The key position player will again link with VFL outfit Williamstown Seagulls as his primary club, but will be eligible for the Hawks in the O and M, if required.

"It's not that far from Melbourne, it's only two and a half hours, the drive's not too bad if I am going to play O and M on a Saturday," Murray said.

The 19-year-old spoke to a handful of AFL clubs before last season's draft, but was overlooked.

He joined Williamstown for this year, but all Victorian-based leagues were cancelled due to COVID-19.

"Yeah, definitely it's (the AFL dream) still alive, if I head to Melbourne and give it three or four years probably and then if nothing happens, I'll come back home," he said.

Murray played for his junior club in the AFL Riverina Championship this year, but broke his collarbone in dying stages of the Lions' first finals win.

"It's stronger than it was before now that there's a plate of metal in there," he said.

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