Liam Jurrah to debut

[Woohoo]

I can't wait to see how this kid goes.

Liam Jurrah to debut for Melbourne Demons
Mark Stevens | June 18, 2009 12:00am

LAST year Liam Jurrah was playing footy barefoot in the dust. Tomorrow he will line up at Etihad Stadium. Mark Stevens reports on a desert fairytale. THERE is nothing Gold Class about the outdoor cinema at Yuendumu.

Tomorrow night, almost 600 people will cram on to a cracked slab of concrete that doubles as the basketball court.

But nothing will detract from the excitement of watching a fantasy unfold on the hastily arranged big screen.

Liam Jurrah, born and bred in the community about 300km north west of Alice Springs, will make his AFL debut for Melbourne.

Only last year, Jurrah was playing in bare feet in the dust just down the road from the basketball rings.

Youth counsellor Brett Badger, who has watched Jurrah blossom in his five years in Yuendumu, said the community had greeted the selection news with stunned silence.

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"It's beyond what anybody thought was possible from a small, remote desert community," Badger said.

"Living out in the bush, AFL may as well be people playing footy on the moon."

Badger and Jurrah's family members - mother Corinna, father Leo and grandmother Cecily - will be special guests at Etihad Stadium as Melbourne plays Essendon.

Several Demons staff sitting nearby will be almost as proud.

"Project Jurrah" is complete.

Melbourne chief executive Cameron Schwab perhaps summed it up best: "This guy's come from further back than Jimmy Stynes - and he came from Ireland".

Jurrah, 20, does not speak fluent English. His native tongue, the Warlpiri language, is spoken by perhaps only 500 people.

Since being selected at No. 1 in the pre-season draft in December, Jurrah has been taking English lessons.

He can comprehend and read English, but until recently has struggled to express himself.

"It's going to be very good . . . I want to play on the big stage," Jurrah said of his impending debut.

Jurrah has taken to driving in Melbourne, but settling in hasn't been easy.

"It's a bit busier than where I came from . . . driving around, seeing the lights, the traffic and the people."

Peak hour is nothing, though, compared with the shock of seeing the bay for the first time.

Jurrah had a brief stint with Collingwood in the VFL last year and after his first game followed teammates to St Kilda beach for rehab.

"I was sitting in the car and Paul Licuria said to me we had to walk in the water . . . I said to him I didn't want to get in. It was freezing," Jurrah said.

Jurrah had seen a beach only once before, when he was seven years old.

A few weeks later, Jurrah was off home to help support a dying friend. But after a couple of games in bare feet on the dust, Jurrah headed to Darwin to play in the NTFL.

Jurrah didn't nominate for the national draft, but received special permission from the league to be allowed in the pre-season and rookie draft pools.

Three days before the pre-season draft, Melbourne recruiting boss Barry Prendergast decided to head to Darwin for a look.

"It poured rain, then the sun came out. It was sweltering. He's kicked five and hit the post," Prendergast said.

Prendergast had seen enough of the freakish 188cm forward, who can soar for marks one moment then crumb like a rover the next.

Once Prendergast realised the community would not only support Jurrah's move, but embrace it as a "mission", it was a done deal.

Jurrah, the man they call "LJ" will do something to make the crowd gasp tomorrow night. Like Nicholas Naitanui, he is that kind of player.

Imagine the cheers from the cracked court up at Yuendumu.

[TalkingFootball]

This kids a gun. However, he is only 20-30% fit. He could be anything in 2-3 years.

[Woohoo]

I thought he went ok for his first game.
Certainly shows a lot of potential.

[TalkingFootball]

Originally Posted by Woohoo

I thought he went ok for his first game.
Certainly shows a lot of potential.

This one is "special" ... I cant wait to see this kid terrorise opposition back-lines in 2-3 years time ... after 2-3 pre-seasons and 20-30 games under his belt.

By the way "woohoo" ... you ain't seen nothing yet ... hold on for the ride.

He has an amazing vertical leap, exceptional goal sense and a quality nature about him ... and very, very genuine kid ... well liked ... and has the respected of all who understand his "journey" to play football at the highest level.

... where he full-fills that potential only time will tell.

[Woohoo]

He didn't look out of place on the week end. He lead well and snapped a great goal. He did look a bit tired in the last 1/4 and didn't chase but match fitness at the highest level can only come with more games.
He's now in my SC team. I don't think Bailey will play him every week but I had to use two trades to get Didak and Jurrah for Ziebell and Morton.

I hope he settles in down there because it must be a big ask leaving his community and ending up in Melbourne.

I hope he succeeds.

[Woohoo]

133 in my Super coach team this week.

[TalkingFootball]

Originally Posted by Woohoo

133 in my Super coach team this week.

Its only going to get better .... x 100

[Nicholas_Reid]

how good has he been?