Delisted Liam Jurrah

Logger · Oct 13, 2011

Liam Jurrah 2011 Review:

Todd Viney said:
Liam kicked 40 goals for the year and was our No.1 goalkicker. He’s a really important player and hard to match-up on. But Liam needs to continue to work on his contested possessions and forward line pressure.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/tabid/7415/default.aspx?newsid=125034

tasmanlvr · Oct 13, 2011

I think with the arrival of Misson to the club, Jurrah's going to become a complete player. We see all the freakish skills but with Misson coming along he'll be able to get the defensive pressure that Mark Williams is going on about after every game.

As well as that... he needs to seriously work on his marking. So many simple marks he could take, he drops. (I'm sounding like a broken record here)

LeverPuller · Oct 15, 2011

Posted this over on 'land in reply to a thread on LJ in 2011...

Why not open him up? He's best at floating around and doing his thing, as well as being his most dangerous. Cut him loose - get the others around him to be more team oriented, but let him play something of a self-oriented game. Let him play to his strengths, let him fly for pack marks and take his magic moments, because that's how he's used to playing, and will build his confidence thus getting more out of him.

Do that, coupled with some work on the defensive side of his game (his run and tackle) and he'll be unstoppable I think.

Bond.ShaneBond · Oct 24, 2011

Liam Jurrah 2011 Review

Games: 18
Goals: 40 (Club leader)
Best and Fairest: 121 votes, 13th
Martin Flanagan article mentions: 4

“Do you know what it’s like to be the most athletic guy on the field and then be told don’t follow your instincts? Follow the playbook, no matter what!” –Virgil Merriweather

I feel that this quote from the excellent season 4 of Friday Night Lights can be used to sum up Liam Jurrah’s 2011. In the program, Vince “Where the **** is Wallace?” Howard is a raw footballer who is the most athletic guy on the field. Coach is approaching him like he does all the other players, by getting him to rehearse the set plays, and ignore his instincts. Vince’s form suffers, until he is once again given the freedom to play his natural game. Liam Jurrah in 2011 was a caged beast, who at times appeared uncomfortable and unsure on the field. Let’s look deeper…

Before the season started, most Melbourne supporters would have been drooling at the prospect of an injury free Liam Jurrah. Upon completing his first pre-season uninterrupted, it was excitement time for the red and blue. What could he do this year? How long before he had wrapped up mark and goal of the year? When would he kick his first bag? Win us a match? Get his first mention in a Martin Flanagan article?

Well Flanagan dropped his name in February, seemingly just for fun in an article about Peter Costello, the AFL and philanthropy. Things were looking good for LJ’s supporters. Round one and LJ took a beautiful one hander, it was looking golden. Minds were being cast back to the halcyon days of the early 90s, of Allen Jakovich and David Schwarz. How many would he slot this year? By the time the bye came, LJ had slotted 12 goals from the first four games. A strong 5 goal game against Brisbane was the highlight from this period.

The Warlpiri Wizard had a duck against West Coke, before a treble of threes against Adelaide, North, and St Kilda. But it was a funny thing. 21 goals from 8 games is a fine return, and most Demon faithful would have taken that at the start of the year. But there were mutterings in the outer. “He has to chase.” “He has to get more physical.” “He has to work harder.” For every freak goal there was a half hearted chase. For every burst of talent there was a contest lacking the required physicality.

As the season carried on, more concerns continued to grow, and the mutterings became louder. “He goes missing too often when we need him.” “He scores too many goals in junk time.” “He is being repressed.” The honeymoon period was definitely over; The Cougar was no longer being judged with an asterix next to his name.

We weren’t seeing Jurrah leaping over packs, he was waiting on the ground, seemingly due to the lack of crumbers available for the Demons. As the season wore on, LJ found his goal kicking form waning. The debacle that was 186 was on the cards at the first bounce; LJ was lining up on the wing, next to Jimmy Bartel. Within five minutes Bartel had scored a goal and set up two others. Jurrah was moved forward but the truth seemed clear: the coaching staff was not sure how to use him best. There was nothing to gain by lining him up on the wing against Bartel. That was a match up he was never going to win, and it is still unclear what he was meant to learn from it. The season petered out for Liam after that. He lined up for Casey, got a niggle, came back to the ones where he bagged a pair of threes before injuring his wrist flying high against the Gold Coast.

So what do we make of 2011? He got through his first full(ish) AFL season, which is a massive positive. He kicked 40 goals, playing mostly in an unfamiliar role. Yet, many Melbourne supporters are disappointed with his season. Why is this?

The answer is that it is 2011, and AFL is more of a team game than it has ever been. For a player who is all natural flair, Jurrah is being forced to relearn the game that is so simple to him. What does he know of presses, zones and defensive pressure? The round-by-round assessment provided by Mark Williams from the coaching staff surprised me by the negativity. Every week “forward pressure,” “not working hard enough” or “attack the ball” seemed to be mentioned. Rarely did you see a purely positive week review.

Going forward under Mark Neeld and his new coaching staff will be fascinating. There seems to be two ways they can try to untie the Jurrahcane knot. They can put their hands up, and with the addition of Mitch Clark and the development of Jack Watts and Jeremy Howe, allow Jurrah freedom in the forward 50 to do his thing. To give him licence to fly for the big grabs, and read the play as only a natural can. Or, they can try and mould him into the footballer they want him to be. Focus on the defensive side of his game, and possibly try and turn him into the crumber Melbourne is struggling to find.

This brings me back to the original quote. Is there room in 2012 and beyond for a natural to do what comes naturally? To play an individual game in a team sport? The heart says just let him play, it will work out. In a strong forward line, he won’t be kicking 40 goals in a season. He will be kicking 60+. But the head says that there is no room for someone who doesn’t run hard enough when the ball isn’t in his hands. That you can have the flair, but you need the grit as well.

Daniel Sims sums up the predicament in Angry Boys: “It’s shit when adults are right and kids are wrong.” Liam Jurrah still plays AFL like a kid in the playground; and we all fell in love with him for it. But it is time to start playing like a man. To get some highlights when the ball isn’t in his hands. This is what we want to see in 2012. We still want the Warlpiri Wizard, but we also want the modern footballer.

And we also want some more Martin Flanagan articles.

The Dr · Oct 26, 2011

That was absolutely amazing, well written, accurate and thought provoking mate. Better than half the stuff we read from professional journos!! :thumbsu:

It's actually worthy of a thread on the main Demons board as it could get lost in here.

FWIW, I think, with the recruitment of Clark and the maturation of Watts and Howe, Jurrah will be given the freedom to roam and be an extra dangerous, agile, tall crumber.

Spirit of 39 · Mar 5, 2012

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/130101/default.aspx

I hope all is ok in Yuendumu.

LeverPuller · Mar 5, 2012

Spirit of 39 said:
http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/130101/default.aspx

I hope all is ok in Yuendumu.

Hopefully RudeBoy over on 'Land will pop in soon, give us an update.

Spirit of 39 · Mar 5, 2012

Striker475 said:
Hopefully RudeBoy over on 'Land will pop in soon, give us an update.

Striker,

If RudeBoy does pop up can you cut and paste his post over here?

Cheers mate!

For those that don't know Bruce Hearn Mackinnon, the author of LJ's biography, posts on Demonland from time to time under the username of RudeBoy. He gives a great insight into what's happening with Liam and his home life. :thumbsu:

RandB · Apr 20, 2012

A brief update on Liam.

AFL Website: Jurrah set for VFL comeback

MELBOURNE forward Liam Jurrah is expected to resume playing in the VFL next week as his court case nears.

...

"At this stage we just want him to play initially and if his form is good enough at Casey, then he will be available for selection after that," Demons football manager Josh Mahoney told The Age.

fushy · Apr 20, 2012

Awesome, hope he dominates the VFL by doing a bicycle kick-goal mid-speccy.

But would we name in him in our 22? not sure we would.

ThePuppetMaster · Apr 20, 2012

Heath Scotland's still playing for Carlton isn't he?

He's been charged with an assault.

Bartram_Class · Apr 20, 2012

On the Robbo Show, Neeld seemed to indicate he could play against Geelong if he plays well enough for Casey next week.

SuburbanMe · Apr 21, 2012

fushy said:
Awesome, hope he dominates the VFL by doing a bicycle kick-goal mid-speccy.

But would we name in him in our 22? not sure we would.

I think Neeld would certainly give him a crack. Got nothing to really lose having Jurrah, Clarke, and Watts as 3 main forwards Backed up by Howe and Davey or Couch.

Captain Jack · Apr 22, 2012

SuburbanMe said:
I think Neeld would certainly give him a crack. Got nothing to really lose having Jurrah, Clark, and Watts as 3 main forwards Backed up by Howe and Davey or Couch.

No he meant in terms of the pending court case and all that junk... of course he's in our best 22, no question at all about that.

Eth · May 20, 2012

Liam Jurrah - revised to 4 - 6 weeks

This one got swept under the rug, although understandably with the chaos around.

It seems like he may have fractured his fibula, which is seriously shit news. Ten week injury, that one.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/136347/default.aspx

MELBOURNE ace Liam Jurrah could be set to miss up to 10 weeks with a fractured fibula.

Jurrah injured his lower leg and was forced to limp off the ground in the third quarter of Melbourne's 101-point loss to Sydney at the SCG on Saturday.

Contacted on Sunday by AFL.com.au, the Demons said they were waiting on further scans before they could confirm the extent of the injury.

But AFL.com.au medico Dr Peter Larkins has said Jurrah could be set for a ten-week layoff if, as expected, the 23-year-old has sustained a fractured fibula.

If the news is slightly better, torn ligaments in his ankle will mean Jurrah will still be sidelined for up to six weeks.

Carusiii · May 20, 2012

Re: Liam Jurrah

Oh ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffs

Bluelegs · May 21, 2012

Re: Liam Jurrah

How is it this guy keeps getting injured?

RandB · May 21, 2012

Re: Liam Jurrah - revised to 4 - 6 weeks

Some better news on Jurrah.

MFC Website: Jurrah to miss 4-6 weeks

Liam has been diagnosed with a low grade, high ankle sprain. Scans confirmed that there was no fracture of the ankle.

Covertackle · May 21, 2012

Re: Liam Jurrah - revised to 4 - 6 weeks

brett stewart, manly fullback, rarely took the field during his 'rape' case. first he was suspended by the league, then when he returned he suffered 2 knee reconstructions. he ended up beating the conviction.

but he never became a regular player again until his court dramas were over. he has been picked for NSW state of origin team on wednesday.

jurrah may be in the same mental place. injury may keep him sidelined until his court case is cleared up.

players hadle adversity differently. ray lewis of the baltimore NFL team won a superbowl while going through a murder case. he was also awarded the mvp of the game...

jurrah seems to be going down stewarts path...

ExTasDeeMan · May 21, 2012

Re: Liam Jurrah - revised to 4 - 6 weeks

It was originally 10 weeks, but it's now 4-6 (for good behaviour).

*Dodges stones...

jurrahcane_24 · May 21, 2012