Jai Murray

Jai Murray
Personal information
Full name Jai Murray
Born (2007-03-09) 9 March 2007
Gold Coast, Queensland
Original teams Burleigh Bombers (QFA)
Gold Coast Suns Academy (Talent League)
Draft No. 17, 2025 national draft
Height 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Gold Coast
Number 35
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2026– Gold Coast 2 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 14, 2026.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Jai Murray (born 9 March 2007) is an professional Australian rules footballer who was drafted to the Gold Coast Suns with pick 17 in the 2025 AFL draft.

Early life

Murray was born and raised on the Gold Coast where he grew up playing junior rugby league for the Tugun Seahawks and junior Australian rules football for the Burleigh Bombers[1] alongside future Gold Coast Suns teammates Zeke Uwland, Lachie Gulbin, Leo Lombard and Beau Addinsall.[2] His father, Michael, was a national surf life saving board relay champion with the North Burleigh Surf Club[3] and initially encouraged his son Jai to follow in his footsteps by competing in surf life saving events in the summer months at the North Burleigh Surf Club from the age of six[4] and to also play rugby league at the Tugun Seahawks in the winter months, before his school friends encouraged him to play Australian rules football as well.[5] He was instrumental in leading Palm Beach Currumbin State High School to their 2024 AFL Queensland State Championship win and was voted best on ground in the grand final.[6]

Although Murray was prioritising rugby league at the time and was a state paddleboarding champion at the age of 12,[7] he excelled in Australian rules football and competing in the under-12 national championships in Perth convinced him to commit to Australian rules football.[8] He was invited to join the Gold Coast Suns Academy shortly after competing in the under-12 national championships.[9] Murray was named in the under-15 and under-16 All-Australian teams in consecutive years to become an outstanding junior prospect leading into his draft year when he suffered a lisfranc injury to his foot that limited him to two games in his final year of junior football.[10] He has stated that he is a lifelong Gold Coast Suns fan and has supported the club since it entered the AFL in 2011.[11]

AFL career

Murray was drafted to his hometown team, the Gold Coast Suns, with pick 17 in the 2025 AFL draft when the Suns matched a bid from the West Coast Eagles.[12] He made his AFL debut in Round 13 of the 2026 season against Brisbane in QClash 31.[13]

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 14, 2026.[14]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2026 Gold Coast 35 2 0 0 16 12 28 11 3 0.0 0.0 8.0 6.0 14.0 5.5 1.5
Career 2 0 0 16 12 28 11 3 0.0 0.0 8.0 6.0 14.0 5.5 1.5 0

References

  1. ^ Jai Murray, a Burleigh Bombers Junior AFL Club and Gold Coast Suns Academy Player, is one of our Queenslanders to watch
  2. ^ Rising SUN Ready for Q‑Clash Debut
  3. ^ Northcliffe power to overall victory
  4. ^ Jai is a proud North Burleigh SLSC member, having first hit the sand as an enthusiastic Under 6 Nipper
  5. ^ Preseason Q&A: Jai Murray (Suns Academy)
  6. ^ Gold Coast schools dominate State Finals
  7. ^ https://www.zerohanger.com/the-afl-draft-prospect-who-had-to-choose-between-aussie-rules-and-paddleboarding-170215/ The AFL Draft prospect who had to choose between Aussie Rules and… Paddleboarding]
  8. ^ Rising SUN Ready for Q‑Clash Debut
  9. ^ "From Burleigh to the big time". play.afl. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  10. ^ From Gold Coast's first game to his own debut: Young Sun's fantastic journey
  11. ^ From Gold Coast's first game to his own debut: Young Sun's fantastic journey
  12. ^ "AFL Draft Combine 2025: The biggest takeaways from the weekend". ESPN Australia. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  13. ^ Jai Murray earns QClash debut
  14. ^ "Jai Murray". AFL Tables. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
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