Fremantle draftee Murphy Reid has exceeded all expectations in his freshman year in the AFL, but what makes his case more commanding is the notion that he rarely played forward during his junior ranks.
Reid, who slipped to Pick 17 in the 2024 intake, was deemed a steal for the Dockers, and after playing every single game thus far, kicking 19 goals and gifting a further 17 to teammates, he's delivered on his promise.
"Playing forward," Reid said of his biggest challenge since joining the competition.
"Didn't do that much before my time here at Freo. You know, just being able to adapt, I've had a lot of people in my corner that's made my time a lot easier... but able to play as a forward, build my craft, there's a lot that goes into it. It's a fair bit different to playing midfield.
"(I had to learn) a lot of roles and shape, and positioning. We've got a fair few roles, so learning them, learning the names of the roles."
But the midfielder-turned-forward has this innate ability to "adapt" to situations that initially seem foreign, like moving across the country from Melbourne to Perth, and joining an interstate club.
From moving in with star on-baller Andrew Brayshaw, to learning off Brownlow contender Caleb Serong, the 18-year-old has slotted in seamlessly at Fremantle.
"I moved in with Andy (Brayshaw) as I got to the club, and since then, we've had a really good connection,"
"Caleb, he's so good with me, getting the best out of me week in, week out at trainings, and games. We all see how good a player he is, but a lot of stuff he does behind closed doors is ridiculous.
"So getting under him, and seeing what he does, his habits... both of them have been great for me."
Reid's aspirations to feature in the midfield also tick away nicely in the background, despite spending the majority of his time with the forward group.
The Sandringham Dragons product revealed he has looked at vision of his on-ball teammates alongside coach Justin Longmuir, and has practised centre-bounce stoppages for the "bigger picture".
"The coaches are really big on me doing vision with the mids," Reid added.
"Getting a few centre bounce hits after training, going to see the mids coach, just keeping that going on in the background, cause obviously that's a bigger picture thing.
"He'll (Justin Longmuir) will show me a clip of Caleb Andy, and what I could work on in that situation, what I would do in that situation, has been good.
"Mostly working with the forwards for the time being, but hopefully in the future I'll be there."
how about that 🔥
Murphy Reid x Caleb Serong... beautiful.#foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/iJZJiUYtuS
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) February 23, 2025
Reid's rise to stardom, and subsequent opportunity to take out this year's Rising Star alongside former teammate and Brisbane gun Levi Ashcroft, have seen the young Docker gain comparisons to Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury.
Reid, like Pendlebury, has an ability to find his way through traffic, choose the best option and have a positive influence on the game.
The comparisons silenced the modest Dockers.
"I don't really know what to say about that," a modest Reid responded.
"It's awesome to be compared as someone as great as him. I guess some of my strengths, my composure, what I can do with ball in hand, is similar to him. Probably not at the level as him.
"How his always got time and space... how he can avoid tacklers, always hit the right target, bring his teammates into the game are some amazing strengths. I'd like to say I try to do that in my game, and is someone I look up to."
The Dockers, who sit in seventh position, are one game off Adelaide in second, and will look to Carlton this weekend as a much-needed percentage-boosting opportunity.
Games against Port Adelaide, Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs round out the remainder of the year.
