Another product is journeying across the country, and this time it’s another Murray Football League player.
Tongala’s Sam Cipriani has reportedly linked up with West Coast’s WAFL affiliate, becoming the second player to join the program after Kyabram’s Archie Watt was announced as a member of the Eagles’ State-league squad back in November.
The signing comes after Cipriani kicked 20 goals and was named in his side’s best on six occasions during the 2025 season, polling a vote in the Murray league’s O’Dwyer Medal count.
He has been a consistent presence around the goals for Tongala for more than 100 games, making him a player that will be sorely missed in the Blues circles.
His connection to former Blues teammate Harley Reid was likely an attractive factor in making the move, and Cipriani is the latest Murray league export to go cross-country after Moama’s Jobe Shanahan was drafted in 2024, following Reid to the Eagles after the prodigious Blue was taken with the first pick of the 2023 AFL National Draft.
Echuca’s Noah Long also calls West Coast home, another piece of the GV-WA talent bridge.
While Cipriani is a loss for the Blues, the club will back itself to cover it after a busy recruiting period, welcoming mercurial Top End legend Cameron Illet back to Tongala Recreation Reserve, as well as three-time GVL premiership player Riley Smith.