Jurrah had been training with Port since leaving Melbourne at the end of the 2012 season, saying he wanted to be closer to his family by living in Adelaide. He will stand trial on assault and weapons charges in March, over incidents in a Northern Territory town camp last February.

Port Adelaide ruled out listing the spring-heeled forward for the 2013 season, but has undertaken to assist him to restore his career.

"Port Adelaide is committed to doing everything it can to assist Liam Jurrah to get back to the top level," Port's general manager of football, Peter Rohde, told the club's website.

"However, we think that injury-related fitness concerns, together with off-field issues he is dealing with, means it is not yet the right time to fully integrate him back into the AFL system and all that it demands."

Instead, Jurrah will play with Port Adelaide's SANFL team, work with the community development arm of the club, provide assistance in his ongoing rehabilitation from injury, and the club will commit to re-assessing him for the 2014 season.

Port Adelaide has also promised to assist Jurrah, with the help of the AFL Player's Association, to deal with his off-field issues, including his legal battles.

"We believe these measures will enable Liam to have the best possible opportunity to find his way back into the AFL system in great physical condition, with proven form at SANFL level and with those non-football matters fully dealt with," Rohde said.

"All going well, that could be through any club in the AFL, but we would love it to be with Port Adelaide if everything works out.

"We think we have fantastic resources at our club, including our football and administrative personnel together with our community programs to really help Liam’s return to the highest level.

Jurrah managed only one game for Melbourne this year. He has played 38 games in all, over four seasons, kicking 81 goals. In 2011, he played 18 games and returned 40 goals.