After rediscovering his love for the game, Matt Murray is looking to help Young go through to their first grade final since he was a baby.
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Murray has won the last two Group Nine best and fairest awards in reserve grade, but was determined to step back into first grade this season.
The five-eighth has played in their last five games, winning four of them, to have his hometown club on the verge of qualifying for their first grand final since losing to Temora in 1998.
He's enjoying being back in the top grade.
"It's been good," Murray said. "I wasn't enjoying football a few years ago but got back into it with my mates and the love grew again.
"As those blokes kinda dropped off I realised I wanted to keep going and keep pushing myself a bit more."
Murray made his first grade debut as an 18-year-old in 2015 and was part of their last winning final that season before last week's win over Brothers.
However as his enthusiasm waned he elected for a different path and coached Young's reserve grade team in 2018.
He was part of their loss in last year's grand final but as 2020 rolled around the playmaker knew he was ready for a bigger role.
Coach Nick Hall was pleased Murray wanted to commit.
"He belongs in first grade and has belonged in first grade ever since he was spotted," Hall said.
"That is why he was put up there years ago but he had to want to be there.
"He's got more tools than most guys, is a very natural footballer and a very smart footballer."
Young are looking to end a 29-year title drought and it has been 22 years since they've qualified for a Group Nine grand final.
The 23-year-old admits it's crazy to think it's been almost his entire lifetime.
Standing in their way is a Tumut outfit coming off a tight loss to Gundagai.
The Blues proved far too good when the teams met earlier this season, taking a 40-12 win at Twickenham in round three, but plenty has changed for the Cherrypickers since then.
Hall believes Murray has made a real impact as part of a new-look halves combination alongside Josh McCrone, while their forward pack has a new shape since their previous clash with the Blues..
After winning their last four games, Murray wants to stick to what has been working for the club.
"I think we've just got to keep doing what we are doing," he said.
"We're trying to compete on every play and if you do that for 80 minutes then you are normally thereabouts with the result."
Courtney Rees
Courtney is a sports journalist from The Daily Advertiser focusing on Group Nine, Southern Inland, cricket, harness racing and greyhound racing.
Courtney is a sports journalist from The Daily Advertiser focusing on Group Nine, Southern Inland, cricket, harness racing and greyhound racing.
