Former North Melbourne defender Thomas Murphy is said to be on the radar of AFL clubs this year amid a starring campaign for VFL club Frankston.
The Dolphins' 2024 season is still alive despite the standalone outfit being scheduled a bye in the league's final round of the home and away season, with Frankston currently placed for a Wildcard Round berth to keep their year alive.
Murphy has been a key piece in the club's rise from a 19th-placed finish last year, holding down an integral role in midfield for the Dolphins to average a team-high 22.7 disposals, 4.9 clearances and 4.9 tackles this season.
The 26-year-old sits equal sixth for VFL Coaches' votes up until the process went disclosed ahead of the final rounds of the season, with Murphy featuring among a leaderboard consisting of Brisbane veteran Jarryd Lyons, Werribee tackling machine Dom Brew and ex-Port Adelaide forward turned Southport star Boyd Woodcock.
Murphy, who was one of 11 players delisted by the Kangaroos at the end of the 2020 season, has spent time with West Adelaide and Sommerville since his axing, and could now find himself back on an AFL list as top-flight clubs show interest, according to AFL.com.au.
The mature-aged prospect is among the plethora of VFL figures who could take the next step this coming draft period after Shaun Mannagh, Finnbar Maley and Sam Clohesy were picked up last November.
This year, Richmond's Sam Davidson, Werribee's Riley Bice and Geelong's Ajang Kuol Mun have been invited to the State Combine in October. Murphy is not part of the 62-player shortlist.
Murphy was drafted to North Melbourne with Pick 4 in the 2017 Rookie Draft - a pool that includes premiership players Liam Baker and Brody Mihocek, as well as current players Bailey Banfield, Joel Amartey, Nick Holman and Lachlan Murphy.
The Dandenong Stingrays junior played nine games for the Kangaroos during his three years at Arden Street, with his last game coming at the end of the COVID-interrupted 2020 season.
He averaged 10 disposals and 2.7 marks per game across his short time with North Melbourne as a defender.