CHIEF executive Cameron Schwab says the club is attempting to bring Liam Jurrah back to Melbourne “as quickly as we can”.
Schwab confirmed that Jurrah has been charged with an offence following an incident in the Northern Territory, but added that the “courts will ultimately decide the outcome of what’s evolved”.“How it evolves with the courts will dictate in the main,” he said at a packed media conference at AAMI Park on Friday morning.
“We’re dealing with a difficult and challenging issue. The way it’s been managed and handled by the media today recognises the complexities of the issue that we’re now dealing with.
“We’ll try and assist and support Liam as much as we can during this period, understanding that we are dealing with incredibly complex, emotional and difficult issues.”
Schwab said that Jurrah was expected to face court on Friday morning, and then return to Melbourne as soon as possible. He said any further comment would only be speculation in regards to how the situation will play out.
“There are two elements that prohibit me from talking too much about the matter - firstly - we’re trying to establish the facts to how it evolved, and what’s actually happened here,” he said.
“We understand the reasons why Liam was in Central Australia and Alice Springs. But exactly how and what happened over the last 24 hours we can’t be entirely sure of.
“And the second part is that it is a police matter.”
Schwab said Jurrah was one of the great football stories, and that he had defied the odds to reach the highest level.
He said it was a “complex and challenging” situation, which needed understanding and empathy. He added that it was important not to talk in stereotypes.
“We provide support for any person in our game, and Liam is obviously the centre of attention at this time,” he said.
“We’ll continue to provide him with the support that he needs - the same way that any other player would.
“In dealing with providing that support, you do so with the empathy of what they’re facing.”
Jurrah took leave when his sister’s partner passed away “quite suddenly”.
“He has been assisting his sister through that process,” Schwab said.
“A significant court matter has been heard, and Liam sought to stay there during a period of time. Clearly he is often torn by the various responsibilities he does have as an elder in his community, and the responsibilities that come with being an elite athlete playing in an AFL football club.”
