Liam Jurrah

[Roost It 1,434]

Having seen Liam play on Saturday I thought he deserved his own thread. I waited but noone started one so here goes. Of all the players on Melbourne's list Liam provides me with the most excitement. We all know Watts will be good and the likes of Grimes, Morton, Maric, Garland and co will provide us with many highlights over the years. But none of them has what Jurrah has and that is the ability to turn football into an artform. If this kid had come through the "normal" channels to the draft he'd of been a Top 5 pick. I mean name a weakness that is apparent at the moment. His kicking action is, well dare I say it, Perfect. He can take a beautiful mark, he's pretty quick, tackles superbly, notice the way he pulls players to the ground so effortlessly. On top of that he reads the play well and his handballs are pinpoint. Given a few preseasons and some more conditioning he could be anything. Now thats exciting.

[Jarka 767]

We were extremely lucky to get Jurrah in the psd, the kid has a serious amount of talent and could be anything when he fully matures. His story is great as well, being the first to play AFL from central Aus, in years to come he'll become a very important player for the club, both on and off the ground.

[tez 6]

for those who have been to casey have been singing his praises, he looks good on tv but trust me in person looks even better

seriously doubt he would be a top 5 pick given his age though

[Ryan Dee 140]

TOP 5

You cant judge him on how well he is playing now. You have to look back and say, well at the point in time would clubs are taken him then.

Probley around the pick 20 mark at best IMO. His footy was not as good as it is now. Clubs are also very cautious about indigenous players and there is no way he would have gone at pick 5.

[Roost It 1,434]

TOP 5

You cant judge him on how well he is playing now. You have to look back and say, well at the point in time would clubs are taken him then.

Probley around the pick 20 mark at best IMO. His footy was not as good as it is now. Clubs are also very cautious about indigenous players and there is no way he would have gone at pick 5.

When I say had Jurrah come through the "normal" channels I mean had he been playing in the Under 18 comp for several years and had all that extra training and coaching he would be a top 5 pick.

[Ryan Dee 140]

When I say had Jurrah come through the "normal" channels I mean had he been playing in the Under 18 comp for several years and had all that extra training and coaching he would be a top 5 pick.

Ohh I get you know. Yes lucky for us he didnt :D

hope he gets a game next week, or am I not being realistic?

[Roost It 1,434]

Ohh I get you know. Yes lucky for us he didnt :D

hope he gets a game next week, or am I not being realistic?

You'd presume that if his form holds he's about 3 or 4 weeks away, but who knows. I'm very keen to see him at the G

[Deestroy All 14,266]

Art form is an apt description.

Just one handball out of traffic the other day was enough to get me excited, and that was probably the least spectacular thing he did all day.

I don't think I've been so excited about one player since a young Aaron Davey was leaving scorch marks across the field.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Yeah I only saw the second half but what I saw was amazing....

[Geddy Lee 582]

I loved early on when someone had the ball on the far wing, and LJ sprinted past the camera into the forward-line, going one million km/h. Absolute jet.

[Kiss of Death 755]

very quiet! Didn't say a word during the autograph signings! Letting his footy do the talking, i like it.

[Little Goffy 14,635]

The descriptions of Jurrah as a tall forward Aaron Davey not only have me excited, but they all make me refelct a little -

I had the priviledge of seeing Aaron Davey's first game for Melbourne, in the then Wizard Cup, up close and personal at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

He did a few nice things, a couple of tastes of the great high speed tackling, and then... there was a piece of play that will remain etched in my memory.

Ball was just crossing the 50m arc, coming to group amongst a tangle of players. Davey just bolted into it at breathtaking speed, almost scary in so much congestion, it was like he'd been invisible two seconds earlier. At full tilt he slammed into the guy with the ball, it spilled with a barely legit and completely powerless handball, another opposition player gathers it, handballs it off quickly, but Davey is there with another fantastic tackle, this time gathers the ball himself, puts a couple of steps between himself and anyone chasing, and sends it on to the top of the square.

I don't even remember the opponent, or even what happened next, I just remember the sheer elation of seeing such a great bit of play from such a new player.

Quietly I'm hoping that Jurrah will play his first game up in Canberra, get to meet a few politicians and put Yuendumu on their radar, and give me another 'moment' to remember for years and years, leaning against the fence and letting him know how good it was!

[dazzledavey36 55,311]

liam jurrah aint human im telling ya that..

[RalphiusMaximus 6,088]

Art form is an apt description.

Just one handball out of traffic the other day was enough to get me excited, and that was probably the least spectacular thing he did all day.

I don't think I've been so excited about one player since a young Aaron Davey was leaving scorch marks across the field.

Funny thing. I saw that same handball and suddenly said "Holy crap, I think I see what everyone's talking about!" The agility and evasive skill for such a big guy to find space in that mob and then hit a teammate he shouldn't have been able to see was hellishly impressive.

If I have one complaint about what I saw on Saturday it's that he tried to take a big grab from behind when he should have punched, but if that's his only problem then we have a hell of a good player on our hands.

[rusty_kingswood 0]

very quiet! Didn't say a word during the autograph signings! Letting his footy do the talking, i like it.

Haha, he doesn't speak much at all. but I think its more to do with his limited English, as apposed to anything else.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

liam jurrah aint human im telling ya that..

Ha that was funny

[Hards 2]

I had the priviledge of seeing Aaron Davey's first game for Melbourne, in the then Wizard Cup, up close and personal at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

He did a few nice things, a couple of tastes of the great high speed tackling, and then... there was a piece of play that will remain etched in my memory.

Ball was just crossing the 50m arc, coming to group amongst a tangle of players. Davey just bolted into it at breathtaking speed, almost scary in so much congestion, it was like he'd been invisible two seconds earlier. At full tilt he slammed into the guy with the ball, it spilled with a barely legit and completely powerless handball, another opposition player gathers it, handballs it off quickly, but Davey is there with another fantastic tackle, this time gathers the ball himself, puts a couple of steps between himself and anyone chasing, and sends it on to the top of the square.

I too was there and that moment is ethced in my memory as well. I believe he either kicked the goal or it just missed, if I remember it correctly it was at the end to the left of screen when you watch on tv.

A couple of weeks later his first touch against the Cats in the Wizard Cup PF was to get a pass 50m out on the flank, step inside Steven King and kick it around the corner for a goal from 45. Just ridiculous.

I have only seen bits of Jurrah but everything I've heard about him says no one questions his ability, the issue has always been how he can adjust to what is a massive lifestyle change for any Indigenous kid, but even bigger for one coming from Liam's background. From all reports he's going well at the moment, but I think the club may be reluctant to throw him in at the deep end until very late this season, if at all in 09.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I have only seen bits of Jurrah but everything I've heard about him says no one questions his ability, the issue has always been how he can adjust to what is a massive lifestyle change for any Indigenous kid, but even bigger for one coming from Liam's background. From all reports he's going well at the moment, but I think the club may be reluctant to throw him in at the deep end until very late this season, if at all in 09.

Agree. Liam is still learning the AFL game on the field and adjusting to life off it. Loads of talent. Its a matter of focussing it and harnessing it for 4 quarters. Still WIP IMO with a lot of promise.

[Toot182 7]

He was at the after match function yesterday with some of the players that didn't play.

He's a spindly bugger, I'll give him that, not alot of width in the shoulders, but I think it will come.

He seemed very happy signing autographs and posing for photos with everyone that approached him, a big grin on his face but as others have alluded, not talking much. So IMO he's adjusting very well. Seemed to have a good time yesterday, and appreciated the support of the other players around him. Although probably didn't enjoy the rain too much.

I would like to echo the others on here and say I hope he shows us his wares at AFL level this year, and I think come the end of the season we'll have seen him go around a couple of times in the red and blue, and hopefully having a big impact!

[the_russian 17]

I had a chat to Bailey at Fed Sq yesterday and mentioned Liams game on Saturday, Bails rubbed his hands together with excitement and said this kid is going to be very special. Hinted that if he is consistent over the next few weeks we will see him out there sooner rather than later.

His kicking for goals is great, but what got me excited was his defensive pressure, laying tackles all over the place.

[Rocknroll 1,005]

Nice Grab and goal by liam to start this highlight package

[CarnTheDees 52]

Wheatley's goal was huge!

[Roost It 1,434]

Wheatley's goal was huge!

Who cares!!

[jnrmac 20,154]

TOP 5 Clubs are also very cautious about indigenous players and there is no way he would have gone at pick 5.

Tambling went at 4 Franklin went at 5!

[Einstein 1]

Clubs are also very cautious about indigenous players and there is no way he would have gone at pick 5.

Where are you from? 1979? Indigenous players currently make up about 13% of players currently playing in the AFL. Teams are hardly as cautious these days. Franklin was taken at number five, and this was even with plenty of recruiters concerned with his demeanor and off field issues.

As for speculating where Jurrah would have been drafted had he gone through the 'regular' channels, it's hard to say. I'm not sure he would have been a top 5 pick either. But he would have likely gone in the first round or early second. But who really knows?

Either way, it doesn't matter. We took a chance and got him for a bargain.

I can't wait to see him debut in the AFL. Hopefully it's sooner than later. Either way, it's great news he's settling into Melbourne life so well.

Just one more reason to be excited about where the club is heading.