Japaljarri

Obviously you guys had bigger fish to fry today but l do wish he could have been left one out at deep forward all day. He looked really up for it today, could have ended up with 7 or 8 and a huge addition to the highlight reel.

Liam moved back up forwards halfway through the quarter. 2 goals in 7-8 minutes and immediately dragged!

Spent some time off and then put back on a wing. Moved away from goal (!). Stream here for anyone not able to watch on TV http://www.justin.tv/manian

Hey guys just to let you know that Melbourne have made contact with us here at Yuendumu FC and we are definitely looking at building a positive relationship into the future (hopefully in conjunction with RudeBoys Industrial Magpies Group whom we have had a great relationship and friendship with for 5 or 6 years). Melbourne, most particularly Ian Flack, have been hugely supportive of Liam and Yuendumu. As far as gear goes we only have 2 games left in our current season in Alice and have a decent current kit. Jumpers would definitely come in handy for our Summer competition - Liam actually grabbed us some training gear early this year which was used in the Yuendumu Summer Comp. From Jan - April we have a Yuendumu based Summer comp which sees Yuendumu Magpies split into 3 local teams (Souths, Allies, Dockers) as well as nearby Nyirripi and Willowra Communities (also the Warlpiri tribe) and Mt Allan Community (Anmatjere tribe). We just play matches every afternoon and its effectively our pre-season training for the Alice Springs CAFL! You can see details about the Summer Comp for the last few years on the website www.yuendumumagpies.com.

Thats the Easter Lightning Carnival in Alice Springs held at Traeger Park. Big annual pre-season footy comp over 3 days, with 20-25 minute games with generally 20-30 teams from all over Central Australian - mainly remote communities and some of the Alice Springs sides. Yuendumu often sends two teams to give our younger blokes (and conversely those in semi-retirement!) a bit of a run so that would be the Yuendumu 2 - Yuendumu B grade/Under 17s.

Here in Yuendumu it has been fantastic to hear this story from Nangala, Cecily and Rudeboy and to read about it here. The community is very very excited and proud that this jumper is coming home. And the community is also very proud that Cecily stood up and spoke Warlpiri in the Long Room at the MCG. Be great to have some photos in this thread. As per the earlier historical references footy was introduced to Yuendumu in the late 1950s by then Superintendent Ted Egan - you can read about it on the Yuendumu Magpies website 'History' page. Warlpiri people played a traditional kicking-catching game called 'pultja' with a possum skin as well - you can see this detailed on the page and more detail is in the Yuendumu footy doco 'Aboriginal Rules' - www.aboriginalrules.com (by the way the one hander Liam took yesterday is a dead copy of a mark he took at Papunya Sports in 2006 which is the cover photo of this documentary). You can see small 'tasters' of the doco on Youtube eg : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_OG1ilGgZs or the Aboriginal rules website. As for Liams father, Leo, he is widely regarded as a bush legend, a star across NT remote communities and later in Alice Springs with Souths Footy club and Darwin with the Buffaloes. Good NT judges have no doubt he could have played AFL. In his day it was obviously impossible for the transition to AFL to occur with nowhere near the requisite understanding and support of that journey from regional centres like Alice, let alone Central Australian remote communities like Yuendumu. Indeed only Liam now is managing to traverse that journey from a different culture . Liams grandfather Martin Sampson was also a Central Australian legend, winning the 'Alice Springs Brownlow' in 1974 l think it was. Similarly Leos brother Roger was a star in Lajamanu/Yuendumu and Liams other Uncle Hermann Sampson is as good a player as Yuendumu has ever had according to our Committee - an incredibly smart powerhouse forward, who can also play on the ball. Apart from when Liam came through later on he dominated Yuendumu's forwardline through its triumphant Alice Springs premierships of 2003,04,05, 07, 08 as well as countless remote community carnival ('sports weekends) wins. l, and others, definitely think he could have made it too. So you can see he comes from a pretty good Warlpiri football lineage! There has been some more updates on the Yuendumu Magpies website here at www.yuendumumagpies.com , including a page on Liam where we tell his story from the Yuendumu perspective and collect any media/photos about him if anyone is keen. Kids in Yuendumu like nothing more than looking at photos or video of Liam on the big stage!

Pello. Don;t worry! From here in Yuendumu, and Yuendumu Footy Club, we can tell you that Liam is in Melbourne on Warlpiri business, with the full support of his community. And that is for as long as he wants it, which we know he wants to be 10-15 years of AFL footy for the Dees. He won;t be being pulled back to Yuendumu we are immensely proud of what he is doing and the leadership and inspiration he is showing to all Warlpiri youth by being in Melbourne. He is a fantastic role model for all remote Indigenous youth who can dare to dream, work hard and hold faith to make their dreams come true.....There is no better way for him to serve his community and tribe than what he is doing in Melbourne and the honourable and joyous way he is doing it. And we also know that with the support he is receiving down there from RudeBoy, Rupert B, and Melbourne FC (especially Aaron, Aussie, Wheels and Ian Flack, Dean Bailey) that he is very happy. They are all part of our Warlpiri family. GO JUKURTAYI! ALL YUENDUMU PROUD!

Guys what can l say this is just absolutely brilliant - l am the Assistant Manager of the Mt Theo Program (and secretary of Yuendumu Footy Club in my spare time) and placed the initial bid from us yesterday at $350 and sadly saw others bidding past it. l fell sick (flu!) yesterday and today and l have leapt out of my Yuendumu sick bed upon hearing this news from our inspiring boss Susie to just say a huge thanks to you all who have contributed and especially the key organisers, most especially Fork. Liam worked with us as a youth mentor in our Jaru Pirrjirdi project training to become a leader for Yuendumu. He has clearly exceeded all expectations! We are so proud of him, beyond that inspired by him and l am incredibly fortunate to call him my friend. And now you guys too are a bona fide personal part of Liams historic AFL journey. As Martin Flanagan noted there has never been a story like Liams before. Best of all he is an even better young man than he is a footballer which is really saying something. l was lucky enough to be one of the few of Liams friend and family that he was able to ensure made his debut to meet up with Rudeboy from the Industrial Magpies (and also Rupert Betheras) who also posts on here and has been crucial in Liams amazing and inspiring journey at the Melbourne end. Your club, and most especially Davey, Wonna and Ian Flack have been brilliant to Liam. You should feel bloody proud of what they have done. We stood there in tears as he ran out and l swear l jumped higher than he did when he kicked that first goal. And everybody here says Yuendumu went berserk! And so again we can feel happy, grateful and proud of your club and its members/supporters respect to Yuendumu and care for Liam. It is so much more than a game. l know for a fact that it is very meaningful to Liam and Liams family to have that jumper back here in Yuendumu, where it truly belongs. A sacred jumper. You guys should feel so bloody proud of yourselves and we at Mt Theo, Yuendumu footy club, Yuendumu community (including us whitefellas) and all Warlpiri people are grateful. WOW. l'm a passionate Cats man through and through but l gotta tell you family comes first. Go Liam, Jungarrayi Jinta our Warlpiri Warrior and Go Dees. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. :D :D :D Brett Japaljarri Badger www.mttheo.org www.yuendumumagpies.com http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=92385472574&ref=ts

You better watch out RB on Friday night - When he runs out and l'm sitting next to you.... :D I/we in Yuendumu are bursting with pride. l can barely breathe! So much admiration for our beloved son. And as RB knows only too well, Liam is an even better bloke off the field than the footballer he is on it - And thats really saying something. Its not just about football skill, Liam making it this far. A true test of character, courage and desire. As well as our thousand thanks to RB, melbourne footy club have been terrific. Good on ya lads.

Not that he needs the affirmation of validity but you can take everything RudeBoy says on here as absolute gospel - he is very close to Liam. Those of us here close to Liam who live in Yuendumu, and are part of the Yuendumu Footy Club (l am club secretary and work at www.mttheo.org where Liam was a youth mentor/leader), are extremely grateful for his (and his families) very active care, support and guidance of Liam over the last 2 years. And the Dees fans should be grateful too because l/we have no doubt Liam would not still be in Melbourne if he had not found a family with RudeBoy - before the truly excellent additional support he has now found with Aaron, Aussie and the Melbourne Footy Club (most notably Development Coach Ian Flack).

Nah its a 'dry' community (as in no grog) as are nearly all NT remote indigenous communities. :angry: ....But it was just a pleasure to watch him play...If/when Liam gets his debut the whole community (6-700) will gather to watch...

G'day Rudeboy! All Yuendumu proud and happy today with our first chance to see our beloved son! Better and better....

l think it is all bonus this year. Never done a pre-season or even any serious training at all before back in Yuendumu (training is only shots from the boundary line here!). Only arrived at the club in mid-Jan. In Yuendumu was used to being the main man/marking target from nearly all forward entries and often played one out in the 50 (rather than an opportunist) so is perhaps adjusting to the more complex and team oriented systems at Melbourne/Casey. Also used to swing himself on the ball a bit up here which may be a way to bring him into the game when not picking it up down forwards like the 3rd quarter. Is a beautiful runner and kick. But as l say it is all bonus this year and l think he is tracking a long way ahead of where the club had expected at this stage - huge upside and as today showed his best is very very good - increased fitness and strength will only see that grow and grow. Was a pleasure to see him play today on tv our first chance for the year up here in Yuendumu. So very proud (regardless of how he goes). But in football terms growing flashes of the Liam we know that is all class and can dominate games.

A whole year?! Wasn't much there?! Couldn't crack the Amateurs First team?! - You mean while he was playing VFL for Collingwood and leading their goalkicking? More misinformation and innuendo, strange how it gathers around some people more than others. This was when he was in Melbourne in 2008 playing VFL with Collingwood as a listed Collingwood VFL player (i.e. that was his club - where he trained, where his responsibilities lay etc). Old Xavs was a fall back for the VFL players (couldn't crack the first team!). Liam spent some of the earlier three weeks when he was not selected for Collingwood VFL playing for Old Xavierians (as a up feeder club only). OX was one of several clubs used by Collingwood VFL as a team where VFL listed players not selected to play VFL could have a run each week so they didn't miss out on match practice - not too fussed about how well they did at this lower level etc just for a general run (generally 5 or 6 of the 11 listed VFL players each week depending on how many of the 42 listed AFL blokes were injured/playing VFL). But other than having a run they had nothing to do with these lower level clubs. As previously noted during the time he played VFL for Collingwood he led their goalkicking. Hopefully he backs up again well this week after last weeks stellar effort although l think he has been struggling with cold/flu quite a bit this week.

No need to head down that path of thinking. Minor thigh injury 1 - 2 weeks.