It was the message from a former premiership star that Caylen Murray needed to hear.
And it helped propel the Brisbane Lions academy gun into top-end AFL draft contention.
After earning Under 16 All-Australian honours as a midfielder in 2024, Murray was thrown into defence early last year. By his own admission, he was initially “doing my own thing offensively”.
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Enter Grant Birchall – a four-time premiership Hawk and Lions academy development coach whose balance of defensive discipline and attacking flair made him a prototype of the modern rebounding defender.
“When I went to half-back, he (Birchall) pulled me over and said: ‘Mate, you’ve got to defend,’” Murray told foxfooty.com.au.
“So I worked pretty hard on that during pre-season. It was positioning, knowing where my opponent is but also getting aggressive.”
The work soon paid off.
Birchall, along with fellow Lions academy coaches Mitch Hahn and James Gellie, helped turn Murray from an attack-minded midfielder into a more complete half-back. It now looms as his most likely role during the early stages of a promising AFL career.
“I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today without him (Birchall) and picking his brain,” Murray said.
“I’ve watched his highlights and how he went about it, it was pretty crazy.
“I’ve looked at his leg drive, but he helped me a lot with defence, transition and positioning.
“I feel like when I got that down pat, it elevated my game.”
Grant Birchall upon his signing with Brisbane. Picture: Zak SimmondsSource: News Corp Australia
Birchall, who finished his playing career in Brisbane, is one of several Lions stars of the past helping shape Murray, who looms as a key part of the club’s future.
Murray also credits triple premiership greats Simon Black and Jason Akermanis for playing a significant role in his development. Akermanis, a Lions academy assistant coach, earlier this year told Zero Hanger Murray was perfect for the modern AFL game.
Asked if Akermanis sometimes pulled out a classic or funny story from his playing days, Murray smiled and said: “Far out, probably not PG!”
Murray truly arrived as a top-end prospect during this year’s national champs, claiming the Allies’ MVP award and earning selection in the Under 18 All-Australian team.
His ‘pick me’ performance came in the Allies’ second match against South Australia when he booted 2.1 from 31 disposals, nine marks and 798m gained as a high half-back. Crucially, there were signs of more defensive accountability.
It prompted one scout to declare to foxfooty.com.au post-game: “He just looks like a first-round pick.”
Caylen Murray competes in the 2km Time Trial during the AFL National Draft Combine Testing at George Knott Reserve on October 01, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
For Murray, it was a breakthrough performance that strengthened his belief he belonged among the draft’s leading prospects.
“I feel like it enhanced my draft stocks a bit. That was a big game in my year – probably the biggest game of my career so far,” he said.
“I was always like ‘I don’t know’, but after that game, I thought I could make it. It wasn’t a lack of self-belief – I do have confidence without being cocky, I’m pretty humble and try to keep myself level-headed.
“But after that big game and how I played, the confidence went up a bit.
“A big goal of mine throughout the year was to find that sweet spot between offence and defence. I feel like I found that.”
Caylen Murray of the Allies during the Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Boys match between South Australia and Allies at Alberton Oval on June 21, 2026 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Interest from AFL clubs and scouts subsequently increased. That has fuelled speculation Murray’s name could now be called inside the top 10.
If it is, Murray would become the sixth Lions-tied player to attract a first-round bid this decade after Will Ashcroft, Jaspa Fletcher, Levi Ashcroft, Sam Marshall and Daniel Annable. And it’ll be tougher for Brisbane to match this year following a change to the draft bidding system.
When North Melbourne called Will Ashcroft’s name at Pick 2 in 2022, Brisbane used Picks 34, 35, 38, 40 and 41 to match the bid after receiving a 20 per cent points discount. Not bad value for a two-time Norm Smith Medallist!
But if the Lions want Murray next month, they’ll be limited to using two picks to match a bid, with a potential 20 per cent loading if it comes inside the top 18.
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Brisbane’s first two selections in the draft, after the trade period, are Picks 21 and 27. It puts them in a good spot to match a Murray bid between 10 and 15 because Port Adelaide, Carlton and the Giants are expected to use early picks to match bids for Dougie Cochrane, Cody Walker and Ethan Matthews respectively.
Murray, however, isn’t too worried about the maths.
“I’m pretty relaxed. I feel like anything can happen on the night and nothing’s guaranteed,” he said.
While Murray is relaxed about the uncertainty of draft night, Brisbane is already familiar territory. He has been part of the Lions family since he was 13.
He stepped away from lifesaving to take up footy with the Maroochydore Roos where the Lions academy spotted him and signed him. Five years later, he’s still tied to a club that’s just won its third straight flag yet has an age profile that suggests it should contend again for several more years.
Caylen Murray playing in Lions Academy colours.Source: FOX SPORTS
Murray said he’d enjoyed getting a “sniff” of the AFL program over the past few years. He admits he still gets a bit “starstruck” walking past and training with triple premiership stars Ashcroft, Logan Morris and Zac Bailey. “It’s pretty surreal,” he said.
Asked if he’d ideally like to remain at Brisbane, Murray said: “I mean, it’s my local club. I’ve been there in the academy almost my whole life. But if it happens, it happens. That’s part of footy. It’s what you’ve got to do.”
Murray is viewed by some clubs as a potential long-term replacement for Dayne Zorko at half-back when the five-time club champion eventually retires.
While Zorko is renowned for his precise kicking and toughness, Murray offers speed, line-breaking ability and polished ball use, underpinned by strong footy IQ.
“Him and even blokes like Darcy Wilmot who play that role as well, at training I try to lean on them a bit and watch how they go about it,” Murray said.
“It’s been pretty crazy what they’ve both done this year.”
Murray said he saw himself at half-back in his first few years at AFL level, but would be keen to follow in the footsteps of Nick Daicos and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who became superstar midfielders after starting out as rebounding defenders.
“If I can do something similar (to what) they did, it’ll be alright,” he said with a laugh.
If he does return to the midfield, he’ll do so as a more complete player, thanks to Birchall.