Controversial former Demons player Liam Jurrah attends his first training session with Port Adelaide, in the hope of being picked up in the pre-season and rookie draft.
Liam Jurrah arrives at the Port Adelaide Football Club for a trial training run. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser
TROUBLED former Demons star Liam Jurrah has passed his first test at Port Adelaide.
The former Demon has this morning reported to training in good physical condition, defying reports that he had stacked on the weight since walking out on Melbourne in August.
Jurrah - trying to revive his AFL career with the Power via the pre-season and rookie drafts - arrived at Alberton at 7am alongside the club's Aboriginal Employment and Engagement Manager Paul Vandenbergh.
He then took to the track with the rest of the Power squad at 8.45am and cut a streamlined figure in his new predominantly black Port training gear.
Jurrah completed warm-up drills, laps of the oval and a mini "keepings-off'' football game before the media were kicked out of the closed training session.
Jurrah's training session in pictures
The only player to wear a cap at the session - conducted in searing heat - Jurrah struggled to get hold of the ball in the fast-paced, end-to-end game.
He was puffing noticeably at the end of the drill but looked to be enjoying his new surroundings.
Club officials say he is "extremely keen'' to resurrect his 36-game, 81-goal career.
New Port coach Ken Hinkley refused to guarantee Jurrah a gig at the club next year but said he would be given every opportunity to push for a senior list or rookie spot.
Former Bomber Brent Prismall appears to be ahead of Jurrah in the battle to be selected at the pre-season draft, leaving two rookie positions available.
Hinkley said he had spoken to Jurrah - who has been living in Adelaide with family since quitting the Dees and being embroiled in off-field drama - twice in the past week.
"And he's really excited about getting an opportunity to show that he can play AFL football still,'' Hinkley said.
"We don't doubt that he can play the game, we've just got to make sure that he's physically OK to play because he has had some significant injuries in the past 12 months (ankle and wrist).
"The fact that he's turned up here today in a new environment to train - and I would imagine he knows there's some scrutiny coming his way - says his focus is pretty right.''
Hinkley - who denied the club had offered Prismall a two-year contract - said 24-year-old Jurrah had to make every post a winner in his two weeks of training at Port before the December 11 drafts to push his case for selection.
He said the club would also do its homework on Jurrah's off-field status, given he is due to face an Alice Springs court hearing in March to answer alleged aggravated assault charges.
"All of those things you've got to make good decisions about,'' Hinkley said.
"We as a club would be making sure we knew everything we need to know about any player because it's our responsibility to get the right people into the club.
"I need to talk to him (Jurrah) about his football stuff and our people in list management need to make sure all the other stuff is ticked off.''
Port coach Ken Hinkley watches as Liam Jarrah stretches before his first training session. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Jurrah keen to grab Port lifeline
Dengan url
http://beritahangatsekali.blogspot.com/2012/11/jurrah-keen-to-grab-port-lifeline.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Jurrah keen to grab Port lifeline
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Jurrah keen to grab Port lifeline
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar