EMBATTLED former Melbourne footballer Liam Jurrah has been booked for drink driving at more than five times the legal limit.

Jurrah was stopped at about 8.20pm CDT on Monday night driving in the northern Adelaide suburb of Parra Hills and allegedly recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.269.

"The 24-year-old from Elizabeth was detained after he appeared affected by alcohol and then breath tested returning a reading of 0.269, more than five times the legal limit of 0.05," South Australian police said in a statement.

"The man was reported for driving under the influence of alcohol, exceeding the prescribed level of alcohol and breaching a probationary licence.

"His driver's licence has been disqualified for 12 months and he will be summonsed to appear in the Holden Hill Magistrates Court at a date to be decided."

Jurrah is waiting to stand trial in the Northern Territory over his alleged involvement in a machete attack near Alice Springs last March.

The forward had trained with Port Adelaide in the off-season, and while the club didn't offer him a spot on its list, he had been presented with the opportunity to join its SANFL squad.

But AFL.com.au has learned Jurrah failed to front for training as expected at the beginning of this week.

It's understood the injury-riddled livewire had been dealing with another setback – an infected knee.

Matt Thompson is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter @MattThompsonAFL