Dees and Roos After Jurrah

[Dave The Man]

Roos hunt Jurrah
ANDREW ALOIA
December 6th, 2008

YUENDUMU and star Nightcliff recruit Liam Jurrah may well be the bargain basement buy of the AFL rookie draft.
The Northern Territory News understands the 19-year-old (pictured) from the indigenous community 300km north-west of Alice Springs has been hand picked as a key draft target by North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley.
Jurrah's services in the December 16 draft could turn out to be a tug of war with Melbourne also indicating interest in the player.
But the Kangaroos are fixed as firm favourites to nab Jurrah if he can have his draft nomination papers "rushed through" in time.
It is a startling revelation in the ruckman/forward's career after spending nine hugely successful months with Collingwood's Victorian Football League side before returning to Yuendumu to help the Magpies to an historic AFL Central Australian flag earlier this year.
He has since joined NTFL side Nightcliff and last week showcased his talents with an impressive six goal haul in the Tigers' 111-point mauling of the Tiwi Bombers.
Jurrah's likely exodus may come thanks to the help of Nightcliff's other Alice Springs connection Shaun Cusack.
Cusack, a distinguished player, coach and influential figure at both South Alice Springs and Yuendumu Football Clubs, ranks Jurrah "a real chance" of selection.
"If the paper work goes through, Liam will go," Cusack said.
While Jurrah cut his VFL experience short due to family commitments, there is no questioning his interest in returning to Melbourne where he could possibly link up with resident Alice Springs Kangaroo Matt Campbell.
"Liam wants to go, it's all he has been talking about the past couple of weeks," Cusack said.
"He wants to have another go."
As for Jurrah's potential to succeed, Cusack reckons it is a given.
"He is a 193cm forward who moves like a midfielder," Cusack said. "I don't think we have seen a talent like him for a while."
Jurrah and Cusack are unavailable for NTFL duties with the Tigers today but are confident of returning against Southern Districts next week.

Will be a Big Risk for the 2 sides to take Jurrah and might have to take Jurrah in the 1st Round of the Rookie Draft

Story Here

 

[DoubleO7]

Is Jurrah really 193 cm tall?

 

[zorbadunde]

**** there should be a rule if they play for your vfl based team, you get first choice to take them in your first round of the rookie draft.

this kid has major talent will be sad to see us do all the leg work just to let another club take him

 

[Dave The Man]

**** there should be a rule if they play for your vfl based team, you get first choice to take them in your first round of the rookie draft.

this kid has major talent will be sad to see us do all the leg work just to let another club take him

That would be fair but only 2 clubs have VFL clubs in us and Geelong so I doubt it would happen

 

[zorbadunde]

That would be fair but only 2 clubs have VFL clubs in us and Geelong so I doubt it would happen

but dont all clubs have a vfl equivilant?

eg north ballarat etc etc.

i mean that way. so for example at williamstown when we where affiliated.
we could have picked up rose with our first round rookie pick.

 

[Dave The Man]

but dont all clubs have a vfl equivilant?

eg north ballarat etc etc.

i mean that way. so for example at williamstown when we where affiliated.
we could have picked up rose with our first round rookie pick.

True but I can't see the VFL Affiliated clubs Agreeing to that because they would want to keep there best Players and plus the Players might want to be on the Open Market but I think club can Nominate players for the Rookie Draft those

 

[duds0101]

but dont all clubs have a vfl equivilant?

eg north ballarat etc etc.

i mean that way. so for example at williamstown when we where affiliated.
we could have picked up rose with our first round rookie pick.

Yeah would be fair, but such is life.

 

[zorbadunde]

ahh ok, mm will be wierd to see the pies do all the leg work then go cold on him, or at least tell north to f****k off

 

[duds0101]

ahh ok, mm will be wierd to see the pies do all the leg work then go cold on him, or at least tell north to f****k off

They probably haven't have just conceded North and Dee's have better picks and thus he won't slip to us.

 

[Skade]

I remember on an old Jurrah thread, someone who new him said he would only play for us because we had been fantastic to him.

 

[Palmer Stoat]

Is Jurrah really 193 cm tall?

Unless he's grown (a lot) since I last saw him, there's no way known he's 193. As far as I know, he's always been listed at the 188cm mark, which looks right to me. And he didn't spend 'nine hugely successful months' with our VFL team either. He went back back to Central Australia midseason because a family friend/relative was seriously ill. While he was down here, he showed quite a bit of talent, but to describe his time with us as 'hugely successful' is overstating the case just a bit IMO. Poorly researched article, it seems.

My understanding was that Liam wasn't eligible for the rookie draft, but who knows...

 

[duds0101]

I remember on an old Jurrah thread, someone who new him said he would only play for us because we had been fantastic to him.

More like he will play for anyone who gives him a chance and that is fair enough.

 

[smiddaz123]

He looks so old in that photo.

 

[duds0101]

He looks so old in that photo.

This is very true. Oh Well what can you do?

 

[The 10th Letter]

He would have been an interesting prospect on our rookie list, but to be honest I'm not too shattered if he ends up elsewhere. I'd keep tabs on his progress out of interest, but after watching him in the VFL I wasn't astounded by his exploits.

The thing that entices most people is his physical attributes; a player of his height who has the ability to compete at ground level and do the odd flashy thing gains attention. Everyone is looking for the next Buddy Franklin.

I'd have some concerns over his ability to compete at AFL level, along with his ability to adapt to life in Melbourne. With that said, it is a bit annoying that we unearthed the lad (with help from good old Rupe of all people if I remember correctly) only to see others swoop.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

It would be very disappointing to say the least if he went to another AFL club after following and supporting him all year in the VFL.

 

[bucksisbest]

Firstly I don't think North or Melbourne are the type of clubs that would have the infrastructure to bring out the best in a person/player like Jurrah.
I would also be suprised if he agreed to be drafted by a club other than Collingwood.
He would be a mild risk if he was rookied early , purely because of how big a difference it would be for him. I don't think people have comprehended the change in culure and the amount of adjusting it would take to feel comfortable. I also think people haven't factored where he is come from and how much potential he has shown and has in a footballing sense already. The VFL games would have been a rare chance to play on grass and play in a game that had more structured play. He was kicking 3 at full forward when others couldn't get a sniff.
Great touch and foot skills , and goes straight up when he jumps.
We would have to measure how much we wanted him and how much we were willing to risk. IF he has put himself up to be rookied, which I am still not clear about.

 

[DarwinRoo]

Firstly I don't think North or Melbourne are the type of clubs that would have the infrastructure to bring out the best in a person/player like Jurrah.
I would also be suprised if he agreed to be drafted by a club other than Collingwood.
He would be a mild risk if he was rookied early , purely because of how big a difference it would be for him. I don't think people have comprehended the change in culure and the amount of adjusting it would take to feel comfortable. I also think people haven't factored where he is come from and how much potential he has shown and has in a footballing sense already. The VFL games would have been a rare chance to play on grass and play in a game that had more structured play. He was kicking 3 at full forward when others couldn't get a sniff.
Great touch and foot skills , and goes straight up when he jumps.
We would have to measure how much we wanted him and how much we were willing to risk. IF he has put himself up to be rookied, which I am still not clear about.

Matt Campbell and Austin Woenamiri seem to go ok.

 

[smiddaz123]

Being black doesn't make them identical to Jurrah buddy.

 

[DarwinRoo]

Being black doesn't make them identical to Jurrah buddy.

Matt Campbell is from Alice Springs and Austin is from the Tiwi Islands. There situation isnt disimilar to Jurrah. Both Matt and Austin have settled well into Melbourne and are both doing well on the footy field. I dont see why Jurrah couldnt succeed at either North or Melbourne.

 

[mattys123]

I think the AFL might be behind this push for a player like Jurrah, who a rich club has put time and money into, ending up at one of the basket cases of the league.

The AFL would see this as a type of equalization matter and would be very happy if he ended up at Melbourne or Nth, and then turned out to be an AFL player in the future.

Having said that, I don't see him as a huge loss, as we already have a number of Aboriginal boys on our list now, and have always questioned Micheal Long's philosophy that the more you have on your list the better you will be.

Essendon have proven him wrong recently, with a lot of early draftees, ranging from Jetta to Dempsey not really setting the world on fire.

Good luck to Liam, wherever he ends up, but let's hope he finds his way to the club that has put time and effort into him, even if the AFL might not want that to occur.

 

[smiddaz123]

Matt Campbell is from Alice Springs and Austin is from the Tiwi Islands. There situation isnt disimilar to Jurrah. Both Matt and Austin have settled well into Melbourne and are both doing well on the footy field. I dont see why Jurrah couldnt succeed at either North or Melbourne.

Austin was drafted from South Australia wasn't he.....?

 

[DoubleO7]

Austin was drafted from South Australia wasn't he.....?

Recruited from Norwood (SANFL)/St Marys Football Club (NTFL)
Austin Wonaeamirri (born 2 October 1988) is an Indigenous (Tiwi) Australian rules football player.

 

[DarwinRoo]

I think the AFL might be behind this push for a player like Jurrah, who a rich club has put time and money into, ending up at one of the basket cases of the league.

The AFL would see this as a type of equalization matter and would be very happy if he ended up at Melbourne or Nth, and then turned out to be an AFL player in the future.

Having said that, I don't see him as a huge loss, as we already have a number of Aboriginal boys on our list now, and have always questioned Micheal Long's philosophy that the more you have on your list the better you will be.

Essendon have proven him wrong recently, with a lot of early draftees, ranging from Jetta to Dempsey not really setting the world on fire.

Good luck to Liam, wherever he ends up, but let's hope he finds his way to the club that has put time and effort into him, even if the AFL might not want that to occur.

If you dont see him as a huge loss then why are you worried about him coming to North or Melbourne.

 

[daics cousin]

We've got to rookie this kid.
He was playing with our VFL side,and there were huge wraps on him,until he got homesick and the pies let him go,home.
Farrrrrrk big mistake !!!
Now the dees or north will snap him up !