Jurrah has fortnight to earn contract with Port

Updated November 29, 2012 11:44:56

Port Adelaide is giving Liam Jurrah a fortnight to prove he is worth one of the remaining three spots on the Power list.

The former Demon trained with Port for the first time today, after a year in which he has faced charges of aggravated assault and intent to cause serious harm, as well as an ankle injury during his only AFL appearance of 2012.

With Bomber Brent Prismall looking certain to be a preseason draft selection, Jurrah must show himself to be worthy of one of the two rookie-list spots.

Port Coach Ken Hinkley says Jurrah is only one of several players trying to join the club through the pre-season or rookie drafts.

"He's really excited about getting an opportunity to show he can play AFL football still and we don't doubt he can play the game," Hinkley said.

"We've just got to make sure he's physically able to play the game."

If he can prove he has the dedication to match his undoubted talent, Melbourne's leading scorer in 2011 would certainly add firepower to the fifth-lowest scorers of 2012, but his availability will depend on the outcome of his court case in Alice Springs in March.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, port-adelaide-5015, nt

First posted November 28, 2012 09:53:13

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Maguire seeks contract extension

Updated July 6, 2011 13:52:00

Brisbane defender Matt Maguire wants a contract extension so he can complete some unfinished business at his second club.

Maguire is one of a number of senior players whose careers are in the balance due to the Lions unofficial youth policy and their determination to rebuild the club from the ground up.

The 27-year-old arrived from St Kilda for the start of the 2010 season as one of half a dozen recycled players - including fallen idol Brendan Fevola - who coach Michael Voss hotly pursued for a quick-fix finals solution.

However it all came unstuck, particularly in Fevola's case, midway through last season and the club is wilting financially and on the field.

Maguire admits he is playing for his future and is under pressure from the side's emerging talent because the Lions have blooded 10 players this season.

"You feel like that a lot of a time that there are a lot players pushing to play," he said.

"I put myself under as much pressure from the club or external perceptions.

"I'm definitely keen and really enjoying my time at Brisbane.

"I haven't hit my best form by any stretch.

"There's still a lot of improvement in me."

Maguire has played 22 of a possible 36 matches since arriving and due to the absence of Daniel Merrett (back) he will most likely be guarding Hawthorn match-winner Lance Franklin in Launceston on Saturday.

If Franklin recovers from an ankle problem, it will be the second big assignment for the Lions' defender in as many weeks having been responsible for Port Adelaide's Jay Schulz who bagged seven goals at the Gabba last Sunday.

"(Franklin) is a tough one to play because he can do everything," Maguire said.

"He can get up the field and burn you on the way back in one-on-one contests and he's very good on the ground.

"If I get the job on him this week I will try and negate his running ability and keep him out of as many contests as possible.

"It's not going to be one player that beats us."

Maguire drew parallels between his early years at the Saints when they were struggling and relentlessly blooding new talent and the Lions' 2011 season.

"At St Kilda in my second year we were playing a lot of kids and it was about trying to get as many games into those kids as we could," Maguire said.

"I was lucky to be one of those who got a few extra games and the next year we were in the finals."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, brisbane-4000

First posted July 6, 2011 13:09:00

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Pendlebury holds off on big contract

Posted May 20, 2011 19:44:00

Star Collingwood midfielder Scott Pendlebury wants the AFL's new collective bargaining agreement finalised before he makes a longer contract commitment.

The man widely regarded as the Magpies' next captain signed a one-year deal on Friday.

Pendlebury's decision to sign a short-term contract means expansion team Greater Western Sydney can still try to sign him as an uncontracted player, because it has its recruiting concessions for two years.

"With the CBA yet to get sorted out it gives me the best opportunity to secure the best deal for myself next year," Pendlebury told the club website.

"We have been working through the contract for four or five months now.

"It wasn't like we sat down this week and signed this week - it's been in the works for a while."

With Pendlebury joining Dane Swan as a confirmed signing and Dale Thomas saying he is about to follow suit, Collingwood is set to keep three of the main GWS recruiting targets.

The trio, who topped Collingwood's best and fairest voting last year, were coming out of contract at the end of this season.

Swan put himself off the GWS radar by signing a three-year deal with Collingwood before the season started.

Thomas said on Friday he is likely to agree to a two-year contract.

"I have been open to offers, but I think at the moment I'd be hopeful to sign shortly with (Collingwood) for a couple of years," Thomas told Melbourne's Nova 100 FM.

Swan won the club's Copeland Trophy last year, with Pendlebury second and Thomas finishing third.

-AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066

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Eagles to wait on Worsfold contract

Posted May 9, 2011 13:30:00

West Coast will put contract negotiations with coach John Worsfold on hold until the end of the season.

Worsfold, who is out of contract at the end of the season, started the year under immense pressure to produce results after last year's wooden spoon campaign.

The Eagles have shown drastic improvement this year and sit 10th on the table with a 3-3 win-loss record ahead of Sunday's Derby against Fremantle.

But despite the on-field improvement, Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett says a decision on Worsfold's future will not be made until the end of the campaign.

"John's aware of his position, it will happen at the end of the year," Nisbett said.

"John's working with the players to ensure we get the best performance week in, week out and to date we've been extremely competitive.

"It makes John's position a little easier because he's seeing good performances from the players he believes in.

"We're three and three so we've got a lot of work to do yet. But our performances have been much better."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, perth-6000

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