Young Fremantle forward Tobyn Murray has expressed gratitude towards his teammates Sam Switkowski and Michael Frederick for helping him understand that his value and influence extend beyond the statistics sheet.
The 20-year-old, recruited as a mature-age player from Geelong’s VFL program during the off-season, kicked 22 goals across 17 games last year. He has approached his first AFL pre-season with a sense of curiosity and a willingness to learn.
Although he is yet to make his debut for the Dockers, Murray’s performances at WAFL level with Peel have been inconsistent. He kicked three goals from just 13 disposals in his first two games for the Thunder, before a standout performance last weekend against Perth, where he added two more goals and gathered 23 disposals. However, against Subiaco on Saturday, he failed to score and managed only 10 disposals, as Peel lost by a single point for the second consecutive week.
Murray revealed that established AFL players such as Switkowski and Frederick have been excellent sounding boards as he develops a deeper understanding of his half-forward role.
“The role I play as a small forward can lead to inconsistent games, and bridging that gap is a difficult task. So I work closely with my coaches and bounce ideas off other players like Michael Frederick and Sam Switkowski,” he told The West Australian.
“They are two very good people to exchange ideas with. I watch them at training and observe how they go about their business. They have instilled in me the importance of continuing to learn, but also that as a high forward, there are days when your stats sheet might not look impressive.
“However, if you focus on what truly matters for the team and judge yourself based on how well you execute your role and perform your trademark actions, rather than the stat sheet, you can go a long way. They have been incredibly helpful.”
Before his AFL dream became a reality, Murray worked part-time as an education support teacher at a primary school and studied business on the side. He said his time in the VFL last season had prepared him well for Fremantle, but he still has plenty to learn.
“It has been a really smooth transition for me. I know what I want from myself, and I demand high standards. The club has a very good, premiership-standard culture that we bring every single day.
“I want to be there; I am curious, I am learning. I want to be the best footballer and person I can be. For me, it is living the dream.”
Murray noted that the off-field aspects of the game have been his biggest learning curve, but he is enjoying the education.
“From a maturity standpoint over the last two years, I have really figured out what I want to be as a footballer and a person. I think that has held me in good stead coming into my first pre-season,” he said.
“I have always been very professional even before I was drafted, but it is about taking it to the next level. It is a full-time job, so you have to do all the little things away from the club.
“It involves what you eat and everything away from the field. Everything on-field takes care of itself to some extent, with coaching and your natural ability to improve and work on all areas. But everything off-field makes you more of a professional footballer and takes you a step further.”
