IT WAS against Fremantle in a JLT Community Series game in February last year that Adelaide rookie Lachlan Murphy announced himself as a talented prospect.
Fast-forward 14 months, and the 20-year-old who was overlooked by every club in two national drafts is quickly securing his spot in the Crows attack.
Murphy enters Sunday's encounter with the Dockers at Adelaide Oval in impressive form, having kicked six goals in his past two games.
But what the slightly-built small forward brings to the table is much more than when the goal umpire waves both flags in the air.
It's his acts of desperation and willingness to put his 76kg frame on the line to help his team that has earnt the respect of teammates and the Crows coaching staff.
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"He's been fantastic," Crows coach Don Pyke said of Murphy.
"Last week, he got on the board late, but I think he had seven possessions, three goals, two in the last quarter.
"His pressure and what he provides around the ball is why he is in the team.
"It's great to see him continue to do that, and we've got to continue to reward guys who play roles like that."
Murphy was pinching himself on that February 2018 day in the South Australian country town of Strathalbyn, when he kicked three goals.
After a stellar pre-season, suddenly he was running out alongside champion goalsneak Eddie Betts, while Brownlow Medalist Nat Fyfe featured among the opposition.
"Just two years ago I was playing at the Northern Knights and now, in the blink of an eye, I'm running next to Nat Fyfe, Bryce Gibbs and Tommy Lynch," Murphy told afc.com.au.
"Going out there and seeing all the people in colours and knowing I'm a Crows player – it was a surreal sort of feeling when the crowd is going and you kick a goal."
Murphy didn't get down on himself after missing out on the 2016 draft.
Instead, he moved from Melbourne to Adelaide and played with the Crows in the SANFL as a development player to give himself the best chance of keeping his dream alive.
He worked at Adelaide's Crowmania store as a shop assistant, using the club's facilities on his lunch break and on his days off.
On the odd occasion, he got permission to train with the AFL squad.
But after a strong SANFL season in 2017 – playing primarily as a defender – the Crows picked up Murphy with the 38th pick in the rookie draft.
He played 11 games as a small forward last year before retaining his spot on the rookie list this season.
The addition of Tyson Stengle from Richmond put pressure on Murphy's position in the team, but he's attacked the challenge head-on and taken his game to another level.
Murphy isn't afraid to go back with the flight of the ball, as he did in the round five win against Gold Coast when he copped a knock from Jarrod Harbrow for his trouble.
"When he was here playing in our SANFL team, we obviously liked what we saw because we put him on the list," Pyke said.
"He spent a bit of time down back when he was playing SANFL as well.
"I liked his energy.
"I like that he's courageous around the ball, he's a good pressure player and he's worked super hard, even when he was at SANFL level in terms of his conditioning, in terms of his strength, to become the player he is.
"All credit to him, because he's worked his backside off to give himself an opportunity to have an AFL career, and now he's playing some good, consistent footy."
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