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Jurrah leaves Demons, puts AFL on hold

3rd September, 2012
4

Liam Jurrah’s AFL future has become even more uncertain after he left Melbourne to spend more time with his family in Adelaide.

The Demons met with Jurrah on Monday night, a few hours after his trial date in Alice Springs for an alleged machete attack was set for March 12 next year.

A media report earlier in the day said Jurrah would seek a fresh start with one of the Adelaide AFL clubs, but according to the Demons he told them his football career was on hold until after the court case.

“He advised that he was not in a position to commit to AFL football at any level until after completion of his court case,” the Demons said in a statement.

“He advised that it his priority to be with his family until this time.

“This discussion followed his arrangement (sic) earlier today at which time a trial date was confirmed for March 12.

“The club will continue to provide personal support for Liam.”

Injury and issues surrounding Jurrah’s court case restricted him to only one game this season.

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Port Adelaide football manager Peter Rohde said the club had talked with Jurrah’s management and would continue to do so, but it was not ready to commit to recruiting him.

“We think he is a very talented player,” Rohde said in a statement.

“He is working through some complicated issues which we are keen to better understand before making any decision regarding our interest in bringing him to Port Adelaide.”

The 23-year-old kicked 81 goals in his 36 games with the Demons over four seasons.

The exciting start he made to his AFL career in 2009 provoked enormous attention, both for his freakish skills and cultural background.

Jurrah comes from the indigenous desert community of Yuendumu, about 300km northwest of Alice Springs, with English not his first language.

He was Melbourne’s leading goal-kicker last year.

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Jurrah is facing three charges of aggravated assault and one count of unlawfully causing serious harm, over an altercation in March this year at a town camp on the edge of Alice Springs.

His manager Ned Guy has told The Age website the forward understands he is risking his AFL career by staying in Adelaide, but feels it is more important for his wellbeing to be near family.

Jurrah’s bail conditions were also altered on Monday so he could spend more time in Adelaide.

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