On first reading this http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-07-19/club-reconciliation-action-plan-launched  I wasn't to sure what to make of it or what it really meant.

But when I read this http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/liam-jurrah-back-in-demon-fold-20170719-gxei8e.html about Liam Jurrah, I got it.  Its really good to hear Liam is getting his life back together again.

And, kudos to Peter Jackson, Neville Jetta et al for getting this program going.  It is substantive and not mere tokenism.  And how good is it to see "Jurrah, who hails from Yuendumu, a remote indigenous community in the Northern Territory, joined former teammates Austin Wonaeamirri and Aaron Davey at the RAP launch, with current indigenous players Neville Jetta and Dion Johnstone also in attendance". (I think Jeffy wasn't there because he was back in WA)

Those guys have given us so many exciting times and still more to come from Jet, Jeffy and Dion. 

Edit 1:  Melbourne will wear its Indigenous guernsey, designed by artist Mandy Nicholson, for the first time on the ‘G this weekend. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-07-19/jetta-a-man-for-all-people That article is a great tribute to Jetta.  Jetta the player, the family man, the leader, the much loved Demon Champ!

Edit 2:  Fab pics!  http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-07-19/gallery-reconciliation-action-plan-launch

2 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

 

And, kudos to Peter Jackson, Neville Jetta et al for getting this program going.  It is substantive and not mere tokenism.  And how good is it to see "Jurrah, who hails from Yuendumu, a remote indigenous community in the Northern Territory, joined former teammates Austin Wonaeamirri and Aaron Davey at the RAP launch, with current indigenous players Neville Jetta and Dion Johnstone also in attendance". (I think Jeffy wasn't there because he was back in WA)

 

Dion Johnstone is aboriginal? Now I am more excited about his prospects.

so awesome. i love this club

13 minutes ago, Rocky said:

so awesome. i love this club

Good stuff Dees. Leading the way. I like it.

Would be great to see us become the go-to destination for aboriginal players.

Jurrah is possibly the biggest wasted talent to ever depart this club. (attacking, not defensive). Would be nice if this makes it easier for indigenous players to make the transition to the big smoke, and keep them around longer.

Well done Nev. You are a true asset to this club, on and off the field. 

How good is it seeing photos of Jurrah, Aussie, flash and Jetta together!

Good luck and all power to those engaged and involved.

44 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Dion Johnstone is aboriginal? Now I am more excited about his prospects.

How do you mean?

Anyone have any idea how to circumvent the Age paywall when you've used up all your freebies

Note: found the Jurrah article it in the SMH.

1 minute ago, Skuit said:

Anyone have any idea how to circumvent the Age paywall when you've used up all your freebies?

Use another gadget

2 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Anyone have any idea how to circumvent the Age paywall when you've used up all your freebies?

Go to incognito mode or delete history/cookies/etc

4 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Anyone have any idea how to circumvent the Age paywall when you've used up all your freebies

Note: found the Jurrah article it in the SMH.

Delete history and cookies.

2 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Use another gadget

My electric can opener doesn't seem to be working.

 

Just now, Skuit said:

My electric can opener doesn't seem to be working.

 

Strange, it came right up on my electric toothbrush

5 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Anyone have any idea how to circumvent the Age paywall when you've used up all your freebies

Note: found the Jurrah article it in the SMH.

click link, then just cut/paste the text of article title into google. click first hit. the click x on popup. works every time for me

4 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Strange, it came right up on my electric toothbrush

Is this the Internet of things gone mad? 

So . . . on whether Liam wants to return to the AFL:  'I'm not pretty sure about that'     ?

 

 

6 minutes ago, Skuit said:

So . . . on whether Liam wants to return to the AFL:  'I'm not pretty sure about that'     ?

 

 

Liam said on several occasions on 7 News that he wants to stay close to family as he rebuilds his life. I suspect he is happy playing local footy but was more than happy to encourage other indigenous players to pursue their AFL dreams. 

Liam made his own choices in life Had plenty of support of that I am sure

hope his life is good from  here on

Tragic waste of talent for the Dees

1 hour ago, faultydet said:

Good stuff Dees. Leading the way. I like it.

Would be great to see us become the go-to destination for aboriginal players.

Jurrah is possibly the biggest wasted talent to ever depart this club. (attacking, not defensive). Would be nice if this makes it easier for indigenous players to make the transition to the big smoke, and keep them around longer.

Well done Nev. You are a true asset to this club, on and off the field. 

Meh the further away from that time it gets, the more I think we were lucky enough to see the Jurrah comet flash before us. 

We were fkd as a club at that point and for us to try and bring someone from so remote into Melb probably wasn't going to work. To be fair I don't know if it would have work at any club. Not saying anything about the individuals involved but it just seemed like such a massive leap from "there" to here let alone the fact we were lead in the playing group so poorly.

Such a complex scenario.

Outside of Liam how amazing has Jetta been for our football club and the community. What a wonderful young man, I'll be putting his number in my boys jumper from here on.

 

20 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Meh the further away from that time it gets, the more I think we were lucky enough to see the Jurrah comet flash before us. 

We were fkd as a club at that point and for us to try and bring someone from so remote into Melb probably wasn't going to work. To be fair I don't know if it would have work at any club. Not saying anything about the individuals involved but it just seemed like such a massive leap from "there" to here let alone the fact we were lead in the playing group so poorly.

Such a complex scenario.

Outside of Liam how amazing has Jetta been for our football club and the community. What a wonderful young man, I'll be putting his number in my boys jumper from here on.

 

As much as I gnashed my teeth whenever Jurrah avoided physical contact, I would never have been able to describe him as "meh" He was a freakish talent. A level below Jakovich/Schwarz/Farmer, but a simply brilliant player.

We took a punt, and unearthed a player of stunning ability, who was from another world (hope that comes across the way its intended) A world that didn't allow him to have a long career, mores the pity.

I'm thankful we tried.

 

As for Jetta, I think it's a shame that he will probably only be seen for the player he was, after he has retired.

Whelan is a player who comes to mind, when looking at Nev.

I will never stop fantasizing about a forward line of Hogan and Jurrah together. Oh the feels... all of the feels! 

A Jurrah in his first 30 games right now could be the difference between scraping into the 8, and finishing top 4. Sigh!

Anyways what a great initiative by the club and also as if you needed another reason to love Jetta. 

(Side note: Matty Whelan looks like he's had a good winter... still one of my all time favorites though!)

11 minutes ago, faultydet said:

As much as I gnashed my teeth whenever Jurrah avoided physical contact

His defensive pressure was better than anything Hogan provides.

5 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

His defensive pressure was better than anything Hogan provides.

I watched him live only twice, and was absolutely disgusted at the way he avoided body contact. It was cowardly.

He was literally removing himself from the contest, to avoid getting tackled/making a tackle.

Hogan is different, but infuriating nonetheless, in that he is not scared of any contact. In fact he looks for contact when under a high ball. Its a strength of his. He is just incredibly effing lazy when the ball hits the ground, and the opposition has it.

Hogan has the ability to change if his head is in the right place. I never saw that in Jurrah, as much as I tried. 

Whilst we were woeful as a club over the time that Jurrah was with us I actually think we handled his unique situation very well. He was a brilliantly talented but self propelled train wreck that I doubt any other club would have got any more than the 38 mercurial games that we got out of him. 

"the stories of Austin and Liam are our stories", gives me goosebumps and a tear at the same time........