Former Collingwood forward, ex-Essendon defender link up at new club
The ex-AFL listed pair have found a new home for 2024
After leaving Collingwood and Essendon, respectively, former AFL players Cooper Murley and Alastair Lord have signed with SANFL team Norwood.
The recently de-listed duo return to the Redlegs after spending the past two seasons in the top flight, having been drafted at the end of 2021 as part of the dozen SANFL prospects recruited at the national intake.
Lord, a 181cm defender, would end his time with Essendon with one AFL game to his name, which came in Round 8, 2022 as an unused medical sub.
The teenager, who played 36 games for the Bombers reserves while at Tullamarine, is now on his way to Norwood with Billy Cootee, the captain of Essendon VFL, and former teammate Murley.
Murley was selected 49th overall in the AFL Draft, one pick after Essendon signed Lord, and would not play a game for the Magpies under Collingwood coach Craig McRae.
The small forward played 20 games for Collingwood’s VFL side this year, including a career-best three-goal outing against GWS in Round 8.
By confirming the signings of Lord and Murley on Friday, Norwood expanded their roster of top-ranked players for the 2024 campaign.
“Cooper was part of both our Norwood Junior and Senior programs in 2021 prior to being drafted to Collingwood,” Norwood coach Jade Rawlings said of Murley.
“We have a desire to provide an opportunity and a place for our Norwood juniors to come back to.
“We met with Cooper to discuss what his AFL experience was like, and we couldn’t be more impressed with his view on his two years at Collingwood and the growth he was able to establish.”
Rawlings was equally excited with the acquisition of Lord.
“Being his old club we hoped that we would be someone that he wanted to come back and play for, but we don’t take that for granted and went through a thorough process with Alastair. We are bullish about his growth over the past two years,” Rawlings said.
“Him wanting to come back and wanting to be a part of Norwood, and strive to improve his footy is great to see.”
With six victories, eleven defeats, and one tie for the season during their premiership defense, Norwood ended seventh this year under Rawlings.
