........................................ IMO 2 years makes business sense for both parties.

Exactly!

Exactly!

i would of thought that a 3 or 4 year 'front loaded' contract would of been better from the club perspective, but without having access to all the club information it is hard to make that assessment.

I hope he is a 1 club player.

go dees

Great news!

A real star of the future and now that he is getting a bit more cash, he can afford to go buy himself a steak or 10 :D

Awesome news.

great news!!!

Well done MFC!

Who else should we be getting to sign on a dotted line for an extension?

Watts? NikNat signed a 4 year contract after playing three games i think lol

I wouldn't mind Ricky Petterd signing on the dotted line - since he's from QLD.

After round 11 I was happy for the GC to take him off our books, but since then he's really impressed me in a few of the games.

This is great, given our current position on the ladder, all the negativity in the media about tanking and the opportunity for him to earn more money at GC17, this is a clear message from a very important future player that all is well in the minds of the playing group.

Good to see.

I wouldn't mind Ricky Petterd signing on the dotted line - since he's from QLD.

After round 11 I was happy for the GC to take him off our books, but since then he's really impressed me in a few of the games.

Agreed mate and i was the same with Petterd earlier on the year, i kind of had it in my mind he would go back cause he is a coaster boy. I think im over that notion now, he is a melbourne boy through and through and i hope he signs on the dotted line asap to put worries to rest

The biggest highlight to come from Sunday's game was Morton. On more than one occasion he initiated body contact and/or welcomed body contact often riding a bump and getting a handball away or protecting the space in a marking contest. This was my biggest concern about his game up until the last couple of weeks. Playing him down back in more contested situations has been a masterstroke. We know the boy has a big engine, we know he has time, we know he's a pretty good kick. Now we know that he's going to become increasingly dangerous when his body fills out. You can sense his confidence has grown a little over the last month. He's starting to feel like he belongs at the highest level against men. If he can start beating shorter players in one on one marking contests (after a couple of more pre-seasons) and out-running bigger opponents, he's going to be a match-up nightmare for opposition coaches. I'd play him across half forward playing quite high and pushing deeper if he feels he has the height (and hopefully soon) the muscle to dominate his opponent.

You can imagine in a couple of years the coach of the opposition sending their best defender to Watts. How many defenders will be able to match Watts for height, speed and agility? Bate will require a medium to tall defender with a big engine but as Bate has shown over the last month he's prepared to work up the ground and use the ball well and if the match-up suits play deeper and take contested marks. Once the two best defenders have gone to Watts and Bate, who goes to Jurrah. Again a strong yet speedy defender over 190 cm will be needed. Jurrah will jump over the top of anyone else or run circles around the grorillas. And that's now, before he has two quality pre-seasons. And then we have Morton. The possible match-up nightmares that these four could pose for the opposition make me very very excited. Just as importantly, the athleticism of these four ensures that defencive pressure will never be a problem. Add Sylvia, Petterd, Davey, Maric and Wonaemirri to provide diversity and flexibility and we have every reason to be optimistic about our forward 50 in the very near future.

Does Morton have the potential to one day lead this forwardline of ours? The one thing he has shown us over his first two seasons is that he refuses to be pigeon-holed. I'm not going to place any limitations on the type of player he will become and the types of roles he can fulfill.

The possible match-up nightmares that these four could pose for the opposition make me very very excited. Just as importantly, the athleticism of these four ensures that defencive pressure will never be a problem. Add Sylvia, Petterd, Davey, Maric and Wonaemirri to provide diversity and flexibility and we have every reason to be

No time to comment in words, as I'm trying desperately to get some work done, so...

The biggest highlight to come from Sunday's game was Morton. ...

I share your excitement Vibes. I think Morton is good now but he will be superb.

No time to comment in words, as I'm trying desperately to get some work done, so...

I think I'm going to print that out and stick it on my wall - does that make me sad?

On more than one occasion he initiated body contact and/or welcomed body contact often riding a bump and getting a handball away or protecting the space in a marking contest.

Noticed that as well.. great hit in front of us, controlled the ball and swept it out. Turned to a mate and we both thought that get another 5-10kg on that still wiry frame, and he could be anything.

I think I'm going to print that out and stick it on my wall - does that make me sad?

Not nearly as sad as the fact that, in an effort to save time on replying, I googled appropriate images to depict my feelings, eventually spending just as much time in formulating this pictorial response as it would have taken me to type out a response...

A+ in procrastination!

A+ in procrastination!

I'm fighting the urge to go to google images and find a procrastination award.

Anyway, how bout that Cale Morton.

I'm fighting the urge to go to google images and find a procrastination award.

Anyway, how bout that Cale Morton.

I'll print it out and stick it on my wall if you find one.... a constant reminder that I am probably going to fail the final 3 months of my degree because talking about Cale Morton is just so much more exciting.

Speaking of which, the only potential issue I see with our future forward line is that all of our bigger guys excel at playing up the ground and are best utilized there due to their agility, ball use and creativity. Watts, Jurrah and Morton would all be wasted somewhat as pure stay-at-home forwards, while Bate is yet to show that he can play that role. If we can't develop Martin in that role (I think we can), do we continue to rotate the big talls between deep forward and half forward, creating confusion and match-up problems for the opposition, or would that just create confusion for us? And how do we ensure the Aussie/Maric get enough ball spillage to work with, if we don't have a physically big unit that can bring ball to ground at FF?

Slightly off topic but Whats Cale's brother Jarryd like as a player.

I notice he is slightly older, shorter and heavier than Cale. Not much difference though. I haven't seen him play and he doesn't seem to be getting oppurtunities at Hawthorn this year.

Cale is going to be a gun no doubt about it, doesn't mean his brother will be but would he be worth having a look at?

Congratulations Jaded.

I'm officially a sad bastard.

The Great Ego over at D'Ology wants the Dees to look into trading this kid.

Apparently, because he wouldn't be top 20 in the hypothetical draft of the 140 taken in the last two years.

I wish Scott Clayton was as misguided as this bloke.

If have never, repeat never, seen a 193cm player at the Dees come on as quickly as Cale Morton has. He has played, and succeeded, as a HBF, HFF, FF, Wing, and Tagger at various stages this year. No-one has the crystal ball to see how careers will pan out but this guy has the body and footy smarts (that kick to Davey on Sunday tells you all you need to know) to be one of the greatest wingers in our history.

An actual wingman, not just another link in midfield - but a player who affects games by taking marks at both ends of the ground and stopping, and kicking, goals.

If Richmond called me and said "rpfc - Cotchin for Morton" I would politley decline.

Granted, I say that with the full knowledge that two elite mids will come to the club in a few months time but the fact is that Morton has the chance to be a dominant player in the AFL. I forget that he isn't 20 until next January.

The Great Ego over at D'Ology wants the Dees to look into trading this kid.

Apparently, because he wouldn't be top 20 in the hypothetical draft of the 140 taken in the last two years.

Saw that one about an hour ago. I personally think Cale has the talent to be the best of his draft and is going to give the MFC many years of quality service. Trade him? Not a hope.

The Great Ego over at D'Ology wants the Dees to look into trading this kid.

Apparently, because he wouldn't be top 20 in the hypothetical draft of the 140 taken in the last two years.

Is that the same guy that raved on for years that Terry Wallace was the best coach around and would be a premiership coach?

Could not think of a bigger caveat emptor to be applied to his posts?

Cale is just starting to remind me of another Melbourne player...well former , he too seemed to subtely merge with the scenery only to decimate oppositions with gazelle like attributes. Im not saying that Morton is for one moment the new #2 but he has the ability to disarm his opponents. He is geting markedly better as the months go by. Another strengthening preseason and I would like to see Cale make the wing his home. He can of course venture here and there where needed

The Great Ego over at D'Ology wants the Dees to look into trading this kid.

I wouldn't take much notice. Some over there within the Cornfields also want Barry Hall at the Demons.

Rpfc, are Richmond calling you again? Far out, they don't leave you alone! Please don't take their coaching position though

Rpfc, are Richmond calling you again? Far out, they don't leave you alone! Please don't take their coaching position though

Don't worry, it's Melbourne or bust.

But I agree with Garry, I hope I never coach, because it means Bailey has won us a flag...

Don't worry, it's Melbourne or bust.

But I agree with Garry, I hope I never coach, because it means Bailey has won us a flag...

How about an assistant role? Dave Dunbar's role in disguise..