Liam Jurrah's attempt at a comeback

[dazzledavey36 49,504]

Is it true that he never touched a drink or a cigarette until he came down to play for Melbourne?

Im pretty sure in his book it mentions tht he has never touched a drop..

Now he hits it hard everyday!

[Coup Cooper 610]

Tiwi Bomber Jurrah aims to kickstart comeback

Hopefully, this will be the start of Liam's regeneration. Last year, ABC1 replayed NTFL games at some ungodly hour at night in the middle of the week. Are they doing that this year?

Happy to see him play again even in a bombers jumper.

Hope he turns it around and gets back in the afl, but it won't be at the dees.. We already have a bloke who jumps over where jurrah used to jump too.. And now we have 3 monster forwards.. I loved watchin him as much as the next person.. But sometimes you only get one opportunity.. Sorry pal, if you were fair dinkum you wouldn't of put yourself in that position..

[dazzledavey36 49,504]

Hope he turns it around and gets back in the afl, but it won't be at the dees.. We already have a bloke who jumps over where jurrah used to jump too.. And now we have 3 monster forwards.. I loved watchin him as much as the next person.. But sometimes you only get one opportunity.. Sorry pal, if you were fair dinkum you wouldn't of put yourself in that position..

Wont be with anyone else either.

[InVINCEable 358]

Hope he turns it around and gets back in the afl, but it won't be at the dees.. We already have a bloke who jumps over where jurrah used to jump too.. And now we have 3 monster forwards.. I loved watchin him as much as the next person.. But sometimes you only get one opportunity.. Sorry pal, if you were fair dinkum you wouldn't of put yourself in that position..

Yeah but he plays like a small forward, could you imagine how exciting a forward line of Clark, Howe, Dawes, Hogan, and Jurrah would be?!

[torpedo 33]

Sorry pal, if you were fair dinkum you wouldn't of put yourself in that position..

This sort of ignorant dribble is so depressing...

Kids that have grown up in a desert community such as Yuendumu are born into poverty and some of the worst housing conditions you will see anywhere in the world and are exposed to disease, murder, suicide, rape and domestic violence from nappies. Every family has found a teenager hanging from the rafters, lost a sister or aunty to domestic violence murder or had to confront sexual abuse, if not all three all of the time. If kids have not succumbed to untreated mental illness and the criminal justice system during their teenage years, the only high education and employment options available are 1,000s of kilometres away in places that are completely foreign and isolating to someone from a remote community. Then when the next inevitable family tragedy occurs these young people feel they have no choice but to pack in their course or job and return to their country to mourn with their family.

Yet people still insist Liam chose to destroy his AFL career the day he threw a can of Emu down his throat.

It is a shame that all the media around Liam's background that was all the rage when he was kicking goals seems to have been so quickly forgotten.

[Coup Cooper 610]

This sort of ignorant dribble is so depressing...

Kids that have grown up in a desert community such as Yuendumu are born into poverty and some of the worst housing conditions you will see anywhere in the world and are exposed to disease, murder, suicide, rape and domestic violence from nappies. Every family has found a teenager hanging from the rafters, lost a sister or aunty to domestic violence murder or had to confront sexual abuse, if not all three all of the time. If kids have not succumbed to untreated mental illness and the criminal justice system during their teenage years, the only high education and employment options available are 1,000s of kilometres away in places that are completely foreign and isolating to someone from a remote community. Then when the next inevitable family tragedy occurs these young people feel they have no choice but to pack in their course or job and return to their country to mourn with their family.

Yet people still insist Liam chose to destroy his AFL career the day he threw a can of Emu down his throat.

It is a shame that all the media around Liam's background that was all the rage when he was kicking goals seems to have been so quickly forgotten.

Look mate, I'm just saying everyone has choices. If he valued his afl opportunity maybe he would of steered clear of that position he found himself in?

But I don't know much on the subject other than the fact he was regarded as a senior in his tribe.. Moving on its a shame what happened..

Yeah but he plays like a small forward, could you imagine how exciting a forward line of Clark, Howe, Dawes, Hogan, and Jurrah would be?!

Yeah he is more of a Buddy type of option.. Look I think he'd need a solid year at Casey and then maybe they'd take him as a mature rookie? That'd be the only way if see it happening..

[samcantstandya 953]

Look mate, I'm just saying everyone has choices. If he valued his afl opportunity maybe he would of steered clear of that position he found himself in?

But I don't know much on the subject other than the fact he was regarded as a senior in his tribe.. Moving on its a shame what happened..

Yeah he is more of a Buddy type of option.. Look I think he'd need a solid year at Casey and then maybe they'd take him as a mature rookie? That'd be the only way if see it happening..

We should draft him as a rookie, it would be gr8 PR and he would get people to games I'd like both him and Garlett at the club. I hope Roos can see the big picture.

[torpedo 33]

Look mate, I'm just saying everyone has choices. If he valued his afl opportunity maybe he would of steered clear of that position he found himself in?

Yes everyone has choices and some of them are awful. What you are saying is that if Liam valued his AFL opportunity he should have steered clear of his own family & country, what sort of a choice is that?

But I don't know much on the subject...

Well if you don't know much about the subject why kick the bloke while he is down? Do some research and educate yourself or even better go on a road trip to the Central Desert or the Kimberley and see for yourself.

[dazzledavey36 49,504]

We should draft him as a rookie, it would be gr8 PR and he would get people to games I'd like both him and Garlett at the club. I hope Roos can see the big picture.

Haha Roos see the big picture? Mate jurrah wouldnt not even make a kodak picture let alone thinking Roos would want this idiot back.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Just as sad is the lack of compassion and understanding from people that think the challenges faced by kids from remote Aboriginal communities such as Liam are as simple as a person staying off the grog.

Liam's life back home had his AFL career in the balance the entire time, long before he got on the grog.

It's possible to have compassion for his background and circumstances and still not want him anywhere near your footy club.

[rjay 24,087]

I just remember the great joy in watching him play. Will he be back? more than most probably not. Is it a shame? yes.

Will he make it back to AFL? the odds are against him, it would take a miracle. They do happen, and I hope it does for Liam but chances are very slim.

For a very brief period he was the most exciting player in the game.

[torpedo 33]

It's possible to have compassion for his background and circumstances and still not want him anywhere near your footy club.

For sure. I do not take an issue with people saying they do not want him back at MFC and never have.

I have an issue with people that think Liam's success or failure at AFL was as simple as him 'pulling his head in', 'being fair dinkum' or 'staying off the grog'. The fact that Liam played as many games as he did was a near miracle and was celebrated as such at the time, then many of those very same supporters that did the celebrating turn on him once it goes bad. That shows that those supporters learnt absolutely nothing from Liam's journey.

[ThreeOneSix 953]

Forget Jurrah, I just hope that all the victims that he hurt throughout the past few years are recovering well.

Football is not going to keep Liam Jurrah out of jail.

[skills32 229]

Jurrah's a hack.

And you're a one trick pony?

Intelligent post.

[torpedo 33]

Forget Jurrah, I just hope that all the victims that he hurt throughout the past few years are recovering well.

Football is not going to keep Liam Jurrah out of jail.

Its unfortunate that this rascist bigot is still allowed on this site. Here is a snapshot of his best form:

Personally I just don't think Jurrah can cope mentally in a professional football environment, it's too far out of his norm.

Our culture will improve without Liam Jurrah's hovelling around the sidelines expecting some sort of special treatment because they are a unique talent - those days, thankfully, are gone.

Mentally fragile players like Jurrah could be easily put off their game.

Jurrah is soft as butter anyway, he'll play a few good games early but he's not mentally capable of playing full-time football.

He is mentally fragile with a body unable to cope with the rigours of AFL.

Without Jurrah it's a big improvement to our culture. I will be relieved when this sociopath is locked up. Too many of his loyal indigenous followers have enabled him for too long.

Liam didn't want to work hard under Neeld. He wouldn't of made it back anyway, he is lazy and mentally soft.

Can this vile turd please be banned.

[Freddy Fuschia 666]

Spoke to liams cousin Darren Talbot and he mentioned that Liam two Mentors in Bailey and Stynes were the big reasons he was doing so well with his life and football. After they left he was really shattered and then Neeldy came in he had absolutely no time for Liam or his issues and family.

Darren had to fly down numerous times to be with Liam and every time he approached Neeld, he found him to be very unapproachable and cold.

Some more post Neeld departure urban mythology. It's been well documented that the racist accusations against him have been discredited as invention and further that the club gave Liam solid support even after he left the club, all the way through the trial and beyond. It's easy to try to find scapegoats in these situations and our country does not have a pleasant history in this area but those who try to deflect blame away from the individual who is mainly responsible for Liam's problems - Liam himself - do him and his people no favours at all.

[robbiefrom13 877]

Yes everyone has choices and some of them are awful. What you are saying is that if Liam valued his AFL opportunity he should have steered clear of his own family & country, what sort of a choice is that?

Well if you don't know much about the subject why kick the bloke while he is down? Do some research and educate yourself or even better go on a road trip to the Central Desert or the Kimberley and see for yourself.

My mate is an Aboriginal elder who had never seen the Centre, so he took off and had an extended look earlier this year. Without prompting him, he spoke at length when he returned about how depressed and depressing and clearly dangerous the place was around and in Yuendumu. Surely, we have no idea.

I'd love to see Liam Jurrah resurrect his career. If he did, please let it be not against us, and please let it be with us!

So he's got problems, he didn't make the choices we reckon we would've. Quite apart from the extraordinary problems of the background he couldn't fully leave, he is also clearly a man with quite extraordinary talent inside him. Talent doesn't conform, often. Beethoven, van Gogh, Leonardo, Mozart, Chopin, Cellini, Picasso, Dylan Thomas, Einstein, Socrates, etc etc etc were all to us weird blokes one way and another, and all certainly made some very peculiar choices. I don't like thugs, but they have their place in a team. I like intelligence, but Ablett was pretty impressive as a footballer. Polly Farmer and Tiger Crosswell and Jeff Farmer etc etc etc had issues. Conclusion: a bit of variety in people doesn't have to be a problem, if you have the management ability to harness it all.

In an homogenised and bland club, or one reeling from its own incompetence, you'd run from the thought of another try with Jurrah; but I trust the management team we now have. I think to so authoritatively condemn the prospect of Jurrah possibly returning to AFL is a sad and dumb response to what for-all-we-on-here-would-know could be a real opportunity for something exceptional. I think narrow-mindedness and lack of imagination/trust (or maybe shell-shock, from disasters unrelated to Liam Jurrah) is colouring some posters' thoughts on the distant glimmer of a possible Jurrah return. Sit tight I say, watch and see - Melbourne-supporting is in new territory, the club is in wiser hands...

[Hannibal 5,814]

Its unfortunate that this rascist bigot is still allowed on this site. Here is a snapshot of his best form:

Can this vile turd please be banned.

I'm not overly enamoured with the poster you're referencing, but I don't see racist comments.

[monoccular 16,473]

Yeah but he plays like a small forward, could you imagine how exciting a forward line of Clark, Howe, Dawes, Hogan, and Jurrah would be?!

It would certainly be a defence coach's nightmare........but sadly will never happen.

[Pitchy 196]

In this debate it should not be understated what a terrible and conflicted organisation the MFC was during Liam's time and how many players walked out or wanted out of the club. Watts was still talking about walking 8 weeks ago. I don't think it's fair to say the players just didn't want to work. It has been toxic down there.

[Bitter but optimistic 21,560]

Yeah but he plays like a small forward, could you imagine how exciting a forward line of Clark, Howe, Dawes, Hogan, and Jurrah would be?!

I would be ecstatic just to get the above together on a regular basis.

[John Crow Batty 8,323]

If he can get focused and shed his distractions he would be great to have back but will take a miracle now.The thing that irks me most about the current Jurrah situation is all the hypocrisy over compassion for him. Has compassion helped him? Trotting out the compassion catch phrase gives far too many absolvence and distance from collective guilt to the indigenous plight. If all this compassion was genuine and channelled to their plight it would have a dramatic positive effect. I particulary found the hypocrisy striking when his co-accused for the machette case were summarily locked up and convicted without a hint of compassion or natural justice whilst Liam due to his celebrity status gets bucket loads of natural justice and acquital. And you compassionate types dont start calling me racist. My wife is part indigenous and I have lots of indigenous friends.

Edited November 8, 2013 by america de cali

[Guest]

I feel sorry for Liam and his situation. People talk about how Liam made ridiculous life choices and to the uninitiated, he did. However if you are suffering from depression then the most obvious of choices are much harder to make. You become self obsessed not necessarily because you are selfish but mostly because you are so wrapped up in your own pain, you will do anything and everything to make it stop. Wonder why depression is so concurrent with alcohol abuse? It's usually to quell the overwhelming anxiety many sufferers feel. People self medicate. Just ask Ian Thorpe.
However, this is a numbers issue in that we must ask how many people will benefit/be damaged by Liam Jurrah's potential return to the AFL. If LJ were to make a return, it would need to be in a stronger culture than ours. Our culture may be great some day as we have a bloke with a track record leading it. However, right now, we just don't have the convenience of picking up a bloke who is just trying to get back on track with his life, let alone his football career. On both those fronts, it would seem he is wobbling.
As far as the MFC and Liam Jurrah go, I sadly must say nay.

[Coup Cooper 610]

Yes everyone has choices and some of them are awful. What you are saying is that if Liam valued his AFL opportunity he should have steered clear of his own family & country, what sort of a choice is that?

Well if you don't know much about the subject why kick the bloke while he is down? Do some research and educate yourself or even better go on a road trip to the Central Desert or the Kimberley and see for yourself.

Now your just putting words into my mouth, I said he shouldn't of put himself in that position, ie a massive tribal battle. Look out for your family sure, but stay away from that side of it. Plenty of aboriginal players would have the same problems..

And I'm not kicking him when he was down, I also suggested we put him on a rookie list if he gets himself together, I was devastated that his afl career was cut short. I loved watching the "Jurrahcaine" by the sounds of it he did what he had to do, whether he was guilty or not I'll never know.. But that year he let himself down and his team mates..

[daisycutter 28,704]

If he can get focused and shed his distractions he would be great to have back but will take a miracle now.The thing that irks me most about the current Jurrah situation is all the hypocrisy over compassion for him. Has compassion helped him? Trotting out the compassion catch phrase gives far too many absolvence and distance from collective guilt to the indigenous plight. If all this compassion was genuine and channelled to their plight it would have a dramatic positive effect. I particulary found the hypocrisy striking when his co-accused for the machette case were summarily locked up and convicted without a hint of compassion or natural justice whilst Liam due to his celebrity status gets bucket loads of natural justice and acquital. And you compassionate types dont start calling me racist. My wife is part indigenous and I have lots of indigenous friends.

not trying to start an argument adc but i don't see how your wife being part indigenous and you having lots of indigenous friends is somehow proof that you can't be racist

just saying