Delisted Magpie Sam Murray has detailed how his life derailed when he was not only issued with a drug ban, but had to navigate his mental health issues and the tragic death of his 13-year-old cousin.

Murray maintains he came into contact with cocaine inadvertently, which had been proven “in a court of law to the judges”.

Despite this, the small defender faces an uphill battle to work his way back on to an AFL list, after more than a year out of the game.

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Murray has been working overtime with trainer Danny Kennedy in the hope a club takes a punt on him in the draft, rookie draft or pre-season supplementary selection period.

And it was on Kennedy’s The Fitness and Lifestyle Podcast that Murray reiterated his drug ban was nothing more than misfortune.

Sam Murray hopes to get on another AFL list. Photo: Micheal Klein Source: News Corp Australia

"I didn't intentionally go out and touch cocaine, and I've proven that in a court of law to the judges," Murray said.

"I didn't go out and 'get on it'. The Wednesday night before (the test), I had come into inadvertent contact with it, so I didn't understand how this had happened.

"For a long time, I didn't know what had happened, so that was probably the hardest bit, because I could have been playing in a Grand Final … Collingwood made the Grand Final and I was playing consistently."

While Murray didn’t understate the significance of his 18-month ban – which allows him to train with an AFL club from December 17 and play from February 17 – he also opened up on how his battle with anxiety was only exacerbated by his suspension.

“What people don't realise is before the substance finding I was suffering very heavily with mental health issues,” Murray said.

"I think it was the week before I was told I had tested positive to a substance, and I had walked into my psychologist's office at Collingwood and broken down mentally through anxiety and stuff like that.

"I know people are worse than me … but I was struggling heavily with anxiety and the thing with anxiety is the best way to deal with it is to have things in place you can fall back on.

"That's why I was OK in football. Then when I got out of the system and didn't have football, didn't have structure, didn't have anything … I found myself completely lost."

Sam Murray has been training. Photo: Micheal Klein Source: News Corp Australia

On top of his anxiety, Murray suffered an inexplicable loss when his cousin died in a farming accident.

While the 22-year-old described that period as “probably the hardest month of life I’ve dealt with”, Murray also suggested it was a massive turning point for him and the way he decided to use his time while serving his drug ban.

"I thought my stuff was bad with football but then I got this and it put it into perspective," Murray said.

"You know what that was for me? That was the kick, that as bad as it is – and I don't wish that upon anyone – I realised my life was OK and how lucky we are as humans to wake up every day."