Concerns about Morton

[jacey 333]

Physically he really is not developed enough, and if this is not an ingrained issue than I'm sure it's one that a few extra kilos will solve.

It's not just all about physically maturing. Some kids need time to mentally mature as well. Some need time to realize that they do belong and can play at this level. With time, he'll get comfortable, he'll put his game together and be more confident in his skills.

I've seen enough to like Morton's game.

[Roost It 1,434]

no where has joeboy stated that he expects cale to be a superstar at 18.

i too expect any player who is deemed good enough to be drafted at an early pick to have the basic kicking and handballing skills to be at an adequate standard. bigger body + more experience does improve certain aspects of players abilities but basic skill errors are not excused by merely playing at the top level especially poor kicking whilst in the clear.

Cale will pick himself in a year or two(less, most likely) and along with Grimes he will give us the drive and polish from the midfield that we sorely lack, and quite frankly anyone bagging him should go and watch other 18 year olds play and note how far in front of almost all of them Cale is. He is going to be a very, very good footballer

[Freak 100]

Cale Morton doesn't sell any candy. He quite simply doesn't know which way he is going to go, so how can his opponent.

And what i would like of a pick 4 is 10-15 touches of class..not 20 touches, 5 free kicks against and clangers galore.

[ummm21 0]

Cale Morton doesn't sell any candy. He quite simply doesn't know which way he is going to go, so how can his opponent.

And what i would like of a pick 4 is 10-15 touches of class..not 20 touches, 5 free kicks against and clangers galore.

I dont know why i'm wasting my time with you, but anway.

If you watch the game you'll see a few of his free kicks against are holding the ball trying to take on the tackler, obviously he has being able to break tackles at other levels of football but now his not strong enough, I couldnt care less about that, I prefer the fact that his trying to take them on rather than just smashing it on his foot like some others his age (Myers, Palmer). In a few years you'll look very silly.

[Diablo 1]

And what i would like of a pick 4 is 10-15 touches of class..not 20 touches, 5 free kicks against and clangers galore.

So why do u keep bleating about Palmer then? He gets 25 touches but they are 80% [censored]. His kicking action is abhorrent, and like most left footers he has no right. He absolutely torches it, and when he doesn't its because he only toes it 15m.

Free kicks against also count as clangers, so of the 7 clangers Morton had on Sunday, 5 were frees given away. He's a bit sloppy with his tackling, but yet again definitely not the worst on our list.

[Freak 100]

yep, once a hesitant player, always a hesitant player, just ask daniel bell.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

The kid is 15kg off his eventual playing weight, his skills are more than fine, he is just adjusting to the pressure of playing against men in the best league possible.

Even if that is the case, pulling out of contests looks horrible. Has nothing to do with confidence and is all about mindset and attitude.

[LeBron James 41]

yep, once a hesitant player, always a hesitant player, just ask daniel bell.

Just ask Colin Garland <_<

[H_T 3,049]

Just ask Colin Garland <_<

Incorrect. He shows alot of poise and uses the first time option.

Just ask Alistair Nicholson more likely.

[LeBron James 41]

Incorrect. He shows alot of poise and uses the first time option.

Just ask Alistair Nicholson more likely.

*sigh*

I was saying how Colin Garland was so bad when he came in, so unsure of himself. He fumbled the ball, always missed targets etc, now look at him. Freak is deluded.

[Freak 100]

Yes Colin Garland has improved but he is by no means mr.assurance.

[LeBron James 41]

Yes Colin Garland has improved but he is by no means mr.assurance.

By no means? I can't remember Garland turning over in the last few weeks. His kicks out of the defence have been spot on, which is a far cry from what he was at the beginning of the year.

Saying that an 18 year old anorexic can't improve is one of the stupidest things i have ever seen on this website.

[tez 6]

Cale played good first quater then got totally lost like most, not the worst but definately not in top 6 players as voted on player of year

[Freak 100]

By no means? I can't remember Garland turning over in the last few weeks. His kicks out of the defence have been spot on, which is a far cry from what he was at the beginning of the year.

Saying that an 18 year old anorexic can't improve is one of the stupidest things i have ever seen on this website.

just because a player hits targets doesnt mean he is not hesitant in doing so.

[Scoop Junior 3,573]

I think it comes down to awareness and IMO Morton has this in bucketloads.

I've seen him grab the ball in the air and almost change direction before he hits the ground to divert an opponent off course. I've also seen him look like he's about to get caught in traffic, only to manage to find space and get out of traffic with a clever change of direction or movement of the hips. It is this awareness that will hold him in good stead.

Why I think he's getting caught a lot at the moment is a combination of lack of physical strength to break through or fend off challenges and just a lack of experience in the pace of the game. As he gets stronger over the years and adjusts to the speed of AFL footy, I think he'll improve rapidly in this area and won't be finding himself caught too often.

I agree that he wouldn't be playing at many other clubs. His body is nowhere near ready for the rigours of AFL footy. He's getting games for us because our list is poor, we have injuries and we are in a rebuilding phase. This is nothing against Cale, it's just the fact that his body is seriously underdeveloped and he probably wouldn't be exposed to as much AFL footy at this stage of his career in a stronger side.

I believe he has some fantastic attributes and is a really exciting prospect. Getting caught and making mistakes is not unusual for an inexperienced skinny youngster. But I've seen enough of him to know that he has the class and awareness, attributes that not all players are fortunate to possess.

[Doggo 32]

I think it comes down to awareness and IMO Morton has this in bucketloads.

I've seen him grab the ball in the air and almost change direction before he hits the ground to divert an opponent off course. I've also seen him look like he's about to get caught in traffic, only to manage to find space and get out of traffic with a clever change of direction or movement of the hips. It is this awareness that will hold him in good stead.

Why I think he's getting caught a lot at the moment is a combination of lack of physical strength to break through or fend off challenges and just a lack of experience in the pace of the game. As he gets stronger over the years and adjusts to the speed of AFL footy, I think he'll improve rapidly in this area and won't be finding himself caught too often.

I agree that he wouldn't be playing at many other clubs. His body is nowhere near ready for the rigours of AFL footy. He's getting games for us because our list is poor, we have injuries and we are in a rebuilding phase. This is nothing against Cale, it's just the fact that his body is seriously underdeveloped and he probably wouldn't be exposed to as much AFL footy at this stage of his career in a stronger side.

I believe he has some fantastic attributes and is a really exciting prospect. Getting caught and making mistakes is not unusual for an inexperienced skinny youngster. But I've seen enough of him to know that he has the class and awareness, attributes that not all players are fortunate to possess.

Spot on post. Agree 100%

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Didn't read your post. Didn't need to. That's a corker of a screen name...

[deanox 10,052]

...I've seen him grab the ball in the air and almost change direction before he hits the ground to divert an opponent off course. I've also seen him look like he's about to get caught in traffic, only to manage to find space and get out of traffic with a clever change of direction or movement of the hips. It is this awareness that will hold him in good stead.

...

I agree that he wouldn't be playing at many other clubs. His body is nowhere near ready for the rigours of AFL footy. He's getting games for us because our list is poor, we have injuries and we are in a rebuilding phase. This is nothing against Cale, it's just the fact that his body is seriously underdeveloped and he probably wouldn't be exposed to as much AFL footy at this stage of his career in a stronger side...

to part a) he reminds me of travis in this way. it will be great if as he gets stronger he keeps this and is able to slip through tackles, even if he ends up playing KP. he has amazing agility.

regarding your second part. do you think this exposure will hamper or hasten his development? in some ways it is really hampering him. he is not getting the chance to play at sandy and dominate, he is forced to play above himself. he is getting crucified by certain posters here for every mistake, but they forget he is learning on the big stage. on the other hand, getting this much experience and exposure now means that he wont have to get the exposure next year or the year after when he bulks up a bit, and might start playing great footy straight away without that need to adjust...

[Beamer 1]

He does not at all remind of me of Travis.

Different body type. Far more indecisive and not as quick.

Not offence Cale.

[deanox 10,052]

He does not at all remind of me of Travis.

Different body type. Far more indecisive and not as quick.

Not offence Cale.

watch the boy move. i am not saying he is a similar player or a similar body type., i am saying he has the spatial awareness, and the time and space, and the agility allowing him to move around others, of travis.

[Beamer 1]

watch the boy move. i am not saying he is a similar player or a similar body type., i am saying he has the spatial awareness, and the time and space, and the agility allowing him to move around others, of travis.

I understand your point.

His spatial awareness isnt the best however. He's often caught with the ball.

Your last point about the agility side of his game is particularly correct though.

[deanox 10,052]

I understand your point.

His spatial awareness isnt the best however. He's often caught with the ball.

Your last point about the agility side of his game is particularly correct though.

yeah sorry, spatial awareness probably isnt the best term for it. but its that ability to step around a play who comes at him, from whatever angle. once he is stronger i think he will get caught a hell of a lot less, as it often looks like he is trying to bruch players off, and underestimates them...

[The Emblem 1]

yeah sorry, spatial awareness probably isnt the best term for it. but its that ability to step around a play who comes at him, from whatever angle. once he is stronger i think he will get caught a hell of a lot less, as it often looks like he is trying to bruch players off, and underestimates them...

Hi Deanox, I think peripheral vision and evasive skills are what your'e talking about, but spatial awareness does come into it.

A prime example of a player who is lacking is Justin "Thwack" Kositschke

[Rogue 585]

Many times I've watched Morton receive the ball in a situation where it's inevitable that he'll get tackled, but the difference between him and some other players is that he generally makes an attempt to free his arms from the incoming tackle, so that he has a better chance of disposing of the ball.

Based on some fans reaction, I think this might be seen by some as him trying to take the tackler on and failing, when he's making a decent effort at being able to dispose of the ball effectively (as opposed to a 'hot potato' handball to no effect).

[Cheney 38]

My point is that fumbling the football under pressure is genetic .

People respond differently to pressure , and perhaps the Mortons don't have a genetic propensity to coping well with it .

How many AFL games you played joeboy? THE KIDS 18!! Give him a few years.. his got class written all over him.