As others have said, I think that often posters and other fans (I'm loath to say supporters) have already decided that Morton has played poorly before the games have even started. Definitely the new whipping boy.

I agree BRFE. He has been unfairly maligned for his games since he came back into the side. He has been given some jobs to do and he has done those jobs very well.

Plus, last week against Freo, he had 10 contested possessions. This placed him 5th in our side (equal with Moloney).

Damn the facts Bob. You are right.

As others have said, I think that often posters and other fans (I'm loath to say supporters) have already decided that Morton has played poorly before the games have even started. Definitely the new whipping boy.

This is undoubtedly the case. I thought he was very good on the weekend and will get better.

Morton's formline is on the up, which is precisely why the FD keep playing him. They sent him back to casey, bought him back a week or two early because of injuries and he's got better each week. Dropping him know would undo the good work on both Morton's and the FD's part.

i do not believe many tout Morton as a potential star,once upon a time perhaps,but he is constantly ridiculed by commentators and fans alike.

he is an outstanding NATURAL field kick,some player look like beautiful kicks but lack what he has,weight.he has that special kick that forwards love,penetration ,whilst soft enough in the air for a good forward to out position his opponent.

his hardness has been questioned,but why continuously? he lacks that natural courage just as others lack his kicking and decision making.he does make poor decisions though this is through a lack of confidence.

i would normally despise a player like Morton though he is trying against every instinct

he has to begin backing into packs etc

he knows what he is lacking and is working on it,teammates should be rushing to him every time he does something courageous,he knows when he has not competed and you can see his anger.there is no self denial.

players that irk me are for eg nathan jones,a player who does not know his limitations or deficiencies.also he is not as tough as people regard him.the whole football world sees jones as our gut.he should be traded as he is over valued.he does not learn.

Morton needs to be tougher no doubt,but he knows that and has taken steps.this is a guy who,when confident, makes great decisions.we should be supporting every contest he goes to,not the ones he doesnt.

The problem isn't the one you've nentioned in my mind, as your probably right in what you say, about him trying to 'overcome'.

IMO, the Problem, and I think it's a huge problem, is the marriage of a 194cm weakling to a Percieved Soft 'Bruise Free' Melbourne.

We should NOT have drafted him for this Reason alone. We have to earn the respect back from the greater Footy community, supporters from other clubs, if their to attend our games,,,, and the opposition players/clubs who smirk at our soft underbelly.

I feel ashamed of the way we have played since the mid '60's,,, except for the sides developed by Barass/Jordan and added to by Northey. That aggression lasted till the around the Mid nineties then vanished without trace. YES, I want us to be skillfull side,,,BUT yet a Manly side... NOT a Poonsy side.

Not a bunch of squealers in the stands but a club screaming for blood and success.

So in this framework, Morton is the Wrong player for us, unless he can change to be more like Brendon Goddard. I don't think he can change to anything like BJ, so I think he needs to go to a side like Essendon or Richmond.. Sides not in need of proving their Manliness.

Consider yourself advised. Also, I may as well pre-warn there will be some additional Morton threads appearing before the end of the season I suspect.

My issue with Morton, in particular from the weekend's game:

He's tall - and like many talls he isn't super quick over 15 mtrs, is slow to drop to boot and obviously has trouble with kicking technique (as mentioned).

Too compound this though, he isn't strong in aerial contests as you would want a tall to be.

Being that he's never going to be a KP player - he's a life midfielder right? So what is the benefit of his height as a midfielder? It's an attribute that just hampers him in honesty.

I too just can't see a place for him in the hectic contested footy that is now being played. We need to take a hard line with players like Morton, I'm sure he wouldn't be playing if we didn't have injuries.

Thanks for missing the point completely... wow

I said "another" thread because there a about a dozen others on this exact topic and you chose to start a new one like you had some sort of breakthrough thought about this guy that nobody else had ever come up with.....

What you actually wrote is what has been written about 1000 times before and is in my opinion a waste of space, well done though

and feel free to hit us all up with some groundbreaking thoughts on Jack Watts and Tom Scully, i have a feeling that these guys need another thread started stating exactly what others are already talking about

carry on

Many people have commented on Morton's lack of appetite for the physical contest. He has shown improvement over the past two matches. What worries me is not his softness at the ball, but his approach to the ball, iffy disposal and slow reaction time. Did anyone else notice how he sometimes waited for the ball to bounce kindly to him or attempt to round the ball up like a sheepdog so he can break away quicker. As he took this circuitous route to the ball his opponents gobbled it up. He used to have very good hands but now tends to be juggling marks. He really is playing like a guy who has lost confidence, purpose and direction. These issues may resolve as he regains his confidence to perform at the faster tempo of today's game. However, I don't necessarily believe that he can solve the problems with his kicking technique. I watched intently on Sunday as he took both hands away from the ball rather than guiding it down to his foot. Basic stuff really, but i know from personal experience that it is really difficult to correct this problem (think Cam Bruce).

Many see the great potential of Cale Morton and tout him as being a future star. He has good size, speed, mobility and endurance. Unfortunately I can only focus on his flaws.

I suggest counselling. For you not Cale

Once he gets some meat on those bones his confidence in contested situations will increase.

Can play in a variety of positions, is an elite runner and his disposal is underrated.

Patience people!

Once he gets some meat on those bones his confidence in contested situations will increase.

Can play in a variety of positions, is an elite runner and his disposal is underrated.

Patience people!

You do realize that I am already Captain Jack Here don't you ?

IMO, the Problem, and I think it's a huge problem, is the marriage of a 194cm weakling to a Percieved Soft 'Bruise Free' Melbourne.

We should NOT have drafted him for this Reason alone. We have to earn the respect back from the greater Footy community, supporters from other clubs, if their to attend our games,,,, and the opposition players/clubs who smirk at our soft underbelly.

....

You must have cried when the club sacked Nathan Carroll?

You do realize that I am already Captain Jack Here don't you ?

Sorry CJJ.

Will the real Captain Jack please stand up!

Maybe Grimes, Trengove or Watts? (Fitzpatrick unlikely and Viney not there yet!)

yawn. another thread questioning a melbourne player's courage from the safety of the internet.

Have to agree - I'm watching the replay of last week's game ay the moment and I'd have to say, to my untrained eye, that Morton seems to have done some pretty handy things in that game.

Still - no doubt - others could have done better.

You must have cried when the club sacked Nathan Carroll?

Ahh Rhino, Nathan Carroll, no, in his early days, I had hopes for him but the game style changed majorly from the time Gehreig was playing. In the end Carroll was just not near it where the game was, was heading, was.... So, No.

i always have a bit of a chuckle when i watch the replay, and a commentator bags one of our players, and i realise someone has made a thread as if Danny Frawley's thoughts are their own

you also know that said threadmaker didn't attend the match cos they were home on the couch to hear the comments

happens every time

ps you could have at least mentioned Frawley giving 'credit where its due' for a brilliant tackle Morton laid that turned a promising entry into our defensive 50 into a goal the other way

pps kid will be a gun, has too many assets for him NOT to be

ppps quote of the day from Frawley was that we were being smashed in the key stats and sooner or later the dam will break... i think we kicked 14 goals to 3 after that comment

Morton will be fine

We grandstand jockeys are a pathetic bunch

Get off his back and hope the kid has the intelligence not to read the garbage on these feral websites

These site were started as a support aid to the clubs we follow

What has happened?

IN: Bail

OUT: Morton

I lost count the number of times Morton refused to stand next to his man at stoppages today. Not easy being the sub but he was woeful.

Came on and instantly had an impact, IMO...

(for Richmond)

Was definitely wasteful when he first came on, but his last quarter was solid. Some excellent running to help out in back half which was needed at that juncture of game. Many criticize his hardness but never criticize his willingness to run both ways. Not his best day but don't paint him with a brush for his whole game based on his first two kicks.

Came on and instantly had an impact, IMO...

(for Richmond)

Haha, tend to agree. I have serious concerns over this bloke.

Never easy being the sub. Did ok without being great. Some turnovers but hard to judge a subs game.

Come trade week, we'll definitely have some value on the market.

Not saying we should trade them all, but if something of value is offered we should give serious thought into trading the likes of Morton and Bate. Who knows what we might be able to get if we package it with our first round draft pick at the end of the year.

As for the Scully situation, i would much prefer he stay, but if we were somehow able to get Patton out of it, along with not paying a 3rd year player an absolute heap, i wouldn't be as ticked off. Maybe we might be able to get Viney as one of GWS's 17 year old trades.

I have stuck up for him the last two weeks but he made some poor errors today. I dont think he is suited to being the sub but it is still no excuse for poor disposal.

I have stuck up for him the last two weeks but he made some poor errors today. I dont think he is suited to being the sub but it is still no excuse for poor disposal.

+ 1.

I think he made improvements the last two weeks, but today was a big step backwards.

Casey is calling. Has to get the skills under pressure and the hardness up. It's all he's lacking from been a consistent player, but it's no small deal!

Turnovers and skills were shocking today.

He can win the ball but his disposal is poor very poor.

Have to agree with the herd on this one - did not have a good game

On a brighter note - we sure do have some developing talent

And they withstood pressure, to their credit