VFL player in Grand Final today? (Now a rep player)

[Dale61]

I haven't been able to find the team lists, but Yuendumu play Pioneer in the CAFL Grand Final today.

Good luck to Liam (if he's playing), and hope there is not a repeat of last year's post-match brawl.

[Big T]

Any thoughts on him for next year Dale?

[Dale61]

I don't know if he has decided to have another go at VFL level next year, so only time will tell.

If he intends on putting in the same effort as this year, maybe it would be best to not have him on the primary list, and use him only when he makes himself available.

All the talk was that he should be looked at as an AFL rookie, but has he really warranted that? 'Keep him hidden so the other clubs won't see him!' was a the general gist of what others thought.

He only played four games, but did return to Yuendumu mid season due to personal issues, so maybe next year he'll be more committed.

[Dale61]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/09/21/6046_ntsport.html

Yippee for Yuendumu

YUENDUMU is the pride of Central Australia today after an historic 23-point win over Pioneer in yesterday's AFL Central Australia Grand Final.

The Magpies won their first flag in the expanded AFLCA competition in front of more than 2500 fans at Traeger Park.

But Pioneer played its part in one of the great Alice Springs grand finals before Yuendemu pulled away late in the game to win 15.10 (100) to 11.11 (77).

Both sides and rival fans played the game in great spirit with no hint of the crowd trouble that has ruined the past two flag deciders.

Springheeled utility Liam Jurrah won the Everingham Medal as the best player on the ground after booting six goals in a brilliant solo performance.

Jurrah said the win was a big boost for the football-mad community of Yuendumu.

"Everyone is rapt with the win, it's a great day for Yuendumu," he said.

Jurrah set the grand final alight in the first quarter when he kicked four goals in eight minutes despite being surrounded by Eagles defenders.

Simon Fisher Jr was another four-quarter performer for the Magpies and Herman Sampson kicked five crucial goals.

Pioneer lost no friends with its performance, with Andrew Baker and Roland AhChee sterling performers out of the centre.

Eagles coach Danny Measures was extremely proud of his players despite the loss.

"I'm very happy with this group after what happened at the end of last year's grand final," he said.

"But all credit to Yuendumu, they love their football and it was a great game of footy."

Yuendumu 5.3 8.5 11.8 15.10 (100)
Pioneer 3.1 8.5 9.7 11.11 (77)

Goals - Yuendumu: L Jurrah 6 H Sampson 5 S Spencer C Walker S Watson S Wilson.

Pioneer: L White Jr 3 T LeRosingol 3 A Baker D Porter P Wedge D Measures T Bahr-Kelly

Best - Yuendumu: L Jurrah (Everingham Medal), S Fisher Jr S Spencer H Sampson N Robertson C Walker.

Pioneer: A Baker R AhChee Dan Measures Jr G Miller L White Jr

[Dave The Man]

[~Madness~]

Gee I hope he comes back for another crack in the VFL. He looked good in his few games, even though they were playing him out of position. (if it was to hide him, it was a waste of time)

[Dale61]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/10/03/7281_ntsport.html

Alice Springs looks to earn respect by defeating Top End rival Katherine

MINAHAN Medallist Joe Cole is not a man of many words but is one that Alice Springs football boffins believes can inspire the Desert Warriors to representative glory in Katherine tomorrow.

What Cole lacks in words, Centralian assistant coach Roy Arbon believes he more than makes up for with his actions.

"He is a leader by example," Arbon said.

Similarly Arbon and head coach Brad Puls have elevated 2007 AFLCA best and fairest medal winner Kenny Morton to vice captain.

"They aren't players you will hear on the field but you take plenty of notice of what they are doing," Arbon said.

It's those in support - West utility Rory Hood, Yuendumu's premiership-winning veteran and spearhead Sherman Spencer, Pioneer's Daniel McCormack and South figurehead and former Minahan Medal winner Charlie Maher Jr- that will add voice to the team.

While Maher has not been declared 100 per cent fit for the fixture at the Katherine Showgrounds after injuring his right knee in August, he was given the selection panel's utmost support.

Experience and proven performers make up the backbone of a team that Arbon and Puls have entrusted to put Alice Springs back on the NT football map.

Spencer's crumbing capabilities will compliment the big marking presence of Dillon Measures who will be relying on a steady steam of opportunities to come his way off the work of enigmatic Magpie and certified game-breaker Liam Jurrah.

Alice will also make a calculated gamble on the promotion of joint Muldoon under-17 medal winner Josef Egger, 16, Federal Jayden Prior and Jayden McMasters.

"It's going to be a hard ask of them to step up but they will give us the run we need," Arbon said.

[Dale61]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/10/05/7725_ntsport.html

Katherine downs Alice

KATHERINE pulled off a Houdini-like escape to claim the inaugural Nitmiluk Cup against Alice Springs last night.

The Kangaroos transformed from stunned to stunning on the way to beating Red Centre Australian football cousins, the Desert Warriors, 13.6 (84) to 9.12 (66) at the Katherine Show Grounds.

The eagerly anticipated arrival of the Centralian goalkicking ruckman Liam Jurrah did not disappoint with the spring-heeled Yuendumu product setting the tone from the first bounce.

His tap and some classy work from Rory Hood on the left flank produced a crowd-silencing goal inside the first 10 seconds of the match.

Devastating approach play and three goals in quick succession to rover Charlie Maher Jr, Sean Brown and big marking Sebastoan Watson soon painted a grim picture for the hosts, trailing by four goals before they could even break inside their own attacking 50m.

Questions about the fitness of star Alice rover Maher looked solved early with the South Kangaroo moving freely and compounding the host's woes with a clever goal.

It proved a false positive when an innocuous marking contest ended Maher's participation inside 15 minutes with reports confirming he had once again strained right knee ligaments.

Katherine coach Paul Amarant admits there was a definite hint of panic during the first interval.

"The occasion was getting to the them," Amarant said. "The midfield lacked composure and Alice took advantage."

Katherine settled in the second term when captain and man of the match Relton Roberts asserted his dominance in midfield.

His link play with co-captain Glenn Hayles and enigmatic winger Owen Henry helped turn the tide while the ingenuity of Rowan Bonson, Steven Andrews and Braun Bush plugged a leaky defence.

KATHERINE 1.1 3.3 7.4 13.6 (84) ALICE SPRINGS 4.2 5.3 8.10 9.12 (66) GOALS - Katherine: M Hall 4 G Bowden D Kelly R Roberts 2 P Amarant J Ah Fat W Kossack. Alice Springs: L Jurrah 3 R Hood C Maher S Brown S Watson C Haines J Egger.BEST - Katherine: R Roberts S Andrews M Hall O Henry G Hayles. Alice Springs: R Hood L Jurrah A Baker J Prior A Kamara.

[Dale61]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/10/07/7975_ntsport.html

Top End eyes Centre stars

YUENDUMU'S Liam Jurrah is a man in demand.

Jurrah, the hottest property to come out of the Red Centre this year, was last month labelled a must have by the Tiwi Bombers.

But it is Nightcliff that has firmed as favourite to gain his services.

Tigers' coach Mark Motlop has tracked Jurrah's progress through playing with Collingwood's VFL side, inspiring Yuendumu to an historic AFLCA premiership last month and all the way to Katherine at the weekend.

"We have spoken to Liam a few times now," Motlop said.

"I wanted to get a look at him in Katherine after seeing impressive highlights from Alice Springs and seeing him do a couple of good things in the VFL.''

What Motlop eyewitnessed at the Katherine Showgrounds at the weekend only confirmed his beliefs and enthusiasm for the player. Asked what it was the spring-heeled goalkicking utility would bring to the side, Motlop replied: "Flair.''

"Liam is just a natural at what he does. You would put him in the forward line and let him roam free.''

The representative match saw Nightcliff, Wanderers, Palmerston and Darwin all head south in search of signatures.

Already fellow AFLCA premiership-winning Magpie Sherman Spencer and South Kangaroo wingman Jamahl Hayes are understood to have been cleared to Wanderers.

Minahan best and fairest medal winner Joe Cole has also found himself at the centre of his own tug of war with Darwin Buffaloes and St Marys keen to recruit the Pioneer product.

While not ready to commit to any club, Cole has expressed a firm desire to join an NTFL club.

Football journeyman and former Wanderers flying on-baller Charlie Maher Jr has also been targeted by Nightcliff.

Maher's sole campaign with the Eagles saw him finish second to Heath Culpitt in the 2006 NTFL Nichols Medal best and fairest count. He remains a strong contender to return to the club. But there are loud whispers he will follow former mentor Mark Motlop across to Tigerland.

The Centralian star, who had his influence on Saturday's representative fixture ended by aggravating a right knee strain, said he main focus would be to "get his knee right''.

Since leaving Wanderers, Maher enjoyed a stint with Shepparton Swans in the Goulburn Valley Football League before earning a place with VFL club Bendigo Bombers.