NORTHERN Territory prospect Taj Murray has been plying his trade in South Australia, most recently turning out for North Adelaide in the SANFL Under 18s. The athletic 201cm talent is part of the AFL Academy and was included in SA’s summer training squad, but will be tied to the Allies in 2025.

Making just his sixth appearance for the Roosters, Murray contributed to their 16-point road win over South Adelaide on Saturday. His mobility up forward and dynamism in the ruck were impressive, even getting on the board with his first goal in the competition. We put his performance under the microscope.

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Allies, North Adelaide, Northern TerritoryRuck Forward

Taj Murray

Height: 201cm

Weight: -

DOB: 05-02-2007

PLAYER FOCUS

2025 SANFL Under 18s Round 2
South Adelaide 9.5 (59) def. by North Adelaide 11.9 (75)

#5 Taj Murray (North Adelaide)
Stats: 17 disposals, 8 marks, 5 tackles, 10 hitouts, 3 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

FIRST QUARTER:

Murray made a strong start to proceedings, stationed up forward where he booted his first career goal for North Adelaide. He gained separation on the lead as the Roosters attacked through the corridor, marking uncontested and slotting the 45m set shot.

The Territorian would go on to provide a chop-out in the ruck, utilising his reach and spring-heeled leap at 201cm to win hitouts in a variety of ways. He was most effective when not engaging physically, instead using his length and athleticism to impact.

SECOND QUARTER:

South Adelaide began to turn the tide in term two, pouring on five goals to one and taking a 10-point lead into the main break. Murray was quieter as a result, spending the bulk of his time up forward with only a late rotation into the centre bounces.

He showed decent craft in the ruck to take the ball and clear it by hand, albeit if he dumped a few handballs out under pressure. Murray also had another shot on goal, again showing his speed off the mark to hit up on the lead before putting his set shot wide.

THIRD QUARTER:

Blessed by the scoring end, it was North Adelaide’s turn to regain the ascendancy with four unanswered goals in term three. Murray again got into position to score from a set shot, leaping at the ball confidently from an attack up the middle, but failing to convert.

He completed a similar rotation into the ruck more than halfway into the quarter and continued to deal mostly by hand. Murray proved quite nimble and clean below his knees, following up the initial contest or making use of delivery which fell short.

FOURTH QUARTER:

Murray bookended his game well with a handy final quarter, producing arguably his best moment of the match. The athletic tall produced a brilliant chase at the top of attacking 50, forcing a turnover before turning and kicking the ball over the back to assist Joshua Casey.

He also continued to work up the ground, showcasing his mobility to present at the kicker and connect the Roosters inside 50 with marks just beyond the arc. He nearly had a second goal too, doubling back to mark a long entry but spraying the set shot for no score.