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Majak
From AFL stardom to attempting to take his own life, Majak Daw’s is a football story like no other.
Born in Sudan, Majak Daw fled to Egypt with his family when he was only eight years old. When they were eventually able to make a new life for themselves in Melbourne’s south-west, Majak for the first time found where he belonged: playing footy.
Drafted as a raw prospect by North Melbourne, Majak’s explosiveness and athleticism were undeniable, and when his dream of playing in the AFL came true in 2013, he became a media sensation overnight. But on top of this unprecedented scrutiny, he was expected to be a role model for migrant youth and to speak for his entire community.
While from the outside Majak appeared to stand tall in the face of this pressure, as well as vicious racial vilification and crushingly bad luck with injuries, behind the scenes he was struggling. Depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse and the fear of becoming a father were tearing him apart from the inside. At his wit’s end, feeling like there was nowhere else to turn, Majak made the decision to end it all by jumping off the Bolte Bridge.
But his story didn’t end there. Miraculously, he survived the 25-metre plunge into the icy Yarra River. Despite suffering horrific hip and pelvis injuries, Majak had been given a second chance at life, and he was determined to make the most of it. Embarking on a brutal rehabilitation program, he defied the odds and returned to play AFL footy, including a dazzling comeback game that many had thought impossible.
A true trailblazer, Majak Daw’s life is an inspiration to anyone who’s ever struggled to belong, felt oppressed or simply dared to dream big.
Born in Sudan, Majak Daw fled to Egypt with his family when he was only eight years old. When they were eventually able to make a new life for themselves in Melbourne’s south-west, Majak for the first time found where he belonged: playing footy.
Drafted as a raw prospect by North Melbourne, Majak’s explosiveness and athleticism were undeniable, and when his dream of playing in the AFL came true in 2013, he became a media sensation overnight. But on top of this unprecedented scrutiny, he was expected to be a role model for migrant youth and to speak for his entire community.
While from the outside Majak appeared to stand tall in the face of this pressure, as well as vicious racial vilification and crushingly bad luck with injuries, behind the scenes he was struggling. Depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse and the fear of becoming a father were tearing him apart from the inside. At his wit’s end, feeling like there was nowhere else to turn, Majak made the decision to end it all by jumping off the Bolte Bridge.
But his story didn’t end there. Miraculously, he survived the 25-metre plunge into the icy Yarra River. Despite suffering horrific hip and pelvis injuries, Majak had been given a second chance at life, and he was determined to make the most of it. Embarking on a brutal rehabilitation program, he defied the odds and returned to play AFL footy, including a dazzling comeback game that many had thought impossible.
A true trailblazer, Majak Daw’s life is an inspiration to anyone who’s ever struggled to belong, felt oppressed or simply dared to dream big.
357 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
8 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 27, 2022
This is a wonderful story. I think a lot of people would enjoy Majak Daw’s story. Growing up in Sudan would have been incredibly tough, and to come to Australia and make it as a professional footballer is an outstanding achievement. This book is raw and full of emotion, and I’m so glad that I read it. 5/5 Star Rating.
March 8, 2022
As sports spectators we only see the peak of an athlete’s journey.
To watch Majak play footy you would think here’s a tough muscular confident man with superhuman sporting abilities.
Reading more about his life we learn he is a gentle soul who had to overcome humble beginnings in Sudan, moving and integrating into Egyptian and Australian cultures, racism, the pressures of breaking in to and competing in the AFL, being a sports ‘celebrity’ for his background before he had proven himself, the pressures of being made into a role model, physical and mental health issues, on top of managing his family and relationships.
He kept stormy feelings and emotions to himself which lead to several suicide attempts, including the bridge jump which left him seriously injured.
Majak’s writing was open and honest and he is a good advocate for resilience and mental health.
2.5/5
To watch Majak play footy you would think here’s a tough muscular confident man with superhuman sporting abilities.
Reading more about his life we learn he is a gentle soul who had to overcome humble beginnings in Sudan, moving and integrating into Egyptian and Australian cultures, racism, the pressures of breaking in to and competing in the AFL, being a sports ‘celebrity’ for his background before he had proven himself, the pressures of being made into a role model, physical and mental health issues, on top of managing his family and relationships.
He kept stormy feelings and emotions to himself which lead to several suicide attempts, including the bridge jump which left him seriously injured.
Majak’s writing was open and honest and he is a good advocate for resilience and mental health.
2.5/5
July 13, 2025
Such an incredible insight into Majak’s life - his life leading up to moving to Australia and the depth into which the media distorted his life.
February 7, 2022
**Warning: This book mentions about suicide.**
"Majak" by Majak Daw (Audiobook)
Reviewed by 7 Feb 2022
It's Black History Month and I've made it a point to read at least ten books by black authors this month. I've never heard of Majak Daw before, which is exactly why I picked this book to read. I was a bit hesitant at first because I do not follow AFL and didn't want a sporty book. I was surprised to really enjoy "reading" this book.
The beginning of the memoir opened up with Majak's childhood in Sudan. I liked the story of how he lost part of his finger. Was it because his pet lion bit his finger off? Oh no, it wasn't a lion; it was actually a tiger. Oh, actually, it was a sewing accident, which he was too embarrassed to tell people because children should not be working. People wouldn't understand the truth because the Australian culture is so different from how Majak was raised in Sudan. I enjoyed hearing about his immigration stories and experiences in Egypt. There, at times, he and his siblings has to pretend they were Muslim so they wouldn't get abused by the locals.
I loved the family unity of immigrants, having 6 family members and still opening the home to an immigrant family of 10. I loved how Majak became very close to his brother Augustin because, at first, they only had each other in school. Playing sport allowed Majak to be accepted by his peers in school.
I loved how raw his stories were, his struggles with being famous, knowing he was a huge role model to children, his struggles with alcohol and his world of darkness, even attempting to end his life by taking a whole bottle of pills, hanging himself with the cord of his dressing gown, and even jumping off a bridge 25 meters down into the Yarra River on 18 December 2018. He was also accused of rape. Although he was not found guilty, it very much negatively affected his life. He had relationship problems with Emily, who had a few pregnancies (one miscarriage), and he admitted that he was not ready to be a father.
Luckily, Majak was found alive, although unconscious, at the river bank by the police and paramedics.
Sudanese culture and beliefs would be embarrassed by family members attempting to take their lives. It's not spoken about often and the culture doesn't understand it. Majak's dad had a hard time accepting that his son was going through mental health battles and wanted answers that were tough for Majak to give. In many African, Asian and even Western cultures, suicide is very much frowned upon. Thank goodness that Majak's mother was understanding and supportive.
This man has been through so much emotionally and he has come out resilient. Majak was lucky to have a friend like Joey and (mostly) supportive family around him. This is a reminder that things are not always as they appear on the outside. Depression and mental health battles happen too often. It's worth checking in with our good friends and family to make sure that they are truly doing ok. This memoir is well-written, poignant, and worth reading. I wish Majak the best in his recovery and thank him for becoming vulnerable and sharing with us his story. I wish more people with mental health can get the help they urgently need.
There was a video interview by the Victorian Government featuring Majak Daw for the Voice of Change. Watching the video, I was impressed by how well-spoken Majak is and how he is truly a role model and inspiration of so many young people. He was 27 years old when the video was made, the same age he jumped into the Yarra River. I couldn't tell if this video was made before or after his suicide attempt. I am just happy he continues to be a huge role model to so many people and he seems to be a good father to his son Hendrix. I know very little about Sudan, racism in Melbourne and AFL, mental health struggles and reading this book gives me a better understanding about the Sudanese culture and how that community comes together to deal with mental health. I think Majak's story is one I will remember for a long time.
This is a bit off topic, but recently, there was a 30 year old Miss America named Chelsea Kryst who jumped to her death from the 70th floor of her apartment building. This story made me very sad. There are so many beautiful people in the world who don't realise their value to others or just struggle internally. One smile, one conversation, one friend may change the trajectory of those who are experiencing mental health issues.
"Majak" by Majak Daw (Audiobook)
Reviewed by 7 Feb 2022
It's Black History Month and I've made it a point to read at least ten books by black authors this month. I've never heard of Majak Daw before, which is exactly why I picked this book to read. I was a bit hesitant at first because I do not follow AFL and didn't want a sporty book. I was surprised to really enjoy "reading" this book.
The beginning of the memoir opened up with Majak's childhood in Sudan. I liked the story of how he lost part of his finger. Was it because his pet lion bit his finger off? Oh no, it wasn't a lion; it was actually a tiger. Oh, actually, it was a sewing accident, which he was too embarrassed to tell people because children should not be working. People wouldn't understand the truth because the Australian culture is so different from how Majak was raised in Sudan. I enjoyed hearing about his immigration stories and experiences in Egypt. There, at times, he and his siblings has to pretend they were Muslim so they wouldn't get abused by the locals.
I loved the family unity of immigrants, having 6 family members and still opening the home to an immigrant family of 10. I loved how Majak became very close to his brother Augustin because, at first, they only had each other in school. Playing sport allowed Majak to be accepted by his peers in school.
I loved how raw his stories were, his struggles with being famous, knowing he was a huge role model to children, his struggles with alcohol and his world of darkness, even attempting to end his life by taking a whole bottle of pills, hanging himself with the cord of his dressing gown, and even jumping off a bridge 25 meters down into the Yarra River on 18 December 2018. He was also accused of rape. Although he was not found guilty, it very much negatively affected his life. He had relationship problems with Emily, who had a few pregnancies (one miscarriage), and he admitted that he was not ready to be a father.
Luckily, Majak was found alive, although unconscious, at the river bank by the police and paramedics.
Sudanese culture and beliefs would be embarrassed by family members attempting to take their lives. It's not spoken about often and the culture doesn't understand it. Majak's dad had a hard time accepting that his son was going through mental health battles and wanted answers that were tough for Majak to give. In many African, Asian and even Western cultures, suicide is very much frowned upon. Thank goodness that Majak's mother was understanding and supportive.
This man has been through so much emotionally and he has come out resilient. Majak was lucky to have a friend like Joey and (mostly) supportive family around him. This is a reminder that things are not always as they appear on the outside. Depression and mental health battles happen too often. It's worth checking in with our good friends and family to make sure that they are truly doing ok. This memoir is well-written, poignant, and worth reading. I wish Majak the best in his recovery and thank him for becoming vulnerable and sharing with us his story. I wish more people with mental health can get the help they urgently need.
There was a video interview by the Victorian Government featuring Majak Daw for the Voice of Change. Watching the video, I was impressed by how well-spoken Majak is and how he is truly a role model and inspiration of so many young people. He was 27 years old when the video was made, the same age he jumped into the Yarra River. I couldn't tell if this video was made before or after his suicide attempt. I am just happy he continues to be a huge role model to so many people and he seems to be a good father to his son Hendrix. I know very little about Sudan, racism in Melbourne and AFL, mental health struggles and reading this book gives me a better understanding about the Sudanese culture and how that community comes together to deal with mental health. I think Majak's story is one I will remember for a long time.
This is a bit off topic, but recently, there was a 30 year old Miss America named Chelsea Kryst who jumped to her death from the 70th floor of her apartment building. This story made me very sad. There are so many beautiful people in the world who don't realise their value to others or just struggle internally. One smile, one conversation, one friend may change the trajectory of those who are experiencing mental health issues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2021
I don't really know anything about AFL but that certainly didn't hinder my enjoyment of this memoir. There were some passages that described game plays and action on the field that had me lost, but even a non-fan like myself can get the general drift of it and work out the general significance.
The first half of the book is about Majak's childhood, his arrival in Australia, his discovery of AFL and his start as a professional player. The second half of the book deals with his mental health issues. Majak is a resilient and amazing young man. He works hard and manages to live his dream for a time. I'm sure he has a bright future ahead of him in his post football career...
Well worth a read for football fans and fans of a good story about an interesting man.
Read print, not Kindle
The first half of the book is about Majak's childhood, his arrival in Australia, his discovery of AFL and his start as a professional player. The second half of the book deals with his mental health issues. Majak is a resilient and amazing young man. He works hard and manages to live his dream for a time. I'm sure he has a bright future ahead of him in his post football career...
Well worth a read for football fans and fans of a good story about an interesting man.
Read print, not Kindle
September 25, 2021
I really enjoyed this book about Majak and also the behind the scenes look of his life and also the AFL and the strict training and selection regimes. He is such a strong person and I love his resilience and athleticism. I would recommend reading it, there are inspiring moments about his family and where he has come from, a good read.
January 4, 2022
As a long time North Melbourne supporter this was hard to read but also a chance for me to know what happened and why. I applaud Majak and Heath for writing this book because it couldn't have been easy. Well done
Maj I can only hope only good things for you and Hendrix.
Maj I can only hope only good things for you and Hendrix.
November 19, 2021
Listened on BorrowBox.
April 18, 2022
Unbelievable story and read. So enlightening on so many levels. Thank you Majak!
March 1, 2024
Thank you Majak for sharing your story with us! I'd love to meet you and your family one day, but probably never will!
It was a great book - the content was great and I love how he explained things for people with no prior knowlege, eg Aussie culture, footy culture/terms, Sudanese culture, Egyptian culture, Melbourne geography. People who don't know about Aussie Rules football could very much read and enjoy this book. I like how he dealt with issues like racism and mental health. It was helpful to hear about how racism affects people.
I also liked that the chapter numbers were in the Dinka language - that's great! Preserve your language even in the little ways. We don't speak Dinka, but it's great to be exposed to it in a way that helps us to understand it a bit (although I still don't remember the numbers!)
I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration was good. The only thing I would change would be to have a different person reading the reflections as sometimes it was hard to tell when they had stopped or started if I wasn't concentrating. One voice for Majak's little intro about the person before the reflection and a different voice for the reflection.
EDITED TO ADD: I forgot to mention that the Reflection part from Majak's father about the love of a parent for a child was GOLD. If you don't read any other part of this book, every person should read that. It was very touching and made me emotional. The best part of the book!
It was a great book - the content was great and I love how he explained things for people with no prior knowlege, eg Aussie culture, footy culture/terms, Sudanese culture, Egyptian culture, Melbourne geography. People who don't know about Aussie Rules football could very much read and enjoy this book. I like how he dealt with issues like racism and mental health. It was helpful to hear about how racism affects people.
I also liked that the chapter numbers were in the Dinka language - that's great! Preserve your language even in the little ways. We don't speak Dinka, but it's great to be exposed to it in a way that helps us to understand it a bit (although I still don't remember the numbers!)
I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration was good. The only thing I would change would be to have a different person reading the reflections as sometimes it was hard to tell when they had stopped or started if I wasn't concentrating. One voice for Majak's little intro about the person before the reflection and a different voice for the reflection.
EDITED TO ADD: I forgot to mention that the Reflection part from Majak's father about the love of a parent for a child was GOLD. If you don't read any other part of this book, every person should read that. It was very touching and made me emotional. The best part of the book!
December 30, 2023
** Audiobook** Powerful. Thanks Maj for sharing. Very brave and courageous of you. Obtaining this type of access into Daw’s journey is a privilege. Would recommend to all. Offers a great reality check. The author also nailed this. One of the more intellectually stimulating sports’ bios I have read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews