heading to Sydney.
In 2015 Murray was selected at pick number 66 in the AFL Rookie Draft by Sydney Swans spending two years in its NEAFL side.
In 2017 Murray was chosen in the NEAFL team of the year and his form and hard running came under the notice of the Magpies, who subsequently drafted him.
Younger brother Nick is on a similar pathway, currently in the leadership group of the Murray Bushrangers and has been selected to play in Sunday’s opener at Punt Road, Richmond v Gippsland.