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Majak not heading out the Daw at North Melbourne
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-24/majak-not-heading-out-the-daw-at-north-melbourne
IN-FORM and out of contract as season's end, North Melbourne's Majak Daw insists he isn't contemplating moving clubs for more opportunity.
The 25-year-old, who's played just 17 senior games in seven seasons at Arden Street, has again struggled for senior opportunities in 2016.
Stuck behind the Kangaroos' attacking triple threat of Jarrad Waite, Drew Petrie and Ben Brown, Daw's only AFL outing this year was an impressive 14-possession and two-goal performance against Essendon in round eight.
Team balance squeezed the former 'project player' out of the side that beat Carlton on the weekend.
Speaking at the AFL's Africa Day celebration, the South Sudanese-born big man says he still has a "massive" role to play in North's premiership assault.
"It's probably a bit too early to talk about moving somewhere else (because) it's only round 10 and we've got plenty of footy ahead of us," Daw told AFL.com.au.
"Initially I was pretty disappointed at not maintaining my spot in the side, but I think the strength of the club this year is anyone can come in (and) do a job for the team.
"It came back to team structure because we played pretty tall against Essendon and that wasn't sustainable.
"I still think I'll come back in the side and I've got a massive role in the team to play."
Daw concedes a lack of consistency has stopped him being a regular at the Kangaroos and he's inspired by two teammates' ongoing contributions.
"Jarrad Waite, in particular, and Todd Goldstein – an All Australian ruckman – they've just been consistent over the years, so it's a massive challenge for me to try and get back in the side," he said.
"Most people haven't really seen me play at a consistent level in the AFL, so if I keep improving that will take care of itself."
While he believes his best position is a forward who pinch-hits in the ruck, Daw understands Brad Scott is unlikely to experiment with four key forwards again any time soon.
So in the quest to evolve as a footballer, he's set himself the enormous challenge of emulating Geelong's athletically gifted phenomenon, Mark Blicavs.
Standing at 198cm, the Cats' reigning best and fairest's elite endurance sees him as an important member of the team's midfield rotation and Daw believes he has the physical attributes to follow suit.
"Blicavs is playing that role and he plays it really well, so I watch some of his games really closely and how he goes about it," Daw, who is 195cm tall, said.
"In that Essendon game I went through the midfield, and it's a role I'm developing.
"The challenge for me is how quickly I can get my head around being a midfielder and playing the other two positions as well.
"I'm continually working on my aerobic fitness and I've got it to a pretty comfortable place at the moment.
"But you can always improve."
Goal kicking is another skill Daw is trying to develop, as he's had a hard time forgetting the open goal he squandered from 15m out against the Bombers.
"I copped it from everyone, (including) my friends and family," Daw laughed.
"I was talking to 'Boomer' (Brent Harvey) and he said everyone's has their misses.
"It just came off the side of the boot."
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-24/majak-not-heading-out-the-daw-at-north-melbourne
IN-FORM and out of contract as season's end, North Melbourne's Majak Daw insists he isn't contemplating moving clubs for more opportunity.
The 25-year-old, who's played just 17 senior games in seven seasons at Arden Street, has again struggled for senior opportunities in 2016.
Stuck behind the Kangaroos' attacking triple threat of Jarrad Waite, Drew Petrie and Ben Brown, Daw's only AFL outing this year was an impressive 14-possession and two-goal performance against Essendon in round eight.
Team balance squeezed the former 'project player' out of the side that beat Carlton on the weekend.
Speaking at the AFL's Africa Day celebration, the South Sudanese-born big man says he still has a "massive" role to play in North's premiership assault.
"It's probably a bit too early to talk about moving somewhere else (because) it's only round 10 and we've got plenty of footy ahead of us," Daw told AFL.com.au.
"Initially I was pretty disappointed at not maintaining my spot in the side, but I think the strength of the club this year is anyone can come in (and) do a job for the team.
"It came back to team structure because we played pretty tall against Essendon and that wasn't sustainable.
"I still think I'll come back in the side and I've got a massive role in the team to play."
Daw concedes a lack of consistency has stopped him being a regular at the Kangaroos and he's inspired by two teammates' ongoing contributions.
"Jarrad Waite, in particular, and Todd Goldstein – an All Australian ruckman – they've just been consistent over the years, so it's a massive challenge for me to try and get back in the side," he said.
"Most people haven't really seen me play at a consistent level in the AFL, so if I keep improving that will take care of itself."
While he believes his best position is a forward who pinch-hits in the ruck, Daw understands Brad Scott is unlikely to experiment with four key forwards again any time soon.
So in the quest to evolve as a footballer, he's set himself the enormous challenge of emulating Geelong's athletically gifted phenomenon, Mark Blicavs.
Standing at 198cm, the Cats' reigning best and fairest's elite endurance sees him as an important member of the team's midfield rotation and Daw believes he has the physical attributes to follow suit.
"Blicavs is playing that role and he plays it really well, so I watch some of his games really closely and how he goes about it," Daw, who is 195cm tall, said.
"In that Essendon game I went through the midfield, and it's a role I'm developing.
"The challenge for me is how quickly I can get my head around being a midfielder and playing the other two positions as well.
"I'm continually working on my aerobic fitness and I've got it to a pretty comfortable place at the moment.
"But you can always improve."
Goal kicking is another skill Daw is trying to develop, as he's had a hard time forgetting the open goal he squandered from 15m out against the Bombers.
"I copped it from everyone, (including) my friends and family," Daw laughed.
"I was talking to 'Boomer' (Brent Harvey) and he said everyone's has their misses.
"It just came off the side of the boot."
