Crows development player Lachlan Murphy has been nominated for the Round One SANFL Breakthrough Player award.

Murphy, 18, was crucial in defence in Adelaide’s two-point victory over reigning premiers Sturt on Sunday afternoon.

The skilful left-footer, who was playing his first game of SANFL football, collected 18 possessions and took four marks – including a team-high three intercepts.

Murphy also had a team-best six rebound 50ms and took a crucial defensive mark to help the Crows hang on to victory during a tense final term.

Learn more about our 2017 SANFL development players

His impressive debut performance included a huge hanger in the opening quarter in wet and windy conditions at Peter Motley Oval. See Murphy’s mark in our SANFL Highlights package

Joe Sinor (Woodville-West Torrens) and Mark Quinn (North Adelaide) are the other SANFL Breakthrough Player nominees from the opening round of the SANFL season.

The winning player will be announced during Channel Seven’s Round Two telecast of the clash between Woodville-West Torrens and West Adelaide on Sunday.

To be eligible for the award, nominees must be aged 21 or under and have played no more than eight SANFL games at the start of the year. Players suspended by the SANFL Tribunal are ineligible for the award.

AFL rookies remain eligible for the award unless promoted to the senior list of their club. Senior AFL-listed players are ineligible for nomination.

Goalsneak Gene Robinson won Adelaide’s first ever SANFL Star Search nomination in Round 11, 2014. Matthew Spencely (Round 13, 2015) and Dylan Schoenmakers (Round 20, 2016) are also past nominees.

Current Crows Rory Laird and Luke Brown have also been previously nominated while representing other SANFL teams.