THE 2004 national draft was a crucial part of the Hawthorn re-building process. Coming off 15th position, the Hawks were one of the best placed teams in the draft and netted Jarryd Roughead, Lance Franklin, Jordan Lewis and Simon Taylor.

All four have since established themselves as key players in the Hawthorn resurgence and all bar Taylor were a part of the premiership winning team last season.

But another man who came through in that draft, Tom Murphy, has had to take the longer road to become a regular AFL player.

Coming in to 2009 with 30 games to his name, Murphy said he never felt he had to compare himself to his higher-profile teammates who arrived at Hawthorn at the same time.

“Those guys are super-talented players. Their bodies and their ability meant they were ready to play AFL footy straight away,” Murphy said.

“I had to put in a few more hard yards. Like most people I think the media pumps up the fact there are only a handful of blokes each year who walk straight into an AFL side whereas the reality is most guys have to play at least two seasons at VFL level.”

Murphy’s apprenticeship seems well and truly over. He has played in all six matches so far this season and seems to have cemented a spot in the Hawthorn backline. But he is not complacent.

“As a general rule, you haven’t really stopped improving before you play your 50th game. As far as I am concerned I’ve only just started my career and hopefully can improve in every single game and get a spot down back and be a regular player in the team,” he said.

Murphy admits that Hawthorn’s unfortunate run of injuries may have been a blessing for him.

“Last year I got a lot of confidence from playing 18 games. It’s always good to start off the next year and get right back into it. Even though the team’s results haven’t been exactly what we’d have liked, on a personal note I feel that I’m improving and enjoying my footy,” he said.

“I’ve played 36 games now and I’m starting to feel a bit more at home in the seniors. There is a bit of added responsibility but I’m looking forward to Stephen Gilham and [Trent] Croady coming back. Also Rick Ladson and Grant Birchall. The boys are out there doing the job at the moment and are holding down the fort.”

Murphy has had a variety of challenges this year – his match-ups including nippy forwards Eddie Betts, Mark LeCras and Matt Campbell as well as bigger bodies such as Barry Hall and Cameron Mooney. He says versatility is a key component of his game.

“That’s where footy is going. There are not so many one on one contests around the ground. Even if you start on someone it doesn’t mean you’ll spend the entire day on them,” he said.

“It is something I have been working on – being flexible and versatile. I like getting a job on a dangerous forward.”