Cale Morton - our forgotten future (potential) superstar

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Not much has been said about Morton recently - all the talk seems to be about Scully, Jurrah, Grimes, Trengove, Watts, Frawley and a few others.

However, this guy has the potential to be one of the best players in the league. He has a huge tank for his size, he reads the game exceptionally well and, despite what many think, he is a very big bloke. He's also very versatile.

I think Morton's about 6' 4" and he's put on about 7 kgs recently. He's also starting to accumulate quite a few AFL games and should soon be able to impose himself increasingly on games.

Importantly, he also seems to have a very sound character.

I reckon this guy's building for a big 2011. It's been said before, but this guy is well placed to be the AFL's next Adam Goodes. And, if he is that player, he'll be up with the most important players in the league.

Hence, to many of you, please resist the temptation to default to the boring and cliched Morton bashing (eg, he's soft, his foot skills are poor etc) and acknowledge the upside.

[Keyser Söze 0]

I agree and have been a vocal supporter of his in recent times.

The guy is on a steep development curve at the moment, similar to Goddard, but I had no doubt he'll be a player in the future that other teams tear their hair out trying to stop.

[jayceebee31 687]

I agree and have been a vocal supporter of his in recent times.

The guy is on a steep development curve at the moment, similar to Goddard, but I had no doubt he'll be a player in the future that other teams tear their hair out trying to stop.

Also agree - his upside is very important. Also his versatility to play in many positions is also a strong advantage. Definitely one of the forgotten players along with - Bail, Blease, Gysberts, Jetta and Maric who both are training the house down, Martin, Strauss along with Tapscott.

We have many with tremendous upside- don't know how we can fit them all in. Tremendous List management capable of replacing any player in any position now.All fighting to become a member of the team.

Great one Dees. Go get them in 2011. However, back to the topic - I feel Morton is/has the most upside of all at this stage.Garland also will improve out of sight in 2011 -training the best he has ever been. Running is excellent. Will make a great winger.

[Mono 454]

......

However, this guy has the potential to be one of the best players in the league. He has a huge tank for his size, he reads the game exceptionally well and, despite what many think, he is a very big bloke. He's also very versatile.

I think Morton's about 6' 4" and he's put on about 7 kgs recently. He's also starting to accumulate quite a few AFL games and should soon be able to impose himself increasingly on games.

He certainly is a good height, and 7kgs extra are very welcome, and he does have a tank. And he has had 50 games in 3 years.

Importantly, he also seems to have a very sound character.

That makes him a unique Morton. His 2 brothers are not held in high regard at all in that respect.

I reckon this guy's building for a big 2011. It's been said before, but this guy is well placed to be the AFL's next Adam Goodes. And, if he is that player, he'll be up with the most important players in the league.

.....

He is no Goodes, and never will be.

........

The guy is on a steep development curve at the moment, similar to Goddard, but I had no doubt he'll be a player in the future that other teams tear their hair out trying to stop.

3 years and still on a steep development curve? We can certainly hope he will turn into a Goddard (apparently Goddard had many detractors early in his career - I didn't notice).

Whatever, 2011 shapes as a very important year for him. He needs to have an impact; a big tank and lots of touches will not be enough.

[Keyser Söze 0]

...

3 years and still on a steep development curve? We can certainly hope he will turn into a Goddard (apparently Goddard had many detractors early in his career - I didn't notice).

Whatever, 2011 shapes as a very important year for him. He needs to have an impact; a big tank and lots of touches will not be enough.

Not sure how you missed it.

Goddard was widely regarded as a bust for a number 1 pick, well into his 4th year.

He always had great potential and was versatile, but just didn't do enough to stand out over the course of a match.

A victim of his obvious talent.

I had a few Saints-supporting mates who wanted to trade him 4 years in because they thought he'd never take the next step.

tell me... if "a big tank and lots of touches will not be enough", what will be enough, then?

[dee-luded 2,958]

Not much has been said about Morton recently - all the talk seems to be about Scully, Jurrah, Grimes, Trengove, Watts, Frawley and a few others.

However, this guy has the potential to be one of the best players in the league. He has a huge tank for his size, he reads the game exceptionally well and, despite what many think, he is a very big bloke. He's also very versatile.

I think Morton's about 6' 4" and he's put on about 7 kgs recently. He's also starting to accumulate quite a few AFL games and should soon be able to impose himself increasingly on games.

Importantly, he also seems to have a very sound character.

I reckon this guy's building for a big 2011. It's been said before, but this guy is well placed to be the AFL's next Adam Goodes. And, if he is that player, he'll be up with the most important players in the league.

Hence, to many of you, please resist the temptation to default to the boring and cliched Morton bashing (eg, he's soft, his foot skills are poor etc) and acknowledge the upside.

Who?

[Mono 454]

...

tell me... if "a big tank and lots of touches will not be enough", what will be enough, then?

Said it already, he needs to have an impact. He also has more competition for a place as MFC drafted taller this year (taller more than KP).

Nothing I'd like more than to have a Goddard clone at MFC.

[Keyser Söze 0]

Said it already, he needs to have an impact. He also has more competition for a place as MFC drafted taller this year (taller more than KP).

Nothing I'd like more than to have a Goddard clone at MFC.

That's such a vague term that it's meaningless... if you ask me.

Edited December 28, 2010 by Keyser Söze

[deefuture 1]

He was completed destroyed when he did his shoulder in a pre season game

at optus oval against sydney. I think we also lost Jurrah that day too!

[1858 238]

I don't see the point in comparing him to other players.

For mine the number 1 issue with Morton is his power in the legs and speed off the mark.

His shoulders are reasonably broad and he sounds like he is filling out a little but if it is all in the top half with no equivalency in power/strength in the bottom half and improvement in movement then he'll struggle. Simply bulking up will work against him. When I watch him play I see so much potential it isn't funny but he is restricted by what his skinny legs can do to heave around his tall frame. Often when he takes a mark on the wing you see he wants to play on but has to go back over the mark for his kick because he just doesn't have the leg power to get around an opponent. I have no doubt that a lot of his condifence is based on this aspect of his game as well. Improve the movement and leg power and he's on his way to being one of our more important players.

[Mono 454]

That's such a vague term that it's meaningless... if you ask me.

You will know he is having an impact when he starts hurting other sides.

You will know he is hurting other sides when they start matching up on him.

Currently they don't.

[Trisul 649]

Don't talk about the downside, but acknowledge the upside. Sounds like MFC circa 2004-7.

I like Morton. He has had some exceptional games. More please.

[pringle 42]

With respect to Morton's footskills, I think he is harshly criticized in this area. Most of his misses by foot are when he tries dinky little ones or just makes the wrong decision. I think he seems to lack a bit of confidence to take the first or best option and tries to play safe. He has a good kicking technique and, when he uses his instnct and natural vision, he actually can hit some lovely creative passes with good accuracy and finesse. I recall in his first or second game that he put a beautiful soft ball around the corner with excellent vision and poise for a youngster. That was early on when he was young and brash and hungry to just get out there and play AFL footy. He has since picked up a few gremlins in his mind, but from what I have seen thus far I think as he becomes more assured in his own ability and body he will start to make better decisions and hit his kicks with more authority and precision.

[Big Kev 340]

He was completed destroyed when he did his shoulder in a pre season game

at optus oval against sydney. I think we also lost Jurrah that day too!

Cale hurt his knee at Princess Park, Liam did his shoulder against Adelaide in S.A.

[jayceebee31 687]

With respect to Morton's footskills, I think he is harshly criticized in this area. Most of his misses by foot are when he tries dinky little ones or just makes the wrong decision. I think he seems to lack a bit of confidence to take the first or best option and tries to play safe. He has a good kicking technique and, when he uses his instnct and natural vision, he actually can hit some lovely creative passes with good accuracy and finesse. I recall in his first or second game that he put a beautiful soft ball around the corner with excellent vision and poise for a youngster. That was early on when he was young and brash and hungry to just get out there and play AFL footy. He has since picked up a few gremlins in his mind, but from what I have seen thus far I think as he becomes more assured in his own ability and body he will start to make better decisions and hit his kicks with more authority and precision.

Great points in particular his unsureness that I also put down to a lack of confidence.He'll make it big time IMO.

[1858 238]

With respect to Morton's footskills, I think he is harshly criticized in this area. Most of his misses by foot are when he tries dinky little ones or just makes the wrong decision. I think he seems to lack a bit of confidence to take the first or best option and tries to play safe. He has a good kicking technique and, when he uses his instnct and natural vision, he actually can hit some lovely creative passes with good accuracy and finesse.

I agree with you wrt to his kicking, he isn't that bad but it is his range of kicking lengths which is inhibited which you touch on. IMO the reason he looks better with the longer kicks is because he usually opts for them when he is in space and therefore takes more time with them. Beacause of his lack of leg power and IMO kicking technique, he needs that little bit of wind up time to finess the ball to where he wants it to go, he can get good distance when he isn't rushed.

When under pressure however and he has to get it away quickly this is where he struggles and more often than not under pressure it is easier to spot up a closer option. As a result his shorter passes are not that great and with long lanky legs the short game is not as natural as the longer kicking game. Rushing this gives less than optimal kicks. He is the opposite to say a Josh Hunt who can bang it on the boot off one step and kick low and flat to a team mate (2 different players here, just illustrating the kicking contrast). The reason he doesn't take the first option IMO is because he can't make the break or get the kick away quick enough when under pressure but you see that he wants to. He doesn't have the penetration when he has to kick quickly and as a result he holds the ball up way too often as he doesn't want to turn it over.

As I said, leg strength/power is the key to his success.

[Keyser Söze 0]

Cale hurt his knee at Princess Park, Liam did his shoulder against Adelaide in S.A.

It was a PCL in the last quarter against Essendon at Visy Park, or whatever they call it these days.

Edited December 28, 2010 by Keyser Söze

[Keyser Söze 0]

I don't see the point in comparing him to other players.

For mine the number 1 issue with Morton is his power in the legs and speed off the mark.

His shoulders are reasonably broad and he sounds like he is filling out a little but if it is all in the top half with no equivalency in power/strength in the bottom half and improvement in movement then he'll struggle. Simply bulking up will work against him. When I watch him play I see so much potential it isn't funny but he is restricted by what his skinny legs can do to heave around his tall frame. Often when he takes a mark on the wing you see he wants to play on but has to go back over the mark for his kick because he just doesn't have the leg power to get around an opponent. I have no doubt that a lot of his condifence is based on this aspect of his game as well. Improve the movement and leg power and he's on his way to being one of our more important players.

I agree.

Cale needs to build some power an explosiveness through his legs.

I'm confident it will come with time.

His major hurdle at the moment is physical, but that will change.

This is why I am so confident he will be a weapon, just that it will take longer.

In 2010 he was coming off a knee injury and before that surgery in the offseason where he lost, iirc, 7kg.

[Keyser Söze 0]

You will know he is having an impact when he starts hurting other sides.

You will know he is hurting other sides when they start matching up on him.

Currently they don't.

Very simplistic and not necessarily correct view of the matter.

[deefuture 1]

It was a PCL in the last quarter against Essendon at Visy Park, or whatever they call it these days.

That's right. Thanks Big Kev also. my god I went to that hole

twice for pre-season games. Grrr

Edited December 28, 2010 by deefuture

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

Whatever way you look at it, last season was a bit of a disaster for Cale. He did his knee early on, struggled when he got back playing and never really had an impact for the side. Clearly the knee bears some of the blame, but if anything he went backwards this year. He needs to get his confidence back, earn his pot in the first 18 and really kick on.

On the bright side however, this time last year people were all about how soft he was and lacking in contested situations. Sadly he disproved the theory by taking a mark flying back into a pack and wrecking his knee, but disprove it he did. Now there are questions about his disposal and speed, and I would be thrilled to see him disprove them in the coming months, perhaps with slightly less damage to his body this time.

[sylvinator 96]

Whatever way you look at it, last season was a bit of a disaster for Cale.

It wasn't a great season by Cale. In 2008 and 2009, he was handed games on a platter just to get experience into him. In 2010 he had to earn his games.

Still... Cale did get some positives to come out of the season.

1. He confirmed that he finished the season 7+ kg heavier than he started. He is currently 90kg. If he can get to 95+kg by the end of 2011, that will just about be his optimal playing weight. He really had broadened his shoulders/chest and no longer looks anorexic. Could still use some muscle in his legs and biceps.

2. In his final 4-5 games I noticed a distinct improvement in his overhead and contested marking. At 195cm now, with long arms, there is no reason why he can't make overhead marking a real weapon, especially up forward

3. He added another 10 games of experience, getting him up to 50 afl games. By the end of 2011 he should be up to 70, and ready to enter the next stage of his career, no longer as a young experienced player. He also got some great experience playing against some outstanding afl player (Goodes etc).

We all know he can run and accumulate the ball. He's tall and can mark. I'm confident that when he continues to build his body and as his confidence grows he'll get even better.

I'm expecting a bit of a break out season next year, but i reckon he'll go bang in 2012

[hrob 2]

Also agree-his upside is very important. Also his versatility to play in many positions is also a strong advantage.Definately one of the forgotten players along with--Bail,Blease,Gysberts, Jetta & Maric-whom both are training the house down,Martin, Strauss along with Tapscott.

We have many with tremendous upside- don't know how we can fit them all in. Tremendous List management capable of replacing any player in any position now.All fighting to become a member of the team.

Great one Dees. Go get them in 2011. However, back to the topic- I feel Morton is/has the most upside of all at this stage.Garland also will improve out of sight in 2011 -training the best he has ever been.Running is excellent.Will make a great winger.

if ur talking about garland here and not morton ur kidding urself buddy! garlo is clearly are 2nd best key position defender and played that role superbly this year, why on earth ud move him from that position is beyond me!

[Green Machine 63]

He is not explosive enough to be a player like Adam Goodes.

[Keyser Söze 0]

He is not explosive enough to be a player like Adam Goodes.

That's the whole point - he needs to build up some power in his legs to be like that.

It's not beyond him.