EXCITING forward Liam Jurrah is on track to play in the NAB Cup, despite being impeded with a cast on his wrist, due to pre-Christmas surgery.
But coach Mark Neeld said he was confident Jurrah would play during Melbourne’s pre-season campaign.
“Liam has reported back from the Christmas break in good condition,” he said.
“He still has his arm in a plaster cast, but that’s due to come off in three weeks and then he can start some ball work.
“But the good thing about that from a coaching point of view - and I don’t know how Liam thinks about it - but we can still run him. So that’s what we’re doing.”
Neeld said action needed to be taken on Jurrah’s wrist, after it failed to heal properly from initial treatment.
“It was in a cast after the season and the decision at that stage was to not operate,” he said.
“The original course of action didn’t quite work, so then he had to go back in and have another operation.”
But Neeld is confident the 2011 leading goalkicker will continue to take his game to another level.
“I want him to still be able to compete in the air and attack the footy on the ground and kick the odd goal,” he said.
“I’d really like to see him with some intensity in his chasing and his tackling and then we’ll have a forward who is going to compete in all aspects of the game.
“I’ve been really clear to say ‘if you’re going to play in these areas, this is how you’re going to play’. We’ve made the effort to say ‘this is the way we want to go’ and just look forward.”
Meanwhile, Neeld said another key forward, Jack Watts, had responded strongly to his expectations.
“Jack came into the competition three or four years ago and like all No.1 draft picks, he’s under a fair bit of pressure. His efforts are always going to be highlighted,” he said.
“I see Jack as a player who’s played 40 AFL games and he shows a lot of potential. As to how long it’s going to be before he reaches that mantle, where everyone expects him to be - I’m not sure.
“But to his credit, obviously I’ve said a few things in the media regarding Jack and I’ve had those discussions with him face to face. I’m really pleased with the way that he’s training, so we’ll wait and see.”
And Neeld said defender/midfielder Jack Grimes had been progressing well, after a foot injury ruined his 2011 season.
“Jack is going well. He trained with the main group on Monday and he’ll be in the running group today (Wednesday) and he’s back with the main group on Friday,” he said.
“His plan is at the moment to be completing those two main group sessions and one running group for the next two weeks, with the hope of being available for every NAB Cup game.”
But coach Mark Neeld said he was confident Jurrah would play during Melbourne’s pre-season campaign.
“Liam has reported back from the Christmas break in good condition,” he said.
“He still has his arm in a plaster cast, but that’s due to come off in three weeks and then he can start some ball work.
“But the good thing about that from a coaching point of view - and I don’t know how Liam thinks about it - but we can still run him. So that’s what we’re doing.”
Neeld said action needed to be taken on Jurrah’s wrist, after it failed to heal properly from initial treatment.
“It was in a cast after the season and the decision at that stage was to not operate,” he said.
“The original course of action didn’t quite work, so then he had to go back in and have another operation.”
But Neeld is confident the 2011 leading goalkicker will continue to take his game to another level.
“I want him to still be able to compete in the air and attack the footy on the ground and kick the odd goal,” he said.
“I’d really like to see him with some intensity in his chasing and his tackling and then we’ll have a forward who is going to compete in all aspects of the game.
“I’ve been really clear to say ‘if you’re going to play in these areas, this is how you’re going to play’. We’ve made the effort to say ‘this is the way we want to go’ and just look forward.”
Meanwhile, Neeld said another key forward, Jack Watts, had responded strongly to his expectations.
“Jack came into the competition three or four years ago and like all No.1 draft picks, he’s under a fair bit of pressure. His efforts are always going to be highlighted,” he said.
“I see Jack as a player who’s played 40 AFL games and he shows a lot of potential. As to how long it’s going to be before he reaches that mantle, where everyone expects him to be - I’m not sure.
“But to his credit, obviously I’ve said a few things in the media regarding Jack and I’ve had those discussions with him face to face. I’m really pleased with the way that he’s training, so we’ll wait and see.”
And Neeld said defender/midfielder Jack Grimes had been progressing well, after a foot injury ruined his 2011 season.
“Jack is going well. He trained with the main group on Monday and he’ll be in the running group today (Wednesday) and he’s back with the main group on Friday,” he said.
“His plan is at the moment to be completing those two main group sessions and one running group for the next two weeks, with the hope of being available for every NAB Cup game.”
