Warlpiri man leads AFL prospects ahead of rookie draft
YUENDUMU’s Liam Jurrah is leading the field among several AFL hopefuls vying for selection at tomorrow’s pre-season and rookie drafts in Melbourne.
Jurrah, who turned 20 in September, is a key position player from the Magpies and who spent a few days training with AFL club North Melbourne on invitation.
The Warlpiri man appeared on the radar in Victoria earlier this year after playing with Collingwood’s stand-alone VFL side before returning home to lead Yuendumu to this year’s historic AFL Central Australia premiership in September, the first of that league’s expanded competition involving clubs from Alice Springs and surrounding communities.
At season’s end, Jurrah joined NTFL club Nightcliff for the Top End league’s 2008/09 season, and from where he was invited to train with North Melbourne. He's only played a handful of games in Darwin but has made a favourable impression there.
Yesterday, representatives from Essendon and Melbourne were on hand to watch him play for the Tigers.
Nightcliff coach Mark Motlop believes Jurrah is a chance to be picked up tomorrow.
"He's got all the attributes and qualities. We've played him at centre half-forward but he can play on the wing, on the ball ... anywhere," he said.
"Of the games he's played for us, he was outstanding against the Tiwi Bombers ... a real standout in that game."
Jurrah kicked six goals from centre half-forward against the Tiwis and dominated his position.
Motlop drove to Katherine in October to have a look at Jurrah play in the inter-league match that pitted the AFLCA against the Katherine and Districts league. He liked what he saw and invited Jurrah to join Nightcliff.
The Tigers coach has mixed emotions should Jurrah go tomorrow.
"He's important to our prospects but at the end of the day, the opportunity is there for him," he said.
Full complement to choose from
AFL clubs can have up to six rookies, whose wages come outside the salary cap.
Rookies must be under the age of 23 but clubs can select one player per draft over that age if he hasn’t previously been at an AFL club.
Players' names stay in the system for three years so those not drafted this year for whatever reason are still eligible to be drafted next year and the year after.
There are several young Aboriginal footballers now training with AFL clubs in the hope of getting picked up tomorrow which, along with Jurrah, include Claremont’s Alroy Gilligan at Richmond, Swan Districts’ Jeff Garlett and Northern Territorian Charlie Sharples at Hawthorn, and South Alice Springs’ Charlie McAdam and North Adelaide’s Wade Thompson at Port Adelaide.
Others like Adam Cockie (Subiaco), Anthony Kyanga (East Fremantle), John Bennell (Peel Thunder) and Broome’s Casey Sibosado are also in the mix for AFL selection.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Monday, December 15, 2008
Last Modified on 15/12/2008 13:13