Player Watch #38: Steven Morris

[tugga]

Let me preface this by saying I love this bloke and what he has done in his time at the club. he singlehandedly made our defence a dangerous place for opposition players to go.
But Jake King's forced retirement and the failed experiment of Steve Morris playing forward, has made it clear that we can no longer carry someone who is getting the ball four times a game and not doing anything with those four touches.
I hate writing this. I genuinely love the bloke. Steve Morris, you'll always be a champ to me, but sentiment can no longer govern picking anybody on our list.
Also, our lack of a small forward is a blight on the recruiting department. Why didn't we get Jeff Garlett for next to nothing? Why didn't we make some sort of play for Eddie Betts?

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

Let me preface this by saying I love this bloke and what he has done in his time at the club. he singlehandedly made our defence a dangerous place for opposition players to go.
But Jake King's forced retirement and the failed experiment of Steve Morris playing forward, has made it clear that we can no longer carry someone who is getting the ball four times a game and not doing anything with those four touches.
I hate writing this. I genuinely love the bloke. Steve Morris, you'll always be a champ to me, but sentiment can no longer govern picking anybody on our list.
Also, our lack of a small forward is a blight on the recruiting department. Why didn't we get Jeff Garlett for next to nothing? Why didn't we make some sort of play for Eddie Betts?

Due to the roles he plays Morris should be judged on his defensive contribution . Yarran and betts haven't and won't play in flags because being a specialised small forward robs the side of midfield rotations .

 

[copthat]

It's strange to think back and remember he was the competition's premier lock down defender in 2013. Played 2014 with one arm, and now he's being thrown around everywhere and seems to have lost all of his lock down traits. Either that or he's been found out.

Unfortunately he's turned into a bit of a spud.

 

[SunshineBoy]

It's strange to think back and remember he was the competition's premier lock down defender in 2013. Played 2014 with one arm, and now he's being thrown around everywhere and seems to have lost all of his lock down traits. Either that or he's been found out.

Unfortunately he's turned into a bit of a spud.

Used as a all rounder by the brains trust, similar to starting jack on the Hbf against gws tinker tailor soldier spy

 

[Heisenberg_]

He is either put in the back pocket with the job to do nothing but stop dangerous small forward or he doesn't play. However I've got my doubts that a role like that can be played in today's game.
He isn't a player who should be setting up attacks from defense and he isn't a forward.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

He is either put in the back pocket with the job to do nothing but stop dangerous small forward or he doesn't play. However I've got my doubts that a role like that can be played in today's game.
He isn't a player who should be setting up attacks from defense and he isn't a forward.

He actually has the potential to be a extremely good tagger , unfortunately we have Grigg attempting to do that along with Hunt who is getting exposed elsewhere.

 

[I Rock]

Saw the thread title and thought my Misses had gotten into the club rooms again.

 

[Nostradumbass]

Saw the thread title and thought my Misses had gotten into the club rooms again.

LOL

 

[tugga]

Saw the thread title and thought my Misses had gotten into the club rooms again.

genuinely LOLd

 

[tunksy]

so after all the experimentation why haven't we tried him as an on-baller? he certainly has the see ball get ball mentality and the defensive traits and I believe he has a decent tank too. let block for cotchin in the middle.

just sit and have a chat with him, control his aggression at the man. he needs to get more ball if he is just to play down back.

 

[TheProwler]

An average VFL footballer who battles hard and is coached by a bloke who loves a battler, he ain't going nowhere folks.

Not a fan of Garlett as he is a spectator for much of the minutes he plays. Yes he does something's great but a lot of time in between. If we recruited him this topic would be about him.

Betts was asking overs at the end of 2013. Not sure he got anywhere near what was published either.

We need to get more out of our mids when they rest fwd. Cotch is the worst kick in front of the sticks I have seen for a mid for sometime. Must be a mental thing that he needs to work on.

 

[Livonski]

so after all the experimentation why haven't we tried him as an on-baller? he certainly has the see ball get ball mentality and the defensive traits and I believe he has a decent tank too. let block for cotchin in the middle.

just sit and have a chat with him, control his aggression at the man. he needs to get more ball if he is just to play down back.

Because he's not good enough.

I thought some of his work round one and two actually created goals. Indirectly of course, but Carlton, who chopped us up in the past with Yarran esp running off half back, were completely shithouse.
Having said that, it's just not enough. He needs to find the ball more (much more) and I don't think he has the ability.

 

[Tiger Scruff]

I haven't been invited into the room so I'm calling BS tugga...

 

[Roachy8]

Watched Nahas kick 3 today... 2 in the last - sigh, there is your elephant in the room.
Small forward, kicks goals...

The other elephant in the room is the guy who replaced him in our forward line.... Zero kicks on Friday / hard to kick goals if the sherrin does not touch your boot.

 

[tugga]

I haven't been invited into the room so I'm calling BS tugga...

There's no room left after I Rock's missus entered.

 

[Squibbs]

Why can't we recruit small forwards for? We could have had Garlett or Betts running around for us right now, but instead we have derps like Lloyd, Arnott and Gordon in our forward line who have no idea once the ball hits the ground.

 

[TJTIGER]

Hey tugga , are you certain we didn't make a play for either of those 2 small forwards ?? Cos I have no idea one way or the other...

 

[johnno77]

You can add Higgins to the list of forwards we should have considered chasing. Had a pretty good start to his career with the Kangas. Going to be a big struggle to attract free agents at the end of this year if we suck balls throughout the season. Early days but our injury list is becoming a massive worry for me.

 

[Ancient Tiger]

Watched Nahas kick 3 today... 2 in the last - sigh, there is your elephant in the room.
Small forward, kicks goals...

The other elephant in the room is the guy who replaced him in our forward line.... Zero kicks on Friday / hard to kick goals if the sherrin does not touch your boot.

I remember Nahas playing crap football for us so I'm not unhappy we let him go. A small forward with no left foot will never win you a final. The problem isn't his loss but his replacement. Hoping Butler gets over his knee as he will be a big upgrade on Nahas.

 

[Tiger Scruff]

There's no room left after I Rock's missus entered.

Bugger - can me and I Rock's missus go rock, paper, scissors?

 

[Mr Magic]

Why can't we recruit small forwards for? We could have had Garlett or Betts running around for us right now, but instead we have derps like Lloyd, Arnott and Gordon in our forward line who have no idea once the ball hits the ground.

Bulldogs have gone past us!!

Looks like we dodged some bullets avoiding these pensioners!

 

[MR]

Turned into a spud when the contact below the knees rule was wiped out. Terrible decision making skills and terrible kicking skills. His only hope left as an AFL player is as a tagger but even then he'll need to become elite in that position to maintain his spot in our team.

 

[Tigerbob]

We definitely lack a creative small forward. One who is dangerous when ball hits the deck in the forward line but can be a guy who can chase and harrass.

This type of player is frustrating, can go missing, but more often than not, we know they can Bob up at anytime and do something special.

Forget about rotating in the midfield. They can pinch hit but no more than 5 minutes a quarter would suffice.

Pace. Skill. Ability to do the impossible. Keen to chase.

We haven't recruited one since Hardwick was in charge. They usually are Aboriginal players who fit this description as examples made in this thread.

Didn't Hardwick have a problem at Essendon along these lines?

Anyway, been saying it a bit, Chris Yarran would be my choice to get. He fits the description well and would improve our forward line immensely. He would give it a new dimension and add pace, class and skill. A natural forward. Release the shackles For him and allow him to play his natural game (Obviously Hardwick can't be coach for this to occur) but that's the type of recruiting that is not safe, but has great reward.

 

[sante]

It's either lockdown Back Pocketer or nothing

 

[Tiges1229]

Let me preface this by saying I love this bloke and what he has done in his time at the club. he singlehandedly made our defence a dangerous place for opposition players to go.
But Jake King's forced retirement and the failed experiment of Steve Morris playing forward, has made it clear that we can no longer carry someone who is getting the ball four times a game and not doing anything with those four touches.
I hate writing this. I genuinely love the bloke. Steve Morris, you'll always be a champ to me, but sentiment can no longer govern picking anybody on our list.
Also, our lack of a small forward is a blight on the recruiting department. Why didn't we get Jeff Garlett for next to nothing? Why didn't we make some sort of play for Eddie Betts?

because apparently Gartlett had problems off field , and you know our club obviously wants players whom are perfect human beings who never make a mistake in life.