Liam Jurrah insists he wants to keep playing for Melbourne after a turbulent week in which he was charged with causing serious harm with an offensive weapon in his native Yuendumu.
Jurrah, 23, was bailed at Alice Springs Law Courts until May 17 over his alleged involvement in a machete attack at the Little Sisters town camp, a charge he denies.
The powerful forward, who will not take the field in the immediate future due to a wrist injury, has been joined by his mother and grandmother in Melbourne.
With this support along with that from family friends and the Demons, Jurrah believes he can get through these troubled times.
"It's tough at the moment ... I want to keep going. Keep my dream going." Jurrah told Fox Sports.
"I've got to just keep doing what I'm doing right now. Keep training and stick to the routine in the club.
"Family's first but ... footy's more important than anything (else).
"At the moment I just really want to make my family proud playing footy."
Jurrah's grandmother Cecily Granites also spoke about the influence Jurrah playing in the AFL has on the community back in Yuendumu.
"I think it's really important for a person like Liam, and all the players from Indigenous communities, coming all the way down from the remote areas to play," Granites said.
"It makes us feel really proud."
Tags: australian-football-league, sport, yuendumu-0872, nt, australia First posted March 12, 2012 13:20:45