Jurrah set to return!

[Tex 68]

Excellent!

The Jurrah train is without doubt my favourite form of public transport B)

I got the word from a source in the know that Liam is definitely playing in the Casey seniors tomorrow.

Furthermore he's fitness levels are the best they have ever been.

From recent testing he has come back bigger, stronger and faster in all measures that they tested him on.

Great news all round.

[Goat 98]

MELBOURNE’S exciting talent Liam Jurrah will make a return from a shoulder injury he sustained in a practice match during the pre-season.

The indigenous talent will line-up for Melbourne’s VFL affiliate the Casey Scorpions tomorrow against Williamstown.

Demons development coach and Scorpions coach Brad Gotch confirmed today that Jurrah will play in the VFL seniors after Melbourne football manager Chris Connolly said that the club wasn’t sure whether he would play VFL senior or reserves.

“He trained strongly last night so it will be exciting to see him tomorrow,” Gotch said.

Brad Gotch will coach against the team that sacked him at the end of last season

[Guest DeesPower]

He did some pretty impressive things last year with 9 games, starting in round 12. He was underdone then too, you'll find.

I think if you look closely at our season... assuming he makes it into the side at the Swans game, we will be about 6-9-1 by that stage. If we can steal a result from the Saints who needed Roo to beat us last time, or Freo who are slowing a bit... we'll still be in the hunt for a finals berth. (not saying we'll make it... but we need to stay in touch for as LONG as possible, I reckon)

What Jurrah offers us is not necessarily a matchwinner with his injuries... But it makes it a 3 pronged attack up forward. With he, Watts and Miller all available to be regular targets for the long ball. Jurrah would only need 10 touches to be a factor against ANY side in the AFL...

I'm not expecting 30 goals in 8 games... But what he offers us has been sorely missing. It's not like he has oodles of competition. Better to be a forward coming back from injury than a defender or midfielder on this list. Our forwards have been disappointing at best.

Well said. I reckon if he takes out one of the better backs (which he will just because if his quite justified reputation) and therefore eases the pressures on Watts that in itself would be positive.

I agree he was pretty rusty in the early practice matches particularly against the Dons at Visy Park, but was starting to find his form later and I seem to remember before he was injured against I think either the Crows or Eagles he had already kicked two goals including one "trademark" one over his shoulder. I think e en tho he might be a bit rusty he will make a big difference. I'm sure in any case the club will not rush him back into the seniors until he HD showed some form and match hardness. Remember they played Garland after one good game at Casey, and he was ok but it is really only now he is showing his fill potential.

I suspect they will fo something similar with Liam.

Edited June 18, 2010 by DeesPower

[drdrake 3,049]

Is this the first game him and Aussie will play together?

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

Write up in the Hun

[Adzman 2,085]

This is good news! He is the spark this team needs to pick up a few more wins in the second half of the season.

He is going to take a bit longer than we all hope. All I know is that we will be watching him soon.

[Prof 15]

All demon supporters wish the WW all the best. The main aim is for the WW to come off at the end of the game uninjured! I'm sure a certain former player (number 11) will be watching with interest.

[agent_orange 0]

All demon supporters wish the WW all the best. The main aim is for the WW to come off at the end of the game uninjured! I'm sure a certain former player (number 11) will be watching with interest.

The great thing about Jurrah, opposition coaches are nervous about him. He will attract increased attention meaning less attention on our other forwards. Being in the team can only help Watts and others.

[Red Sox 2]

Im off to the game!! See the return of this excitement machine!!

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

We saw the return if not the excitement. Happy he got through the whole game without further injury. On a day like that it's about all you can say.

[Eth 4]

We saw the return if not the excitement. Happy he got through the whole game without further injury. On a day like that it's about all you can say.

How did Jurrah play? Didn't get to watch Casey today

[Felix 92]

How did Jurrah play? Didn't get to watch Casey today

Casey were beaten by 100+ points, Casey kicked 4 goals. Jurrah did not have a chance in hell today. I say throw him into the Crows game...

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

Casey were beaten by 100+ points, Casey kicked 4 goals. Jurrah did not have a chance in hell today. I say throw him into the Crows game...

Hell no. He didn't have a chance in hell today, but he's clearly not ready. There was no defensive pressure from him at all today. I was constantly noticing him standing watching while the play went on nearby. He needs to get himself back to real match fitness and start using that speed to chase guys down before we put him back in.

[Chook 14,610]

Hell no. He didn't have a chance in hell today, but he's clearly not ready. There was no defensive pressure from him at all today. I was constantly noticing him standing watching while the play went on nearby. He needs to get himself back to real match fitness and start using that speed to chase guys down before we put him back in.

Agreed. But there are some people who take the increased responsibility of playing in the AFL to heart, and dramatically increase their second and third efforts accordingly.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Casey were beaten by 100+ points, Casey kicked 4 goals. Jurrah did not have a chance in hell today. I say throw him into the Crows game...

Good. Take the blinfold off and think.

While Jurrah had a tough day at the office. He did little to suggest he is ready for call up.

He is still 3 weeks away IMO.

BTW, none of the MFC players for Casey suggested any reason for potential call up to AFL. KC from Casey had Bell and Johnson as our best. I thought they were ordinary and poor respectively and will be gone at year end.

Cheney was ordinary.

Maric has a contract in 2011 but should be put on the rookie list at year.

???? about the other MFC players there too.

Only positive is that Jurrah got through unscathed.

[Hannabal 4]

Jurrah: played his opponent from behind and didn't work hard enough.

Aussie: has an ar$e the size of a poisoned pup.

Cheney: solid, but is on borrowed time. Not enough dash.

Fitzpatrick: showed pace for such a tall. Didn't contest a mark in the last where a Willi kid ran the wrong way with the flight and marked with no Casey player making body contact. Fitzy had a look and turned his toes up.

Bell: tries. The less said the better.

Strauss: he's soft. Great kick, but he won't make it.

Bennell: needs to find a position. Has class, but needs more strength.

PJ: pass.

Spencer: just won't be skilled enough to make a competent AFL ruckman.

I doubt I've ever seen a side fumble more. Just got back from my boy's under 10's match and they were cleaner in slippery conditions. I'm not exaggerating.

Edited June 21, 2010 by Hannabal

[Matt Demon 1,388]

Fair enough LJ's coming off a long injury but If you take the feild at least have a crack. He didnt chase at all, his 2nd efforts were very poor and just didnt even try to get into the game. Hopefully his next game he gets involved a bit more.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

It actually reminded me a little of the first couple of pre-season games he played. He seemed to be very out of sorts and uninterested at times. He went for a few spectacular things (a couple of big mark attempts, a kick for goal over his head...) but was not putting any effort into basic play. Needs to drastically up his workrate this year.

[Demon3 2,541]

gee we are harsh on a guy that is playing his first game back after a serious shoulder injury. Lets just be thankful he got through. he may have been just instructed to get out there and have a run around. I dont think we could critisice his work rate last year, so i suspect he will get his groove back when he feels comfortable with his injury and his confidence in his shoulder holding up.

[Hannabal 4]

gee we are harsh on a guy that is playing his first game back after a serious shoulder injury.

A poster asked how he played. Do you want people to water down their observations, or just not respond ?

[Red Sox 2]

Correct Rhino.....I saw the entire game, my two year old was enjoying a kick so we stayed ;(

A terrible performance by the majority and not sure how Johnson or Bell could be named in the best, suppose someone had to be named, if you get in the best for continually fumbling, dropping marks and missing free targets (Johnson) then well done.

Jurrah didn't really have a chance after the first qtr, maybe a bit of the 2nd as Willy just took over from there, the entire 3rd qtr was a demolition and not pretty to watch.

Would be great to see Jurrah back ASAP but having a bye with Casey this week is not ideal but I don't think we will see him in Adelaide, likely to be another game at Casey and a likely call up for the Essendon game.

On another note, Jack Fitzpatrick played his first senior game for Casey and while he played like the majority (not effective) he started fairly brightly and read a ball off the pack to snap a goal in the first quarter, for a guy of his size I thought this highlighted how agile he is. A little sign I took from a bad afternoon of footy.

Edited June 21, 2010 by Demon Jack 16

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

On another note, Jack Fitzpatrick played his first senior game for Casey and while he played like the majority (not effective) he started fairly brightly and read a ball off the pack to snap a goal in the first quarter, for a guy of his size I thought this highlighted how agile he is. A little sign I took from a bad afternoon of footy.

Big +1 here. A 2m forward who roves the pack and snaps a goal is always a good thing. He's got a long way to go, but I think he's starting to show us a bit. On the down side there was that marking contest where it looked very much like he pulled out rather than take the front-on contact...

On Jurrah's game, he did have one very nice play. Took a mark on the lead at about 60m. Stepped around the man on the mark, ran to 50 and then sadly missed by a foot or so. He's still got it, it just needs some oil and a good polish.

[Inner Demon 1]

Big +1 here. A 2m forward who roves the pack and snaps a goal is always a good thing. He's got a long way to go, but I think he's starting to show us a bit. On the down side there was that marking contest where it looked very much like he pulled out rather than take the front-on contact...

I saw that passage of play too, but I saw it as Jack arriving to the contest a moment too late and taking the option to not hit the player who had already secured the mark late and give away a 50m penalty in front of goal.

[satyricon 267]

I saw that passage of play too, but I saw it as Jack arriving to the contest a moment too late and taking the option to not hit the player who had already secured the mark late and give away a 50m penalty in front of goal.

Thank you I saw exactly the same thing, what everybody should remember about the game is that the Scorps were playing a team right in form, with the majority of the same players, whereas Casey were 'missing' Gysberts, Miller, Hughes, Healey, Newton, McNamara and Watts who had got them to the top of the table (if you had read Brad Gotch's reports over the last few weeks you will see this), they had Fitzpatrick debuting, Jurrah back after a long term injury, a couple of Scorps players who had been elevated and a home ground advantage to Willy........and it was horrible.

Edited June 21, 2010 by satyricon

[Demon3 2,541]

A poster asked how he played. Do you want people to water down their observations, or just not respond ?

Ease up, just like the poster giving their opinion i am giving mine, think it is harsh. Its fine that he played like that i dont want to be told he played well if he didnt, but thought some slack might be offered in light of his comeback game.

Relax.