Jurrah is also known as "Jungarrayi",[5] an initiated member of the Warlpiri people who are based in Yuendumu, a small and remote Indigenous Australian community 300 km north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

In his mid-teens he began following his father 600 kilometres each week to play for Yuendumu in the Alice Springs Central Australian Football League.

His leadership and strength saw him rapidly progress through this program to begin acting as a youth mentor helping other Warlpiri young men in Yuendumu.

[10] He returned to Melbourne in 2008 where he was played by Collingwood in the Victorian Football League for four games and showed great athleticism and talent.

[12] In September 2008 he won the Everingham Medal as the best player in the inaugural combined competition CAFL Grand Final, with his four first-quarter goals helping to set up Yuendumu's premiership victory.

Following the CAFL season Jurrah also played for Nightcliff in the Northern Territory Football League[12] where he kicked five goals in his last game and AFL talent scouts first identified him – Aaron Davey also noticed him at this time and spoke to Melbourne recruiting staff.

Prior to the 2009 AFL season, Jurrah was named to play for the Indigenous All-Stars representative side in a pre-season match against Adelaide in Darwin.

[30] In April 2014 Jurrah was charged with aggravated assault for attacking a woman, causing her harm, and allegedly making threats with a tyre iron and a knife.

[31] In August 2022 Jurrah was charged after allegedly breaking into a house and assaulting a woman with a machete and is currently in custody awaiting a court hearing on October 13 2022.