JURRAH CLOSE TO TAKING THE FIELD

YUENDUMU star Liam Jurrah is "not far away from playing" according to Demons' development coach Kelly O'Donnell.

The number one pick in the 2008 pre-season draft has been lighting up the track in recent weeks, with O'Donnell confident Jurrah will pull on the boots very soon.

O'Donnell, who has worked closely with Liam since his arrival in Melbourne, said the club has carefully managed his workload to ensure he does not break down.

He said: "His skills are no problem at all."

Looking forward to seeing him play.

exciting stuff with any luck will be putting pressure on some of the forwards very soon!

JURRAH PUSHING THROUGH THE LANGUAGE BARRIER

I hope he can cope with life in Melbourne!

I knew it was a risk taking him and the club did say that at the time of drafting him.

This is a big job and if it can be pulled off it will be a great AFL story , because from all reports skills and talent is no where near the problem.

I knew it was a risk taking him and the club did say that at the time of drafting him.

This is a big job and if it can be pulled off it will be a great AFL story , because from all reports skills and talent is no where near the problem.

Great article. We wish him well and I am sure all die hard Demons will embrace and support him.

Undoubtedly is a big task for him BUT he will be able to rely on a very sound group of indigenous players at the MFC led by Aaron, Wheels and Aussie who all come from the top end.

As you say Mousey it will be a great story for AFL, the MFC and for Liam and his people if he can succeed. Lets hope they can make sure he debuts at the G so we can all be there to cheer him on!!

As an anecdote the club (unless the situations been sorted in the past two weeks) is looking for a host family to take in Liam Jurrah and his girlfriend.

If anyone can help out please contact the club, I'd suggest that Ian Flack would be the best person to talk to re this matter.

As an anecdote the club (unless the situations been sorted in the past two weeks) is looking for a host family to take in Liam Jurrah and his girlfriend.

If anyone can help out please contact the club, I'd suggest that Ian Flack would be the best person to talk to re this matter.

Actually Liam and his partner currently live with my family. The club is now looking for their own place, rather than with a host family. BTW, he's settling in really well at Melbourne, he has bonded with a number of the players - not just the indigenous ones - and is fit and raring to go. The coaching staff, especially Ian Flack, have been terrific. I reckon Dees supporters will get very excited when they finally get the opportunity to see him play.

Actually Liam and his partner currently live with my family. The club is now looking for their own place, rather than with a host family. BTW, he's settling in really well at Melbourne, he has bonded with a number of the players - not just the indigenous ones - and is fit and raring to go. The coaching staff, especially Ian Flack, have been terrific. I reckon Dees supporters will get very excited when they finally get the opportunity to see him play.

RudeBoy, Does Liam expect to play for Casey in round 1?

As an aside, did you get your username from the film that features The Clash?

Actually Liam and his partner currently live with my family. The club is now looking for their own place, rather than with a host family. BTW, he's settling in really well at Melbourne, he has bonded with a number of the players - not just the indigenous ones - and is fit and raring to go. The coaching staff, especially Ian Flack, have been terrific. I reckon Dees supporters will get very excited when they finally get the opportunity to see him play.

Saw him at Luna Park on Sunday, can't wait to see him play. He had a massive smile on his face, he was handballing footy's to improve kids skills along with Cale Morton -with hundreds of kids.

RudeBoy, Does Liam expect to play for Casey in round 1?

As an aside, did you get your username from the film that features The Clash?

Liam expects to play for Casey in round one, but ultimately it's up to the coaching staff to make that call. I guess if it was up to Liam he'd be playing full forward for the Dees in round one! One thing he doesn't lack and that is confidence in his football ability. Let me tell you, having seen him play in Central Australia, his confidence is well founded. Anyway, before I get carried away raving about his prodigious talents, it's simply worth knowing that the coaching staff at Melbourne seem really happy with his training so far, but just want to make sure he's physically prepared before they throw him in to the thick of it. So far, so good.

As for my username RudeBoy, back in the 1980s I was a musician in a ska band. Followers of ska were called rudeboys or rudies.

Rudeboy,

Thanks for putting Liam up. Your support is invaluable in assisting the young fella settle. I have heard similar things about the support Liam is receiving and it's just terrific to hear. I ran into a few people from Yuendumu this morning, some in Demons gear, they are pumped!! It would be so exciting to have a young man from central Australia playing not only for the Dees but in the AFL. Thanks again mate, we appreciate your support.

Can not wait to see him play some footy, even if it is for Casey. It is great to see for all of our off field issues re lack of fund and the like Bails and Pend were not afraid to take the task on.

thanks for the update RB. Anyone who knows of a place for them to rent pass on to the club

Actually Liam and his partner currently live with my family. The club is now looking for their own place, rather than with a host family. BTW, he's settling in really well at Melbourne, he has bonded with a number of the players - not just the indigenous ones - and is fit and raring to go. The coaching staff, especially Ian Flack, have been terrific. I reckon Dees supporters will get very excited when they finally get the opportunity to see him play.

Well done Rudeboy!

Liam expects to play for Casey in round one, but ultimately it's up to the coaching staff to make that call. I guess if it was up to Liam he'd be playing full forward for the Dees in round one! One thing he doesn't lack and that is confidence in his football ability. Let me tell you, having seen him play in Central Australia, his confidence is well founded. Anyway, before I get carried away raving about his prodigious talents, it's simply worth knowing that the coaching staff at Melbourne seem really happy with his training so far, but just want to make sure he's physically prepared before they throw him in to the thick of it. So far, so good.

As for my username RudeBoy, back in the 1980s I was a musician in a ska band. Followers of ska were called rudeboys or rudies.

I agree with those sentiments of thanks RudeBoy.

I'm just wondering at the difference between what seems to me to be Melbourne's very conservative approach to Liam's development this year and the way he was treated at Collingwood with its VFL team last year. I don't mean to be critical of Collingwood because, after all, he wasn't a listed player but it seems to me that he was thrown in at the deep end last year and played games almost as soon as he arrived here. How does Liam view this?

As a Melbourne supporter I think I echo evrybody's sentiments when I say we're as keen as he is to see him out there on a footy field.

I must have missed something in the 80's. What's a ska band?

Liam expects to play for Casey in round one, but ultimately it's up to the coaching staff to make that call. I guess if it was up to Liam he'd be playing full forward for the Dees in round one! One thing he doesn't lack and that is confidence in his football ability. Let me tell you, having seen him play in Central Australia, his confidence is well founded. Anyway, before I get carried away raving about his prodigious talents, it's simply worth knowing that the coaching staff at Melbourne seem really happy with his training so far, but just want to make sure he's physically prepared before they throw him in to the thick of it. So far, so good.

As for my username RudeBoy, back in the 1980s I was a musician in a ska band. Followers of ska were called rudeboys or rudies.

Thanks RudeBoy for your support. Fantastic. I wish Liam Jurrah all the best in his endeavours.

I agree with those sentiments of thanks RudeBoy.

I'm just wondering at the difference between what seems to me to be Melbourne's very conservative approach to Liam's development this year and the way he was treated at Collingwood with its VFL team last year. I don't mean to be critical of Collingwood because, after all, he wasn't a listed player but it seems to me that he was thrown in at the deep end last year and played games almost as soon as he arrived here. How does Liam view this?

As a Melbourne supporter I think I echo evrybody's sentiments when I say we're as keen as he is to see him out there on a footy field.

I must have missed something in the 80's. What's a ska band?

Liam is very thankful for the experience he had last year with Collingwood's VFL squad, but you are right, in that being a VFL player is a totally different experience to being on an AFL list. It would be like him being a non-Melbourne player on Casey's squad list. Nevertheless, I think it has been to Melbourne's benefit that he had that experience last year, not just in terms of football preparation, but more importantly, in coming to terms with living in a big city so far from home, family and friends. The very fact that he chose to put his hand up for the PSD, knowing what life would be like living in Melbourne, is testament to his commitment. As a non-demon person, let me just say that the entire football department at Melbourne have been incredibly supportive and encouraging of Liam, and I reckon it will pay off big time for the Dees. Forget about his stint with the VFL Magpies, he's a Demon to the core now. In fact I often joke with him that I expect him to kick 10 goals against the Pies at his first opportunity...in return he just gives me a knowing smile.

As for ska music, it's actually a Jamaican form of rhythm n blues, which pre-dates reggae. It had a resurgence in the UK in the late 70s and 80s with bands like Madness and The Specials. In Australia, my band Strange Tenants (www.strangetenants.com), was the main ska outfit in the country.

I am yet to see Liam play, has he played any practice matches, did he play intra-club? Has he got his fitness up? TELL ME I NEED TO KNOW!!!!!

In Australia, my band Strange Tenants (www.strangetenants.com), was the main ska outfit in the country.

Fellow Demonlanders, we are in the presence of greatness. Massive Fan. Welcome to the forums.

As for ska music, it's actually a Jamaican form of rhythm n blues, which pre-dates reggae. It had a resurgence in the UK in the late 70s and 80s with bands like Madness and The Specials. In Australia, my band Strange Tenants (www.strangetenants.com), was the main ska outfit in the country.

Thanks very much for the additional information on Liam, I hope everything turns out well for him and he has a long and happy career with the MFC. I saw one of his first training runs with us and he looked to enjoying the experience.

Would that make you Evil or Boots, Rudeboy?

Thanks very much for the additional information on Liam, I hope everything turns out well for him and he has a long and happy career with the MFC. I saw one of his first training runs with us and he looked to enjoying the experience.

Would that make you Evil or Boots, Rudeboy?

Boots.

C'mon WJ. You can't be that old or that young to have missed the Ska revival!

I reckon you'd like it so check out Strange Tenants then hit YouTube and try the Specials or Madness and take it from there.

Welcome Rudeboy. Great band and great effort.

Boots.

Rudeboots...has Liam grasped the irony of moving all the way from central Australia to live with a guy who plays in a band called the strange tenants?

Rudeboots...has Liam grasped the irony of moving all the way from central Australia to live with a guy who plays in a band called the strange tenants?

Now that you mention it....

Thanks very much for the updates RudeBoy. You sound like a terrific person. Go Liam!