Arriving at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, there was only one thing I was really looking forward to, and that was the first AFL game of Majak Daw.
Clearly I was far from the only one. There was a lot of buzz around the ground in anticipation of his first appearance in the blue and white stripes of North Melbourne.
I first took real notice of Majak in last year’s exceptional VFL preliminary final, playing for Werribee under the coaching of my former teammate Scott West.
Majak dominated the last quarter of that game, single-handedly getting Werribee back into the game after they’d been as much as 48 points down during the third quarter.
He contributed with superior ruck work, excellent marking around the ground, and a monster 55-metre goal toward the end that put his side within five points of the Cats.
Unfortunately it was still just too little too late for the Weribbee side, but the lasting question was whether Majak could produce this kind of effort at senior level.
We were able to catch a glimpse of Majak in the NAB Cup, and it was more the highlight real than a consistent four-quarter performance that excited everyone.
Over a couple of games he showed that he could compete in the air, and had the strength to run around Steven Morris from the Tigers to kick a classy goal. There was enough to inspire excitement, but still a question over whether he was truly ready to have an impact over an entire game.
Brad Scott has been very patient with Majak so far, and had to wait until he was sure the player was ready, as there was always going to be a massive spotlight on the young man when he finally made his debut.
Credit to Scott for starting Majak on the ground at full forward. It’s the way to go with a first-gamer: put him straight into the action and the player can get so much confidence from it.
The pictures of Majak pre-game receiving his jumper were a sight to be seen. I have never in my time seen a player with a physique like Majak Daw.
His first contest was a beauty, a big contested mark and goal with his first kick in league football. He was away, the crowd was away, and the energy and excitement he created for his teammates and the supporters was infectious.
The sad part is that it didn’t last long, as he was knocked out ten minutes later and took no further part in the game.
Of course this means we still have not seen a four-quarter game from Majak, but we can’t make that one his fault. In any case, after witnessing his efforts early in Sunday’s game, we can be confident he can at least handle himself at AFL level.
The Roos take on the Hawks next week, and Majak’s likely opponent if he recovers from his head knock will be Brian Lake.
The true tests await, as he will start to come up against the best defenders in the comp.
Drew Petrie has to remain in form, as this will take some pressure off Majak by making sure the opposition’s second tall defender will go to him.
It’s going to be a source of excitement over the season to see what the big crowd favourite can produce.
Jax
Guest
Agree bigrig and ash. Majak & Nic Nat make more people watch AFL becuase they are exciting to watch and attract new fans. It's a professional sport and the AFL needs to compete for fans/money and continue to expand and market the game or it will die. Majak & Nic can promote the game and they can set themselves and their familes up for the rest of their lives and create their own history and story. Nic is making a lot of money already and no-one has a gun to his head, he could shy away from off-field work if he wanted to and he takes it all in his stride. The only disappointing/honest comment Brad made was that Majak first game was the ONLY thing he was looking forward to. Good luck to them both.
Avon River
Guest
Forget the footy vs soccer rot - what is far more important is the social integration role modelling for a new ethnic community. And of course a part of that is the journey into the unknown of Australian football....his successes will be & are symbolic of so much more than just kicking a footy.
Brendan
Guest
i was at last years preliminary final in the vfl where Geelong had thrashed Werribee for two and a half quarters when Majak Daw single handedly led a fightback .He was awesome i couldn't believe he hadn't as yet played seniors.Part of the allure of Afl is that freak player who makes all the other players look average.When you add Daw's race and background to his ability it is a compelling story.Jezza was the freak from Canberra of Russian heritage who excited crowds in the sixties and now anyone of european background playing the game is not unique.Good luck to Majak Daw i look forward to watching him play an entire game.
Avon River
Guest
Harry O is Nigerian/Brazilian. All part of the mix and given the personal journey that new comers to Australia embark on to take up footy rather than any more familiar game then the first recently arrived African refugee IS a big deal. for Daw North have held him back a long time. There is no tokenism here and he has matured enough to take on the role model role that has been oddly enough providing him more publicity in recent years than any other North player...even before he got elevated to the senior list.
bigrig
Guest
Big majak has an X factor about him. Just like Nic Nat at west coast. They are 2 unique physical specimens and are exciting to watch... Simple! Im a very happy North member now Majak has cracked the senior side!
Ash of Geelong
Guest
I think you have a lot of supporters Majak , from all clubs and football loving public.
Titus
Guest
Yeah....the problem is, what if he isn't as good as people are hyping him up to be? In the early days of the a-league there have been numerous African players, many refugees, and there was always this automatic assumption that they would have to be amazing, because they is black. The reality is most of them weren't up to it. There have been a few, Traore and Berni Ibisi most notably, who have rissen to any great level but most were nothing but hype and expectation. Thats not to say there aren't plenty who can and will make it, it's just to say, don't place too much expectation on the kid, he's not a superhero.
Matt
Guest
It's obvious, the AFL medias obession with this kid is to encourage more African kids to play AFL over Soccer, a point they always steer him or his family to in interviews. Their radio puppet Neil Mitchell has also asserted this on numerous occasions. The kid is being used.
Phelpsy
Guest
Brazilian.
Tigranes
Guest
Isnt Harry O'Brien of part African descent?
Avon River
Guest
Btw re first African.....not exactly true and this seems to illustrate the ignorance more so. There have been a number of players either born in Africa or to African descent. Inc Damian Cupido, Tendai Mzungu and a couple of 'white' guys from Zimbabwe and RSA but this is were the ignorant racism enters into it....the assertion by Matthew that that's what this is is false.
Avon River
Guest
As a North member we've been looking forward to seeing what this charming young man might do at senior level for a long time. His TAC cup highlights reel was a teaser....3 yrs as a rookie and we've had to put upwith guys like Hansen & Tarrant going ahead of Daw and it's not hard to imagine Daw clunking more marks inside 50 than those two combined. So while his back story excites or in this case incites the neutrals and ignorants - those of us who have followed him closest are just super excited for the boy. He does do some incredible things on the footy field (up to now in the vfl) and now begins what should be an enjoyable ride. On field. How the story evolves off field is another thing and the odd comments on here by a couple of posters seem to be attempting to send discussion where they might claim it shouldn't be.
Neil
Guest
If you have the physique that Daw has it does give you a natural advantage. Kind of similar to how basketball players have a advantage when they are tall. Nevertheless, I would like AFL to continue to be a game for all shapes and sizes; you need small forwards and rovers.
Bogga
Guest
They made a big deal out of Jack Watts' first game too, and Gary Ablett Jnr, Jack Viney, Joe Daniher, Tom Hawkins, Nic Natanui, Liam Jurrah. Basically anyone with big wraps gets a story. Daw has been a headline because of his story and his physique, just like many others have their own stories. I think it's something worth celebrating that somebody with such a background can succeed. If he was on TV in a major role, it would be a story. If a Sudanese refugee was elected to a directorship of a big 4 bank, it would be a story. Perhaps we should only focus on on-field performance and forget any other aspect of the footballers' lives and turn the game into a completely colourless, emotionless endeavour. Maybe the players in question feel it is improtant that their situation be highlighted to show hope to others in similar situations? I know it's only sport, but it's a big part of Australian culture.
geoff
Guest
. i was fortunate to have seen him on the weekend and it brought back memories of watching ablett senior in the crowds genuine appreciation and awe of a rare talent. kouta brought similar excitement. his colour cannot be ignored but it was secondary to his athletic and football ability.
Stan McCan
Guest
I don't care that he is Sudanese. I have never seen a bloke his size and strength and with his vertical leap play footy before. He has physical attributes that could dominate the game in an exciting way.
TomC
Roar Guru
As I allude to down below, the Brisbane Lions also had a couple of debutants on Sunday in Sam Docherty and Marco Paparone. Paparone had torn apart the NEAFL game the week prior against Gold Coast Reserves, taking fifteen marks and kicking three goals. He had a huge senior debut, managing another three goals, in a side who struggled to move the ball forward with any kind of system. The point is that there are plenty of exciting young footballers going around. Players like Marco and Majak come into the league each week and hardly anyone bats an eyelid. Iangou's point, and it's a fair one, is that the attention on Majak Daw is way out of proportion. And he is absolutely right that when a seasoned AFL professional says it is the 'only' think he is looking forward to seeing from a game that something is quite wrong.
Phelpsy
Guest
There is also the element of him being the first African to play the game, an untapped market . Surely if he does well and it gets other Africans playing that's exciting, particularly if they are as good as this bloke seems to possibly be. Same rational re Polynesian players being promoted in falou and hunt.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
If you make up your mind before reading the article, it doesn't reflect well. Brad's point here is clearly that he was excited about Daw's debut based on his exploits in the VFL prelim last year, and that he hadn't paid Daw much attention until then. I saw that game and Daw was indeed sensational. He goes on to say that we can't really assess Daw's AFL ability until we see him play some full games. You're objecting to an argument that the author hasn't even made, so that's on you.
Jeb
Guest
Aussie Rules fans going overboard!?!? they'd never do that lol