Liam Jurrah

[dee-luded 2,959]

I actually think that Jurrah's pressure isnt that lacking....dont talk this you dont understand bulls..t like your opinion rules, all i said is that i think Jurrah plays a different role, not that he doesnt apply any pressure etc, but he adds something else, everyone on the team needs to tackle, chase and pressure

He does play a different role, and he's "SOFT". One of the softest going around.

Even the club has started this week to mention, ever so subtly that he needs to pull the finger out. http://www.melbourne...01/default.aspx

[Waltham33 475]

Pretty sure he copped a knock to the leg V the Roos - likely he is carrying an injury.

[RudeBoy 164]

He'll kick a bag tomorrow night.

[DemonDave 1,096]

I think we also have to keep in mind this week will be Jurrahs ninth game, equalling the most he has played in a row for the seniors so far. He's still so so new to the game we cant expect a sustained level of brilliance without slight form drops over longer stretches.

[RudeBoy 164]

Liam has kicked the fastest first 50 goals for a decade in the entire AFL, so I wouldn't be worried about how he's traveling. A bit better delivery tonight and he'll add a bag of 6 goals to his tally. Not bad for a kid with less than 30 games under his belt.

[beelzebub 23,390]

Hey RB ..hows tha lad holding up. I cant think of to o many , let alone AFL players that must have "home' weighing on them quite so much. Dont envy him at all.

Im not fussed over Liam's footy. Doing ok with the limited opportunites etc. Many others ahead of him in the 'worry' queue

[demoniac 1,337]

He has to learn to chase and tackle. In 2011 at AFL level it is non negotiable. Too often he jogs along rather than sprinting to cover or at least be closer to the oppoosing player so that when a tackle/turnover opportunity occurs he is close enough to impact on the player. Football these days more than ever is as much about what a player does when they don't have the ball as it is about what they do when they have it.

[Clanger King 9]

He averages 0.9 tackles less then Nathan Jones who is an inside midfielder. Give him a break he's there to kick goals and by what RudeBoy said he's the fastest to 50 goals in the last 10 years which is more impressive considering we have been such a poor scoring team since Liam has been on our list

[Demon2 58]

He is lazy like half his teammates simply as that ]

[PeterJames 46]

Yep think its just all to tough for Liam. May need some time in the twos to figure out a defensive game. The way he plays he would need to kick 6 goals a week. He along with Petterd, bate and juice just don't know where to lead.

[Range Rover 1,935]

This book that is coming out about him is a worry. Far too premature in my opinion.

[Sydney Pennski 309]

I have a premonition about Liam Jurrah.

When the injury list is published on Tuesday night, he won't be on it but there will be speculation about Bailey considering dropping him.

By Wednesday night the rumours will be circulating about a mystery injury and a late report will confirm that he's seeing a specialist on Friday and by Thursday night he'll be declared out of the side with a two week injury.

He's clearly not right and it's a shame to watch him struggling.

[Adam The God 30,617]

I've gotta say he looked injured last week too.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Liam has kicked the fastest first 50 goals for a decade in the entire AFL, so I wouldn't be worried about how he's traveling. A bit better delivery tonight and he'll add a bag of 6 goals to his tally. Not bad for a kid with less than 30 games under his belt.

Says it all really...less than 30 games and with this current game plan?

[Mallee Bull 97]

Hard to judge him too harshly, the delivery was woeful, he was usually outnumbered and only one of 2 focal points with the way we were flooding. Our forwards just can't flourish when our Mids are getting smashed. Put Jamar back in the ruck, a fit Scully and Trengove and an inform Davey and then our midfield can compete. We just don't have enough skilled Mids at the moment. They really need to address this in November with our drafting. We have enough Tall backs, we have some big forwards in Cook, Watts and Fitzpatrick developing, time to really go for some QUALITY mids with genuine pace and skill.

[Grapeviney 9,912]

Still looked a bit out of sorts at times last night but I reckon his workrate - for the most part - improved considerably on the past month.

Was still a spectator on a few occasion but I reckon he tackled, chased and presented pretty well last night.

The fact that he's kicking 2-3 goals a game without really hitting his strides is good enough for me

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

Still looked a bit out of sorts at times last night but I reckon his workrate - for the most part - improved considerably on the past month.

Was still a spectator on a few occasion but I reckon he tackled, chased and presented pretty well last night.

The fact that he's kicking 2-3 goals a game without really hitting his strides is good enough for me

Yeah. A so-so game with a 3 goal haul works for me. Just keep getting it in there and he'll kick 'em.

[Japaljarri 28]

Still looked a bit out of sorts at times last night but I reckon his workrate - for the most part - improved considerably on the past month.

Was still a spectator on a few occasion but I reckon he tackled, chased and presented pretty well last night.

The fact that he's kicking 2-3 goals a game without really hitting his strides is good enough for me

Agree and l heard Bailey on SEN saying as much also and that he thought Liams workrate/tackling were much better this week from recent weeks. This is all part of the enormous journey Liam is on - he is learning a new culture of football, its so hard to communicate the significance and enormity of that. Probably the easiest for those who havent been out here is that no one, no one has ever come from the remote desert communities in Central Australia to play in the AFL.

l have played on Yuendumu oval (and others in this desert) (poorly) many times and you split yourself open the second you get tackled/tackle to ground. Not a blade of grass, and indeed not only dirt but many rocks. l've been hospitalised from skin infections from simple grazes on grounds out here. This (and many other matters such as skill level and body type etc) naturally engenders a free flowing open and attacking style of footy. To my mind its actually better and more attractive but obviously the AFL isnt played like that! His cousin Liam Patrick is now going through the same learning process on the Gold Coast as well.

l reckon Liam is learning alot this year about the intensity of AFL footy, as people became aware of his talent. And now he is really learning to do the hard work off the ball as well as the many wonderful attacking and unique factors he brings to the Dees game (and that are largely overlooked in this thread). He seems to bring a unique value, role, talent and GOALS to the team to me - that will be really important as the Dees grow together over the next few years. But l'm probably biased like everyone out here in the desert

[Guest DeesPower]

Agree and l heard Bailey on SEN saying as much also and that he thought Liams workrate/tackling were much better this week from recent weeks. This is all part of the enormous journey Liam is on - he is learning a new culture of football, its so hard to communicate the significance and enormity of that. Probably the easiest for those who havent been out here is that no one, no one has ever come from the remote desert communities in Central Australia to play in the AFL.

l have played on Yuendumu oval (and others in this desert) (poorly) many times and you split yourself open the second you get tackled/tackle to ground. Not a blade of grass, and indeed not only dirt but many rocks. l've been hospitalised from skin infections from simple grazes on grounds out here. This (and many other matters such as skill level and body type etc) naturally engenders a free flowing open and attacking style of footy. To my mind its actually better and more attractive but obviously the AFL isnt played like that! His cousin Liam Patrick is now going through the same learning process on the Gold Coast as well.

l reckon Liam is learning alot this year about the intensity of AFL footy, as people became aware of his talent. And now he is really learning to do the hard work off the ball as well as the many wonderful attacking and unique factors he brings to the Dees game (and that are largely overlooked in this thread). He seems to bring a unique value, role, talent and GOALS to the team to me - that will be really important as the Dees grow together over the next few years. But l'm probably biased like everyone out here in the desert

Lee Matthews comments on 7 were interesting. He said that if Melbourne had a tall marking key forward, and Jurrah was second or third forward he would be unstoppable. All the more reason we need the russian down there semi permanently, and have big max and Martin share most of the ruck load.

We have the players when they are up and going.We need the Match committee to continue their visionary selections like they did this week.

we will be fine when all are up and running, so long as we do not revert to the hacks.

Play the kids i say. it is working.....

[Jaded No More 68,975]

will be really important as the Dees grow together over the next few years. But l'm probably biased like everyone out here in the desert

Brilliantly insightful post. Thanks!

[Japaljarri 28]

Brilliantly insightful post. Thanks!

Cheers mate - always liked your posts. Out here in the desert no one has ever heard of these tiresome fads like defensive press! And it's no surprise to see your backline flying for marks down in the forward line or flying down the wing in attack! It is sensational footy for anyone who ever gets the chance to see it. Rudeboy knows what it is like out here, he is family for Yuendumu - that is why his forthcoming book will be so interesting. Its a document of an incredible, courageous and historic journey - be it 1 game or 100. It is too difficult to describe what it meant to remote desert mob see one of their own out there for the first time (and now others are coming like Liam Patrick at the Gold Coast (and Liams real cousin) and Zephy Skinner at the Dogs). It seemed impossible and it basically was until Liam.

lm actually a Cat fan but Liam swings everyone in Yuendumu on board. Family comes first. l saw our Cat youngsters grow together. To be honest the rise of the kids was just as enjoyable as seeing them hold that cup up years later. Make sure you guys enjoy the journey.

[Grapeviney 9,912]

To be honest the rise of the kids was just as enjoyable as seeing them hold that cup up years later. Make sure you guys enjoy the journey.

Can be frustrating at times but yep, I'm definitely enjoying watching the new kids on the block start to gel together, including Air Jurrah

And like Jaded said, thanks for the insight and perspective from LJ's family in remote Australia!

[Nasher 33,617]

l reckon Liam is learning alot this year about the intensity of AFL footy, as people became aware of his talent. And now he is really learning to do the hard work off the ball as well as the many wonderful attacking and unique factors he brings to the Dees game (and that are largely overlooked in this thread). He seems to bring a unique value, role, talent and GOALS to the team to me - that will be really important as the Dees grow together over the next few years. But l'm probably biased like everyone out here in the desert

Indeed, I also thought his intensity seemed to improve within the match as well - his second half was much better than his first. The most exciting thing about Liam is that even though there's still a few things in his game that aren't up to scratch yet, he can still kick three goals a match.

I still stake my head with disbelief at the stroke of luck of Liam falling on our plate and I love hearing the stories about his journey here, so I'm also looking forward to Rudeboy's book.

[Sir Why You Little 37,313]

Cheers mate - always liked your posts. Out here in the desert no one has ever heard of these tiresome fads like defensive press! And it's no surprise to see your backline flying for marks down in the forward line or flying down the wing in attack! It is sensational footy for anyone who ever gets the chance to see it. Rudeboy knows what it is like out here, he is family for Yuendumu - that is why his forthcoming book will be so interesting. Its a document of an incredible, courageous and historic journey - be it 1 game or 100. It is too difficult to describe what it meant to remote desert mob see one of their own out there for the first time (and now others are coming like Liam Patrick at the Gold Coast (and Liams real cousin) and Zephy Skinner at the Dogs). It seemed impossible and it basically was until Liam.

lm actually a Cat fan but Liam swings everyone in Yuendumu on board. Family comes first. l saw our Cat youngsters grow together. To be honest the rise of the kids was just as enjoyable as seeing them hold that cup up years later. Make sure you guys enjoy the journey.

Thanks for those words....I thought all our indigenous boys were fantastic last night, L.J. did well in the midfield, he is learning fast. Last week he looked lost.

Belief does go a long way.

[Rogue 585]

Make sure you guys enjoy the journey.

Absolutely