RudeBoy

Liam has had an interrupted pre-season with his recurring wrist injury and his much publicised troubles in Alice Springs. He is now back in full training and hoping to start playing initially for Casey very soon. He is very keen to get back in the side and help the boys get a win on the board.

Two years ago the Dees were definitely a team on the improve; a team which drew and then lost by a solitary point to the eventual Premiers that year. In 2010 no-one was rubbishing the club's recruiting or player development. Something went badly wrong in 2011.

To be honest, I think it's more important to have an elite professionally run development program to ensure young players develop to their potential, than to be able to pick the right players. Certainly, all the years the club's facilities were based at the junction oval, I saw nothing remotely elite about the clubs development program. All that can be hoped for now, is that youngsters recruited to the Dees will be given every opportunity to develop and thrive, so that they reach their potential.

I was a great fan of Bailey, whose last year at the Dees was destroyed by infighting and division within the club. Rightly or wrongly, however, history will always associate his name the 186 point thrashing. Sometimes [censored] happens. However, Neeld is now the coach and everyone should get behind him and give him time to teach and lead his team. FFS, it's only round 1. This club needs unity of purpose more than anything else.

I had the privilege of travelling to Yuendumu with Jimmy, accompanying Liam Jurrah, on a visit to his home and community in 2010. He was inspirational in his generosity of spirit and his determination to complete the trip, despite suffering from his dreadful illness even back then. He was the only person in football who I don't think had a single enemy. A true legend. RIP mate.

The issues which Liam is dealing with are family related and are his personal business so I won't elaborate here or anywhere else. However, as he was still recovering from his wrist surgery and was a few weeks away from playing again, the club has been terrific in granting Liam some personal leave to sort some matters out back home. I expect him to return shortly eager to complete his rehab and be ready to do his bit for the team. The club should be congratulated for the understanding and support they have shown Liam.

It's certainly becoming a big concern for Liam. He expected to be right by now, but his wrist surgery is taking longer than expected to heal. He's getting bored out of his brain being separated from the main group, but all the running he's doing will no doubt hold him in good stead once the season starts. He can forget about the NAB Cup, but hopefully he'll be right for round 1.

I am one of the few people who thought Bails was a good coach, but frankly, we'll never know. More importantly, I think a lot of people are overestimating the role and importance of the coach. The fact is that throughout 2011 the club suffered from internal division between the football and administration departments. We all read reports of dissension and conflict involving Schwab, Bails, Connolly, even involving senior players, who's views were sought on the club's predicament. Added to that was the long drawn out Scully saga, which would have impacted negatively on team morale. I don't know enough about the inner workings of the club to apportion blame for any of this, but any organisation, whether it's a football club or not, is bound to fail if it is divided. Neeld may or may not prove to be a good coach, to date he hasn't coached a single AFL game. However, the club's best chance of success is if everyone associated with the club unite and support each other. That, rather than the influence of any one individual, will do more than anything to generate on field success.

Liam got the cast off his hand yesterday, so hopefully he can begin doing some ball work now to get his touch back. At least all the running he's done over the last couple of months should do him the world of good.

No offence taken by anyone. I guess the LJ story is quite complicated so all I'm suggesting is that reading the book should make things clearer. However, Rupert Betheras certainly played a big part in Liam becoming an AFL player.

Read the book!

I guess I could suggest you read my book, 'The Liam Jurrah Story', but in summary you are both right and wrong. The fact is Collingwood had already lost interest in Liam, which is why he was not even registered for the draft. Flash saw him play in Darwin and suggested that Barry Prendergast check him out. He did and the rest is history.

I wish Barry all the best. He was the one responsible for drafting Liam Jurrah, when clubs like Collingwood thought he was not capable of "bridging the cultural gap". He's a terrific bloke with a great football mind.

This may be out of left field, but if a Docklands base means that the whole club is located in one location then this is a good thing. I certainly believe that the current set up, whereby most of the senior management are located at offices in the MCG, while the footy department is at Olympic Park, was one (not necessarily the primary) cause of divisions within the club in 2011. It tends to encourage an 'us versus them' culture. I've witnessed this at many organisations and footy clubs are no different.

Thanks for such a great review of my book. As was mentioned above, this book really only recounts the first chapter in Liam's incredible journey. Assuming he has a full uninterrupted pre-season, which will be his first ever, a fitter and stronger Liam Jurrah should take his game up another level next year. Thanks to all Dees supporters who have cheered him on and taken him to their hearts. Finally, an apology from me for occasionally being overly sensitive to criticism levelled at him by Demonland posters.

Correct weight.

I know i'm biased, and I realise there are weaknesses to his game which he needs to improve upon, but it amazes me how some people underrate Liam Jurrah's contribution to the team. He hasn't even played 40 games yet he has averaged more goals per game than any other player on the list - in each of his 3 seasons! He has also kicked the fastest first 50 goals in the AFL for a decade - out scoring Johnathon Brown, Fevola, Rocca, Rewoldt and Buddy Franklin. He also rates highly for goal assists. Still, maybe he's not good enough for such a star studded team.

Apparently Ian Flack, who had a welfare/development role, with a special focus on working with the club's Aboriginal players, has been given the flick. This will be a major setback for the club as Ian did a tremendous job and he was widely recognised amongst the AFL community for his leadership and expertise in this area. His replacement had better be damn good.

It would be good if he spoke to some of the players one on one before casting aspersions on their prospects in the media. Not a good start imo.

In my opinion, the team's poor performances last season, including the smashing by Geelong, were as much a result of internal divisions and friction between sections of the administration and football departments. Regardless of who the coach is, a club which is divided will always be doomed to failure.

I think some people fail to appreciate the toll that injuries have on players, particularly those with a small frame like flash, who have been battered and bashed for 8 years or more. If he can regain full fitness, he's a champion player, but if not, he will struggle, not through a lack of effort. I'm hoping he has a great year, but if he doesn't I will not be rubbishing him, as I know he will be trying his guts out.

Relax guys. He was at training yesterday, after being stuck in Alice Springs for 4 days due to the lunatic leprechaun who grounded Qantas. Neither Virgin or Tiger fly to Alice Springs so he had to wait to get a flight to Adelaide and then from there to Melbourne. He's in good shape and raring to go.

I recall a year back the CEO of the NRL predicted that GWS would end up being the "AFL's Vietnam" - costing millions and ending up in defeat. I think he might be on the money.

Sad to see Aussie delisted. I just hope his absence doesn't affect Liam, as they have been house mates for the past couple of years and are like brothers. Good luck Aussie.

Liam wasn't there because he is still stranded in Alice Springs thanks to Qantas management grounding all their flights.