How good is Jurrah going to get?

[Red Sox 2]

Ahem. Allen Jakovich, whatever planet he's currently residing on, passes on his regards. Just look at his 1991 debut season:

Allen Jakovich

Who's first 20 games were better? More enjoyable?

[DemonDave 1,078]

Who's first 20 games were better? More enjoyable?

Thats a good question. One suspects Jurrahs retrospective career highlights when he's done will be significantly longer than Jakas, but I think I got more fulfillment out of watching Jakovich play overall. He was a genuine old-style 'spearhead', a player that you looked for 11 times out of 10 like Dunstall-Hawthorn, Lockett-St Kilda, Beasley-Footscray etc.

His 14 game tally of 71 goals 57 points for that his debut year is beyond comprehension. Thats 128 shots on goal in his first 14 games or 9 shots at goal a game (not even counting the OOFs of which there were several).

I love the fact people will come to watch Jurrah play, and the visible roar when he goes near the ball. We havent had that arguably since Jeff Farmer in his prime.

In a way Jurrah reminds me of Buddy Franklin. Franklin kicked 21.13 in his first 20 games of football in 05, and 31 from 14 in his second year, before truly exploding with 73 and 113. He was seen as having a poor year last year but still kicked 64. I hope Jurrah can get to this level of output expectation.

[The Chazz 4,077]

Because they're doing such a good job of that at the moment.

Think Watts, Bennell, Davey, Strauss and Jurrah

Bitter, bitter man.

Apart from Davey, how long have those other guys, or should I say kids, been on our list? To be honest, Scully could fit in to that list - a few times last year, well, as many as Bennell, Tom probably didn't attack a ball tha twould make him fully proud. Add Morton too.

As I said in a post recently, I heard a National level Rugby coach talk about how he was approached by an Aussie Rules team (not AFL level) to teach them how to tackle. He told the coach that tackling is 90% above the shoulders of the tackler. If they WANT to tackle someone hard, he can teach them the right techniques. If they don't want to tackle hard, he can only teach them so much. Was a very interesting way of looking at it.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,392]

Can we please have another semantical argument about what a 'star' is? Or an A-grader?

Superstar > Champion > Elite > Star > A-Grade > most footballers > hack > spud > anyone who walked out on MFC (Bruce, McLean, etc)

How's that order? And what's missing?

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Superstar > Champion > Elite > Star > A-Grade > most footballers > hack > spud > anyone who walked out on MFC (Bruce, McLean, etc) > Jack Watts

[rpfc 27,413]

Clever...

[Chook 14,456]

Superstar > Champion > Elite > Star > A-Grade > most footballers > hack > spud > anyone who walked out on MFC (Bruce, McLean, etc)

How's that order? And what's missing?

Liam Jurrah > Legend > Champion > Superstar > Elite > Star > A-Grade > B-Grade > most footballers > hack > spud > publicity recruit.

[old55 21,227]

The advantage he brings is his unpredictability but that delivers the outstanding and the dire. We could drill him in team rules and we'd eliminate the dire but we'd also blunt his brilliance. It's a tough one - Liam could become cake but I think he's more value as icing. I think we should just let him play his own game and accept the highs and lows. In a big, tight final his X-factor could truly be a game breaker.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

The advantage he brings is his unpredictability but that delivers the outstanding and the dire. We could drill him in team rules and we'd eliminate the dire but we'd also blunt his brilliance. It's a tough one - Liam could become cake but I think he's more value as icing. I think we should just let him play his own game and accept the highs and lows. In a big, tight final his X-factor could truly be a game breaker.

no doubt about it

didn't he kick 3 out of 4 goals last week when we trailed by 5, you could easily argue we'd have lost the match without 15 minutes of his brilliance

[The Chazz 4,077]

The advantage he brings is his unpredictability but that delivers the outstanding and the dire. We could drill him in team rules and we'd eliminate the dire but we'd also blunt his brilliance. It's a tough one - Liam could become cake but I think he's more value as icing. I think we should just let him play his own game and accept the highs and lows. In a big, tight final his X-factor could truly be a game breaker.

I would love to see him play in a final. Big crowd, MCG, fine weather, it could be an amazing site.

The only thing about his unpredictability is that he is also that to his own teammates! It's a bit like Scully - in his own head he knows where his player should be running to, so he'll put the ball there, but his player didn't know to run to there. Happened a heap of times with Scull last year I reckon, and has already happened a couple of times this year with LJ.

[Striker475 696]

He's an absolute freak. The things he can pull off...

Reminds me of a certain number 33.

[The Chazz 4,077]

He's an absolute freak. The things he can pull off...

Reminds me of a certain number 33.

Greg Healy?

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,392]

He's an absolute freak. The things he can pull off...

Reminds me of a certain number 33.

Stefan Martin (in his first year)?

[Guest Thomo]

I would love to see him play in a final. Big crowd, MCG, fine weather, it could be an amazing site.

The only thing about his unpredictability is that he is also that to his own teammates! It's a bit like Scully - in his own head he knows where his player should be running to, so he'll put the ball there, but his player didn't know to run to there. Happened a heap of times with Scull last year I reckon, and has already happened a couple of times this year with LJ.

Scully's disposal is poor, that's why he turns over the ball.

[Nasher 33,047]

The advantage he brings is his unpredictability but that delivers the outstanding and the dire. We could drill him in team rules and we'd eliminate the dire but we'd also blunt his brilliance. It's a tough one - Liam could become cake but I think he's more value as icing. I think we should just let him play his own game and accept the highs and lows. In a big, tight final his X-factor could truly be a game breaker.

I read somewhere last year(?) that Bailey and co had decided that they would not "coach" Liam in a footy sense, so it would seem the FD agree with your assessment.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Scully's disposal is poor, that's why he turns over the ball.

I heard he's going to GWS

[old55 21,227]

I read somewhere last year(?) that Bailey and co had decided that they would not "coach" Liam in a footy sense, so it would seem the FD agree with your assessment.

It's quite likely I read that too then.

[Guest Thomo]

The advantage he brings is his unpredictability but that delivers the outstanding and the dire. We could drill him in team rules and we'd eliminate the dire but we'd also blunt his brilliance. It's a tough one - Liam could become cake but I think he's more value as icing. I think we should just let him play his own game and accept the highs and lows. In a big, tight final his X-factor could truly be a game breaker.

The problem with that is the opposition might score six times due to lack of pressure and Jurrah fading in and out of the game.

I think we need to have a balance for him to be a success. I noticed in the first couple of games Jurrah was flying for screamers every time the ball came near him, and not looking very dangerous down forward. Last week he seemed to be leading harder and chasing harder resulting in a much better game, so I think the football department is on the right track with him.

[The Chazz 4,077]

Scully's disposal is poor, that's why he turns over the ball.

Not entirely true. He will improve on his kicking, but I think his handballing is up there with the best at the club. As I said, I think the main issue is that Scully knows exactly where a player should be, and rockets one to the spot, but if that player isn't there, it can make his disposal look poor. I think his mind works too quick for some of our players, but I could be wrong!

[old55 21,227]

The problem with that is the opposition might score six times due to lack of pressure and Jurrah fading in and out of the game.

I think we need to have a balance for him to be a success. I noticed in the first couple of games Jurrah was flying for screamers every time the ball came near him, and not looking very dangerous down forward. Last week he seemed to be leading harder and chasing harder resulting in a much better game, so I think the football department is on the right track with him.

Agree there's some minimum standards and team rules that he has to follow but to fully school him in defensive positioning etc may be counter-productive. I'm in no way suggesting he couldn't become a cog but I'm not sure that's what we want.

We may be saying "What the 4^&% is Jurrah doing?" but the fun really starts when the opposition is saying it.

Edited April 14, 2011 by old55

[H_T 2,941]

Stefan Martin (in his first year)?

No. Cameron Hunter.

[Roost It 1,434]

Bitter, bitter man.

Apart from Davey, how long have those other guys, or should I say kids, been on our list? To be honest, Scully could fit in to that list - a few times last year, well, as many as Bennell, Tom probably didn't attack a ball tha twould make him fully proud. Add Morton too.

As I said in a post recently, I heard a National level Rugby coach talk about how he was approached by an Aussie Rules team (not AFL level) to teach them how to tackle. He told the coach that tackling is 90% above the shoulders of the tackler. If they WANT to tackle someone hard, he can teach them the right techniques. If they don't want to tackle hard, he can only teach them so much. Was a very interesting way of looking at it.

I'm not a bitter man and yes you can add Morton to the list. The fact remains that one of our main problems of this club is it's inherant softness, both real and perceived. All the skill in the world won't win us a Premiership if we don't add some serious toughness. Thankfully I reckon Jim Stynes is aware of this.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,392]

Not entirely true. He will improve on his kicking, but I think his handballing is up there with the best at the club. As I said, I think the main issue is that Scully knows exactly where a player should be, and rockets one to the spot, but if that player isn't there, it can make his disposal look poor. I think his mind works too quick for some of our players, but I could be wrong!

I'm old enough to remember Robert Flower (and even earlier still). He had exactly the same problem - so when he played in the Victoria State of Origin team he was invariably in the best players because when he disposed of it those players were good enough to be in the right place at the right time. He was undoubtedly the best MFC player I have seen. If Scully comes close, we'll be very, very happy.

[Striker475 696]

No. Cameron Hunter.

I could say Byron, but I think we all know which number 33.

[The Chazz 4,077]

I could say Byron, but I think we all know which number 33.

From memory, we were the first club to drop our captain ("Sugar" Healy #33) due to poor performance. This would've been in the late 80's. Anyone old enough to remember that? I was born at the start of that decade, so was in my late single figures.