Growing up, Nick and Toby Murray dreamt of not only playing Aussie Rules on the same team, but running on to the MCG’s hallow turf alongside one another.

That dream could become a reality for the brothers this weekend if Toby, who lined up in both the Crows’ trial games against Port Adelaide and Fremantle, is selected to make his AFL debut in the Round One blockbuster against Collingwood.

Nick, who is three years older than Toby, says there is a lot of water to go under the bridge, with coaches yet to lock in Adelaide’s Round One team line-up.

But he said should Toby debut, it would be a memorable moment for his family and the community in Henty, NSW.

“Hopefully for Ibis’ (Toby’s) sake, the family’s and mine, he does get up. I think they’ll address that in the next couple of days, how that looks and picking the team,” Nick said.

“If it is to be that he does play, it will be quite a special moment for him and our family as well.

“It’s something you dream of growing up, playing in the backyard with your brother, to be able to be out there on the MCG (together), and if it does happen, it will be pretty special.

“It will mean a lot to the community but also my family. We are all pretty stoked and we’ve all got our fingers crossed that we both run out on Saturday.”

Similar to Nick’s journey to the Crows, Toby’s has been less than conventional.

The younger Murray brother was selected by Adelaide at the 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft after featuring with the Crows’ SANFL side as a development listed player that same year.

Before that, he had played under-18s with the Murray Bushrangers, lined up with Collingwood’s VFL team in 2022, and then joined the Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray League in 2023.

“He (Toby) did come over quite raw, I must admit,” Nick said.

“To have the likes of (Riley) Thilthorpe and Tex (Taylor Walker) help him along… and to see how he’s improved over pre-season and he’s put on a lot of size, it’s a real credit to him.

“Hopefully he can have a long career and hopefully that does start this week.”

This weekend’s blockbuster will begin the Crows’ 2026 campaign, while Collingwood will enter the game with a win under its belt, having beaten St Kilda in Opening Round.

The past four minor round matches between the two sides - excluding last year’s Preliminary Final - have been decided by 10 or less points.

The backman expected the match to be tough but said the team was looking forward to getting its campaign underway.

“It’s like most years, you have this big build up over pre-season and then you get to the pointy end now with a couple of practice matches and everyone is itching at the bit to go on,” the 25-year-old said.

“If you look back at the past three years, most games have been decided by 10 points, so it is starting to become that (a rivalry).

“With the hype of Round One and there probably being 80,000 at the ‘G, I don’t think we need anymore excitement or anything to get us up for it.

“It will be exciting Saturday night.”

Adelaide faces Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday at 7.05pm (ACDT).

The match will be broadcast live on Fox Footy and Kayo, with a delayed start on Channel 7 Adelaide.