What do we do with Morton?

[titan_uranus 24,928]

He didn't look anywhere near deserving of a spot in the 22 today, and that I reckon comes down to a lack of match practice. He seemed to have lost his touch.

I don't think we can play him as the sub again next week, and he certainly doesn't deserve to be in the starting 21, so I think the best thing for him and the team is a run with Casey, which is what he should have had this week.

What do others think?

[Felix 92]

get some match fitness @ Casey, then he will be back to normal.

[Gorgoroth 12,787]

They will play him next week to get him some touch, and possible play him at casey during the bye.

Interesting year for Morton, needs to take his game to another level this year.

[ox_5 163]

Agree entirely. I was going to start a thread on this also.

The sub is meant to come on and have an impact due to being fresh compared the others out there. Morton was able to actually look slower than most after coming on.

I think 4 quarters at Casey will do him some good, he needs some touch and a full game to get some match fitness.

[jnrmac 19,946]

Looked a bit lost out there but I reckon we underestimate how hard it is to come in and perform.

Not everyone is going to do what Petterd did in Rd 1,

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

He looks almost as young and skinny as when he was drafted. I'm sure he has put on weight but he isn't nearly strong as he should be. It's an issue because he gets worked off the ball far too easily and he won't improve if he doesn't get stronger.

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

Crazy decision to play him and just as crazy to use him as a sub.

He needs game time, either a full game in the seniors which he hasn't earnt or better yet a full game for Casey

[Jaded No More 68,692]

You can't make any conclusions from the 15 minute cameo performance today.

He'll play a full game next week and then we can reassess. Bailey was giving him plenty of instructions though.

Players take a few games to get their touch back. Chippa was pretty ordinary in the first quarter today but then found his gear and was brilliant to watch again.

[Sir Why You Little 36,762]

Looked a bit lost out there but I reckon we underestimate how hard it is to come in and perform.

Not everyone is going to do what Petterd did in Rd 1,

That's why the sub must be an experienced player..Morton was cold & stale.

He needs to find touch, not retard the team.

[titan_uranus 24,928]

You can't make any conclusions from the 15 minute cameo performance today.

He'll play a full game next week and then we can reassess. Bailey was giving him plenty of instructions though.

Players take a few games to get their touch back. Chippa was pretty ordinary in the first quarter today but then found his gear and was brilliant to watch again.

Difference though is that Frawley is proven star and is integral to our team.

Morton is neither.

I don't think he's deserving of a full game next week. I think he'd be better served playing a full game at Casey instead.

[old dee 23,560]

Agree entirely. I was going to start a thread on this also.

The sub is meant to come on and have an impact due to being fresh compared the others out there. Morton was able to actually look slower than most after coming on.

I think 4 quarters at Casey will do him some good, he needs some touch and a full game to get some match fitness.

Ox I would be surprised if he did not play next week.

The guy has had no match practise.

Then play him at Casey during the bye.

He has ability and from all reports there was no one at Casey this week that will be pushing for selection

His return was modest in the last quarter however I think it was more than the guy he replaced did in 3 quarters.

Thats the guy he replaces and about time too.

[Footynut 302]

You can't make any conclusions from the 15 minute cameo performance today.

He'll play a full game next week and then we can reassess. Bailey was giving him plenty of instructions though.

Players take a few games to get their touch back. Chippa was pretty ordinary in the first quarter today but then found his gear and was brilliant to watch again.

Couldn't agree more on this post. He just needs time for touch...

[RalphiusMaximus 6,013]

You can't make any conclusions from the 15 minute cameo performance today.

He'll play a full game next week and then we can reassess. Bailey was giving him plenty of instructions though.

Players take a few games to get their touch back. Chippa was pretty ordinary in the first quarter today but then found his gear and was brilliant to watch again.

I was going to raise this also. He was pretty bad last week in his first hitout. This week he dropped an uncontested (although difficult) mark to give them a goal early on. Be the end he was busting tackles and running the ball out. His kicking is still off though.

I think we can give Morton the benefit of the doubt here. He showed me a couple of good things amidst the dross. Personally I would have liked to see him play in the forward line to stretch their defence a little.

[praha 11,224]

It would be hard to prepare coming in as a sub.

[Roost It 1,434]

The FD has marked Morton as one of the key ingredients to our Premiership. They will play him as much as possible.

[dee-luded 2,959]

He didn't look anywhere near deserving of a spot in the 22 today, and that I reckon comes down to a lack of match practice. He seemed to have lost his touch.

I don't think we can play him as the sub again next week, and he certainly doesn't deserve to be in the starting 21, so I think the best thing for him and the team is a run with Casey, which is what he should have had this week.

What do others think?

There Is Too many soft underbelly players in one team, and I'm Not talking about Watts.

Q??? marks! Bennell/ Morton/ Davey/ Dunn, and to this point in this year,,,, Green. Where are you Brad???

IMO we need a bit more maturity and size in.

Bring in Mcdonald and Petterd for the trip to the Coast. Morton and Dunn for casey.

[old dee 23,560]

The FD has marked Morton as one of the key ingredients to our Premiership. They will play him as much as possible.

And he shows a lot more than the bloke he replaced!

[DeeSpencer 24,974]

He was never going to produce much today. I'd say throw him back to Casey and lets see him get some 4 quarter form, but if they played him today then I don't think they were ever planning for him to play VFL.

I'm still not sure of his best position, but it probably is on a wing. I hope he can be left to play on a wing and use his height as a marking option out of the backline and his endurance to work up and down the park.

His first 2 years were very good and last year he was apparently up and about before injury and a poor return. It's too early to make any rash judgements on him as a player.

[Triple Jack 13]

I am Happy to see Morton back up and running, but the decision to play him as a sub in my mind was DUMB. He clearly needs match fitness and practise after missing a good 6 - 8 weeks. So either we should have played him the whole game, which he probably isn't ready for, or play him for Casey. A one quarter stint was not what he needed coming back into footy. Saying that i would play him next week against GC, but please not as a sub Bails!

[dee-luded 2,959]

Agree entirely. I was going to start a thread on this also.

The sub is meant to come on and have an impact due to being fresh compared the others out there. Morton was able to actually look slower than most after coming on.

I think 4 quarters at Casey will do him some good, he needs some touch and a full game to get some match fitness.

Morton managed to create a 'goal' for the Lions almost as soon as he came on. That handpass to the Lions player was a masrterstroke, straight across the ground for a goal. He needs to learn to operate with more intensity, to learn to make instinctive decisions.

His footy brtain is like watching 'Sap' run down a tree trunk. We need to hit some 'form straps' out there to lift our 'Game tempo'.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,664]

I'm not sure the answers are really adding to the debate. The real question is: Should Morton play in the starting 21 or at Casey? He shouldn't be the sub which means if he's in the starting 21, who becomes the sub? Although Dunn picked up his game toward the end, I thought he struggled overall today. Not enough to be dropped, but perhaps to be the sub to allow Morton to play a full game.

[PeterJames 46]

He definately isn't a good choice for the sub. He isn't a real impact player, Wona should have been a sub as he is far to fat to run out a full game and is more of an impact player. I would have much preferred Morton out there than Watts.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Ox I would be surprised if he did not play next week.

The guy has had no match practise.

Then play him at Casey during the bye.

He has ability and from all reports there was no one at Casey this week that will be pushing for selection

His return was modest in the last quarter however I think it was more than the guy he replaced did in 3 quarters.

Thats the guy he replaces and about time too.

There was, Maric could do with a shot against a 'younger side'. Also Petterd has been Ok, and is fitter, or in better form, than Morton Bay.

Not to mention Newton. I would persevere with Watts.

But Dunn is looking lazy, and playing in Patches. He looks too comfortable, and IMO is causing him to be laconic about his spot. Bennell, well, not putting in for a 3rd year player.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

He has missed a number of weeks in so far with injury.

First week back in a scrubby game. Finding his feet.

I would have thought a game against the Gold Coast would have been a perfect 2nd match up for him

[old dee 23,560]

There was, Maric could do with a shot against a 'younger side'. Also Petterd has been Ok, and is fitter, or in better form, than Morton Bay.

Not to mention Newton. I would persevere with Watts.

But Dunn is looking lazy, and playing in Patches. He looks too comfortable, and IMO is causing him to be laconic about his spot. Bennell, well, not putting in for a 3rd year player.

Why Watts is giving you little!