24 Facts About Liam Jurrah

Liam Jungarrayi Jurrah was born on 22 September 1988 and is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Liam Jurrah is the first indigenous person from a remote community in Central Australia to have played senior football in the AFL.

Liam Jurrah was born in Yuendumu to mother Corrina and father Leo Japaljarri Liam Jurrah.

Liam Jurrah was involved in the 2005 Under 17,2005,07,08 A Grade premiership seasons with the Yuendumu Magpies.

Also during his mid-teens Liam Jurrah began acting as a volunteer with the Mt Theo Program under its Jaru Pirrjirdi youth development program, which saw him helping to run youth activities such as sport, bush trips and discos for Yuendumu youth.

Liam Jurrah was first brought to Melbourne in 2007 as a guest of a Collingwood coterie group called the Industrial Magpies when he watched his first match at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Liam Jurrah returned to Melbourne in 2008 where he was played by Collingwood in the Victorian Football League for four games and showed great athleticism and talent.

Liam Jurrah's stay in Melbourne was cut short by his need to return to Yuendumu for family responsibilities to support a dying friend.

Liam Jurrah was later nominated for the AFL Pre-Season Draft by former Collingwood player Rupert Betheras, and was given special dispensation to nominate, despite not nominating for the previous National Draft.

Liam Jurrah was recruited by Melbourne from the Yuendumu Magpies with the first selection in the 2009 preseason draft.

Liam Jurrah spent his first year in Melbourne living with friends and then with his partner, as well as fellow Melbourne player Austin Wonaeamirri.

In round 12 of the 2009 AFL season Liam Jurrah made his AFL debut against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Friday Night Football.

Liam Jurrah kicked a remarkable goal whilst falling to the ground after attempting a specky in the goalsquare and had two long kicks at goal touched on the line.

In Melbourne's round 15 victory over Port Adelaide, Liam Jurrah scored four goals and assisted in multiple other goals for which he was rewarded with an AFL Rising Star nomination.

Liam Jurrah was given the moniker "Warlpiri Wizard" for his scintillating style of play.

Liam Jurrah carries on the tradition of highly skilled indigenous forwards set by the original Demon "Wizard" Jeff Farmer.

In November 2009, Liam Jurrah returned to Yuendumu with the Melbourne president Jim Stynes and Channel 7's Tim Watson.

Close to the start of the 2010 season, Liam Jurrah required surgery for a dislocation of his shoulder.

Shortly after, Chris Connolly from the Melbourne Football Club announced that Liam Jurrah would be out for approximately 16 weeks.

Liam Jurrah made a successful return to the senior Melbourne team, after spending several weeks playing with Melbourne's VFL affiliate the Casey Scorpions, kicking two goals in the Demons' round 15 win against Essendon.

In March 2012 Liam Jurrah was charged over an alleged machete attack at an Alice Springs town camp.

Liam Jurrah failed to attend his court hearing in March 2013.

In March 2013 Liam Jurrah was charged with four counts of aggravated assault in Alice Springs, he subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful assault, and was sentenced to six months in jail time.

In December 2013 Liam Jurrah was charged with driving offences after being involved in a high-speed police chase.