Liam's more X-factor than distractor

Former Melbourne footballer Liam Jurrah (left) at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: Herald Sun

PORT Adelaide believes Liam Jurrah will prove more X-Factor than distraction with the forward's pending court case clouding a recruit with massive upside.

Power great Warren Tredrea has urged the club to cool its interest in drafting the former Melbourne cult figure until 2014 - allowing Jurrah to gain peak physical and mental condition.

Port will decide on Friday whether to hand troubled Jurrah an AFL lifeline at the December 11 pre-season and rookie drafts. Jurrah, 24, must answer assault charges in March stemming from a town camp incident last February near Alice Springs.

An underdone Jurrah fronted at Alberton last Wednesday as part of a 10-man train-on squad and football operations manager Peter Rohde dismissed thoughts his presence - now or next season - was an unnecessary sideshow.

"We obviously have him out there, we don't necessarily think that is the case, he has some special needs but that is not something that will turn us off," he said of the 36-game, 81-goal ace who was also plagued by ankle and wrist injuries this year.

"If we can get him up playing he has some real talent to add to our team."

The Power languished in 14th spot this year and Jurrah's mercurial leap and marking prowess would lift a side craving gamebreakers and potency. Welcoming a recruit with real baggage is a risk but could be worth it.

"There has been a lot of publicity around Liam," Rohde said.

"He is certainly straight up and there are issues going around his court case that we have to get our heads around but more than anything we just want to see him come out and train, how he presents himself.

"At his best he is one of the most talented players in the competition but he hasn't played at that level for a couple of years, that is what we have to measure up."

Rohde said Jurrah was actually a very different package to the one linked with the incidents in Alice Springs.

"He is very quiet, only took up English language late but certainly listens, is quite smart but shy," Rohde said.

Former Essendon and Geelong midfielder Brent Prismall has also been linked to a multi-year deal at Alberton but the Power will be wary of any long-term commitment to a 26-year-old who has spent the past year sidelined with a knee injury.

"It is as not a done deal in the pre-season draft. We would probably be keen to offer one year," Rohde said.

While his counterpart at Adelaide Phil Harper has landed in hot water, Rohde said Port had the protocols in place to avoid a Kurt Tippett-style salary cap issue.

"We have reporting processes to make sure that everything is within the rules," Rohde said. "They may have deviated from their normal processes for some reason."

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