Would it hurt...

[THE STING2]

I was at the game yesterday and our forward line really stuck out as lazy and incapable of taking a mark (save for Sylvia who was needed in the middle anyway). Full credit to Howe for having a red hot crack and I can't knock Watts as he was being thrown all over the ground. I'm thinking our forward line should look like this against Freo.

HF: Howe MacDonald Petterd
FF: Watts Green Bennell/Jetta

We are really short on small forwards so Bennell and/or Jetta need to be down there in my opinion. With Garland coming back in I would honestly back MacDonald to take more marks and give more effort and grunt than Greeny or Jurrah. Of course if Green doesn't play forward I don't know where else to put him, useless everywhere at the moment.

Am I the one who thinks that Green should be dropped before Jurrah? Green gives us nothing, his kicking is off and he can't take an overhead mark, he's slow and lazy, at least Jurrah can light things up if he ever gets going.

Green is a burden to the side! He is making Greg Healy's stint as captain look awesome!

 

[Cudi_420]

I am surprised you didn't all anticipate this from Jurrah.

The naked truth is that he is a young man with a very troubled history, not one that any of us can say we've been through. How often do you see players from towns such as his have a fully successful transition into the AFL?

Wonna won't be back. That's a sad truth. And if he does come back, he won't be the same player.

It's very, very hard for Liam, and if any of you ever banked this clubs future partly on his soldiers, you're very naive.

I just never have faith that these players can keep their mind in the sport, and I totally understand and respect that.

 

[lose]

Guys has anyone else heard that Jurrah has been havings some pretty serious tribal issues back home? Think it might be really playing on him..

 

[Demon 16]

I am surprised you didn't all anticipate this from Jurrah.

The naked truth is that he is a young man with a very troubled history, not one that any of us can say we've been through. How often do you see players from towns such as his have a fully successful transition into the AFL?

Wonna won't be back. That's a sad truth. And if he does come back, he won't be the same player.

It's very, very hard for Liam, and if any of you ever banked this clubs future partly on his soldiers, you're very naive.

I just never have faith that these players can keep their mind in the sport, and I totally understand and respect that.

Why are you associating his current form with his background? Are you just talking rubbish or do you know something?

Guys has anyone else heard that Jurrah has been havings some pretty serious tribal issues back home? Think it might be really playing on him..

There has been an issue dating back to last year, and Im not aware of any significant changes since. Check this link out which gives you a bit of background lose..

LINK

Another LINK

Jurrah has family on both sides of the dispute and many of them have been 'exiled' to Adelaide and are currently unable to return to Yuendumu.

Jurrah has not been involved and is reportedly safe with either party.

 

[saj_21]

I think there are some issues off field that are playing on his mind, it may also be his body isnt 100% right. But fact is a lot of footballers go through issues off field and not being 100% he just needs to work through it. If you compare Jurrah's effort to Howe and Watts they are poles apart. One thing the continually frustrates me is Jurrah plays behind his direct opponent and often when a quick kick comes in he is left trialing behind. If he plays in front, runs and jumps at the ball no one can go with him.

IMO our forward line suffer from the stagnant and sideways movement of the ball from the backline. Is it no coincedence that a lot of the whipping boys this year are forward line players, Watts ealry on, Green all year, Bate, Petterd, Dunn and now Jurrah. The blame needs to be shared, forwards don't work hard or often enough, but the backline and midfield need to move the ball quicker, more direct, more precise and go to the first option.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

I am surprised you didn't all anticipate this from Jurrah.

The naked truth is that he is a young man with a very troubled history, not one that any of us can say we've been through. How often do you see players from towns such as his have a fully successful transition into the AFL?

Wonna won't be back. That's a sad truth. And if he does come back, he won't be the same player.

It's very, very hard for Liam, and if any of you ever banked this clubs future partly on his soldiers, you're very naive.

I just never have faith that these players can keep their mind in the sport, and I totally understand and respect that.

You either provide huge proof of this or you can go jump. Wona won't be back? What do you have to go on? That's right, hearsay and assumption. Either give us some background to this info or I'll take it as nothing more than a shaky opinion.

And partly on his "soldiers"??

 

[Spirit of 26]

Green is a burden to the side! He is making Greg Healy's stint as captain look awesome!

I hope, Sir, that you are not disparaging the good name of our past leader, the great Greg "Sugar" Healy?

Did you not see him in the 1990 elimination final hold onto the mark after being shirtfronted by Langford, and them coolly go back and slot it through for a major?

True captain's ability to lead from the front.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

I hope, Sir, that you are not disparaging the good name of our past leader, the great Greg "Sugar" Healy?

Did you not see him in the 1990 elimination final hold onto the mark after being shirtfronted by Langford, and them coolly go back and slot it through for a major?

True captain's ability to lead from the front.

Amen to that. Healy was no superstar but he was a true captain from start to finish.

 

[Cudi_420]

You either provide huge proof of this or you can go jump. Wona won't be back? What do you have to go on? That's right, hearsay and assumption. Either give us some background to this info or I'll take it as nothing more than a shaky opinion.

And partly on his "soldiers"??

Ok, firstly, chill out.

Secondly, I am just saying what I think. I'm trying to highlight that none of us here know what it's like to move from the environment they've been in, to AFL life in a big, new and cold city.

I don't think Wonna will be back. It's just an assumption. I look at his situation, I compare that situation to others in similar ones, I go by what people say about his personality. He has a surprisingly high work ethic, and yet still struggles in areas that dictate complete dedication and commitment, things that can be compromised by personal issues.

All I'm saying is that we should all have a little sympathy for these guys, because it's not an easy transition. They didn't all go to Brighton Grammar, or any school or community that was particularly supportive. They've had to work very hard while their community as hurt in some regard, and this can play on young men, especially those that feel as though they have an obligation to their people due to their success.

So yes, I think that personal issues back home and the environment that they're coming from can have adverse affect on performance, and to be quite honest I think it was always going to be an issue for Jurrah. He isn't some young kid from Brunswick.

This has always been an issue for indigenous players coming into the league. Instead of being naive and ignoring it, look at the bigger picture. It's not that Liam doesn't want to be here. It's just that his mind might be elsewhere, and considering the environment he's come from, you can't blame him. This is where it's very important that the club looks after these guys exceptionally well, as the MFC always has, especially with the like of Wonna and Jurrah. Jurrah could barely speak English when he came to Melbourne.

I am not making up excuses for his lack of form (which isn't that bad anyway), I'm just saying to get off his back. There are some players that have no reason to not have a dip. This kid undoubtedly has a lot on his mind a lot of the time.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Ok, firstly, chill out.

Secondly, I am just saying what I think. I'm trying to highlight that none of us here know what it's like to move from the environment they've been in, to AFL life in a big, new and cold city.

I don't think Wonna will be back. It's just an assumption. I look at his situation, I compare that situation to others in similar ones, I go by what people say about his personality. He has a surprisingly high work ethic, and yet still struggles in areas that dictate complete dedication and commitment, things that can be compromised by personal issues.

All I'm saying is that we should all have a little sympathy for these guys, because it's not an easy transition. They didn't all go to Brighton Grammar, or any school or community that was particularly supportive. They've had to work very hard while their community as hurt in some regard, and this can play on young men, especially those that feel as though they have an obligation to their people due to their success.

So yes, I think that personal issues back home and the environment that they're coming from can have adverse affect on performance, and to be quite honest I think it was always going to be an issue for Jurrah. He isn't some young kid from Brunswick.

This has always been an issue for indigenous players coming into the league. Instead of being naive and ignoring it, look at the bigger picture. It's not that Liam doesn't want to be here. It's just that his mind might be elsewhere, and considering the environment he's come from, you can't blame him. This is where it's very important that the club looks after these guys exceptionally well, as the MFC always has, especially with the like of Wonna and Jurrah. Jurrah could barely speak English when he came to Melbourne.

I am not making up excuses for his lack of form (which isn't that bad anyway), I'm just saying to get off his back. There are some players that have no reason to not have a dip. This kid undoubtedly has a lot on his mind a lot of the time.

If you had said this in the first place then I could have easily seen where you were coming from and, in many ways, you make some good points. What I didn't like was that you said "he won't" rather than "I think", hinting that you claimed to KNOW what was happening rather than just giving us your thoughts and opinions.

It's easy for us to say get off his back and that he has a lot on his mind. The club does some amazing stuff with our indigenous players and I applaud them for that. But, BUT, if his form is poor and he's struggling then we can't allow it to continue simply because he has a lot on his mind. If he is struggling, he gets dropped and we look after him just like we would any other player.

I don't think anyone places our future on Jurrah, or Aussie's, shoulders. Many of us simply see them as an important part of our future going forward. I'd place more on Watts' shoulders than Jurrah's, even before this season.

 

[Djcjdees]

This, unfortunately.

We have no peer when it comes to playing guys back into form.

mate, not sure you'll get too much sympathy on this board. The dees are well renowned at playing struggling sides into form. see north and st kilda from this year. We have a particular knack of playing individuals into form, see goddard, who could not buy a touch prior to playing us and then racked up a lazy 38-odd.