Twenty-first, and final, nominationMELBOURNE sensation Liam Jurrah has put his hand up for AFL Goal of the Year honours, for the third time this season.
The Warlpiri Warrior, now back with his people in Central Australia following the end of Melbourne's season, has been a revelation in his nine games in his debut year.
Jurrah, the first pick in last year's pre-season draft, has booted 20 goals at an average of 2.2 per game, yet it's more than cold statistics that have people excited.
The agile forward is one of football's feel-good stories, having nominated for the draft at the last minute making a so far successful transition from the desert to the hustle and bustle of city living, on top of laying the foundations for an AFL career.
More goals than marksINDIGENOUS AFL footballers are more adept at kicking the freakish goal than hauling in a spectacular mark. In this season, at least.
Consider the following: Indigenous players were nominated 21 times for goal of the year, with six backing up with multiple nominations, the best of which was Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli's four, followed by triples from Lance Franklin (Hawthorn), Liam Jurrah (Melbourne) and Leon Davis (Collingwood).
Of the 21 nominations, five won the voting are in the running for the official prize: Rioli in Round 7, Franklin in Round 17, Davis in Round 18, Jurrah in Round 20 and Collingwood's Brad Dick in Round 21. Jurrah has a chance to add to the tally for his fantastic goal against St Kilda in Round 22.
In contrast, Indigenous players received 12 nominations for mark of the year, with five players -- Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide), Paddy Ryder (Essendon), Des Headland (Fremantle), Andrew Lovett (Essendon) and Jurrah -- nominated twice.
Ryder, Jurrah and the Bulldogs' Josh Hill won the vote for their respective marks.
* Click the
AFL > Mark/Goal of the Year link above to view all the nominations.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Friday, September 4, 2009
Last Modified on 15/09/2009 19:29