Nathan Djerrkura

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).

Nathan Djerrkura
Djerrkura with Geelong in 2008
Personal information
Full name Nathan Djerrkura
Nickname(s) Djidi[1]
Date of birth (1988-09-19) 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)
2007–2010 Geelong 04 (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.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

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

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

Team:

  • VFL Premiership (Geelong): 2007

Individual:

  • Under 18 All-Australian (2006)
  • Represented Northern Territory Under 18 (2006)
  • Represented Indigenous All-Stars (2009)

References
  1. Auciello, Michael (21 March 2007). "A magical voyage to the top – Nathan Djerkurra". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  2. "Djerrkura justice". Geelong Football Club. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  3. "Promising young midfielder Nathan Djerrkura in contention for Cats debut". foxsports.com.au. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  4. McKenna, Mark (March 2008). "Comment". The Monthly. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  5. AFL Record. Round 9,2009. Slattery Publishing. p. 75.
  6. "Nathan Djerrkura to retire from AFL football at age 24". 15 September 2012.
  7. "Djerrkura signs with Thunder". www.ntnews.com.au. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
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