Nathan Djerrkura
 |
| Nathan Djerrkura | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Djerrkura with Geelong in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Nathan Djerrkura | ||
| Nickname(s) | Djidi[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 19 September 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Yirrkala, Northern Territory | ||
| Original team(s) | Wanderers (NT) | ||
| Draft |
25th overall, 2006 Geelong | ||
| Height | 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Weight | 80 kg (176 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2009–2010 | Geelong | 4 (0) | |
| 2011–2012 | Western Bulldogs | 21 (8) | |
| Total | 25 (8) | ||
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 2009 | Indigenous All-Stars | 1 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of Round 21 2012. 2 State and international statistics correct as of 2009. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Nathan Djerrkura (born 19 September 1988) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club and the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Early life
[edit]Nathan Djerrkura was born to Gatjil and Jenny Djerrkura in the indigenous community of Yirrkala, Northern Territory on 19 September 1988.[1][2] His father, Gatjil, was a former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) chairman before his death from a heart attack in May 2004.[2][3][4] Djerrkura is of Indigenous Australian heritage and his ancestry can be traced to the Yolngu.[5] Djerrkura attended Scotch College, Melbourne on an Indigenous scholarship.[2]
AFL career
[edit]Taken at pick 25 in the 2006 National AFL Draft, Djerrkura was a highly rated young midfielder with a great work ethic and a strong body for his size. He has lightning pace and provides strong tackling pressure in the forward line. He was one of the best prospects from the Northern Territory in 2006, and was featured on SBS in a draft special. Djerrkura played 2 NAB Cup matches in 2007, and was close to making his debut in round 1 and 2 after strong reserves form, until he received a setback when he was injured early in the season playing football in the VFL. Djerrkura participated in the 2008 AFL Grand Final sprint, coming first in his heat and going on to come 3rd overall. On 8 October 2010, he was traded to the Western Bulldogs in return for Geelong receiving the 57th draft pick. Djerrkura retired from AFL football on 15 September 2012 after playing 21 games for the Western Bulldogs.[6] In 2014 he joined the Northern Territory Thunder in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL).[7]
Honours
[edit]Team:
- VFL Premiership (Geelong): 2007
Individual:
- Under 18 All-Australian (2006)
- Represented Northern Territory Under 18 (2006)
- Represented Indigenous All-Stars (2009)
References
[edit]- ^ a b Auciello, Michael (21 March 2007). "A magical voyage to the top – Nathan Djerkurra". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ^ a b c "Djerrkura justice". Geelong Football Club. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ^ "Promising young midfielder Nathan Djerrkura in contention for Cats debut". foxsports.com.au. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ^ McKenna, Mark (March 2008). "Comment". The Monthly. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ^ AFL Record. Round 9,2009. Slattery Publishing. p. 75.
- ^ "Nathan Djerrkura to retire from AFL football at age 24". 15 September 2012.
- ^ "Djerrkura signs with Thunder". www.ntnews.com.au. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
External links
[edit]
- Nathan Djerrkura's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- 1988 births
- Living people
- Geelong Football Club players
- Western Bulldogs players
- Williamstown Football Club players
- Wanderers Football Club players
- Northern Territory Football Club players
- Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football
- Australian rules footballers from the Northern Territory
- Yolngu people
- North Shore Football Club (GFL) players
- 21st-century Australian sportsmen