Cooper Murley admits he did not expect to be drafted by Collingwood.
The Norwood product was selected by the Magpies with pick 49 in last Thursday’s draft after impressing for both the Redlegs and South Australian sides over the last few years.
Murley says there were a few nervy moments on draft night as he waited for his name to be called out with expectations that he’d be taken by the Adelaide Crows.
“I spoke to 17 out of 18 clubs, the only club I didn’t speak to was Brisbane,” he said on SEN SA Drive.
“In the lead up to the draft I spoke to Hawthorn, Essendon, Adelaide and a few other clubs as well.
“From that point I expected to end up at Adelaide, but after they’d used both their picks the nerves started to get a lot worse.
“I had no idea where I was going to end up. At that point it was not a matter of when, it was a matter of where.”
When the Crows took Zac Taylor with pick 44, Murley admits he was beginning to worry about where his future lay.
But in the end it all worked out.
“A lot of my friends and family expected me to end up at Adelaide as well,” he added.
“At that moment, everyone was getting their phones out and getting ready.
“It was quite deflating, but to hear my name read out at pick 49 to arguably the greatest club across the country was just such an amazing feeling and I couldn’t be happier about where I am.”
The midfielder was one of three South Australians picked up by Collingwood along with Arlo Draper and Harvey Harrison who went with picks 45 and 52 respectively.
That scenario prompted star ruckman Brodie Grundy, who is currently back home in Adelaide, to cheekily schedule an impromptu training session for the new Pies in the nest.
THREE new SA magpies enter the nest 🔥 Arlo Draper, Cooper Murley
— Brodie Grundy (@brodiegrundy) November 25, 2021
& Harvey Harrison - see you bright and early tomorrow morning at Unley Oval 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️⌛️
“I only found out Saturday night about that Tweet,” Murley said.
“So no, I didn’t actually turn up. None of us boys turned up.
“But I actually got to meet with Brodie on Friday night and he said he posted it as a bit of a joke-around. A few news reporters hit him up and were questioning whether we actually turned up and he obviously had to tell them it was a bit of a joke.
“But I’m super keen to get stuck into with him when he gets back.”
One obstacle the Tea Tree Gully junior will have to overcome at the Holden Centre will be to forget about his Carlton roots.
Murley grew up with a navy blue persuasion, and while he remains a Blue at heart, he is putting that love to the side for now.
“Me and dad joked around about that, given Collingwood and Carlton have a bit of a rivalry,” he said.
“I reckon the tables have somewhat changed now considering I do play for Collingwood.
“Always by heart I’m always going to be a Blues boy, but not for the time being.”
Murley and his fellow draftee Harrison are being looked after by new teammate Taylor Adams as they settle into their new surroundings in Melbourne.
The youngster has already been suitably impressed by captain Scott Pendlebury who has led the way with his “outstanding” professionalism and leadership.