Former North Melbourne defender Thomas Murphy has reportedly caught the attention of AFL clubs this year following a standout season with VFL club Frankston.
Despite Frankston having a bye in the final round of the regular season, the Dolphins are still in contention for a Wildcard Round spot, keeping their 2024 season alive.
Murphy has played a crucial role in Frankston’s resurgence from a 19th-place finish last year, becoming a key figure in the midfield. This season, he has averaged a team-high 22.7 disposals, 4.9 clearances, and 4.9 tackles per game. The 26-year-old is currently tied for sixth in the VFL Coaches’ votes, joining a leaderboard that includes players like Brisbane veteran Jarryd Lyons, Werribee’s Dom Brew, and Southport’s Boyd Woodcock.
After being delisted by North Melbourne at the end of the 2020 season, Murphy spent time with West Adelaide and Sommerville. Now, according to AFL.com.au, he is drawing interest from top-tier clubs and could find himself back on an AFL list. Murphy is among several VFL players who could make the jump to the AFL during the upcoming draft period, following in the footsteps of Shaun Mannagh, Finnbar Maley, and Sam Clohesy, who were drafted last November.
Although Murphy was not included in the 62-player shortlist for this year’s State Combine in October, his performances have not gone unnoticed. He was originally drafted by North Melbourne with Pick 4 in the 2017 Rookie Draft, a group that also included premiership players Liam Baker and Brody Mihocek, as well as current players like Bailey Banfield, Joel Amartey, Nick Holman, and Lachlan Murphy.
A former Dandenong Stingrays junior, Murphy played nine games for North Melbourne over three years, averaging 10 disposals and 2.7 marks per game as a defender before his last appearance at the end of the COVID-interrupted 2020 season.
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