?

But you must consider all variables even if it is only 'time' that you're comparing?

We are talking about basic improvement rpfc.

The 'time argument' is nonesense. If he had a strength to his game then you could argue that it may take 'time'

to develop another aspect of his game.

All of those above you you just pointed out have already had a particular strength to their game.

Morton has had all the time in the world, all the free games in the world, and has shown a 1 % improvement in

all areas of his game which frankly, is being generous !

?

I don't think you read my post correctly.

And Morton's first two years were promising. The last two have been disappointing.

And I don't know what the highlighted means - what was Jamar's strength when we all wondered why we kept him ahead of Jolly? His height?

His worth to us at the trade table is miniscule, we will be better off attempting to resureet his career at the Dees.

The problem I see for Morton is that he is quickly running out of time to lock down a position/role and hone a particular craft - quite simply because positions are being snaffled up.

I don't dispute that he'll be a better footballer as time goes on and despite his experience he is still young. We have to put something into context though. This is probably the first year we have locked down or earmarked most positions on the ground. As we had our list turnover period Morton enjoyed a lot of games after he was drafted (and rightly so). Some injuries haven't helped but nearly 60 games all the same. The significance of the turnover period wasn't just the game time but the availability of multiple roles and positions to gauge his strengths/weaknesses. This luxury is quickly running out. Jamar was always going to be a ruckman, Watts was always going to be a forward, Garland (despite conjecture about being played forward) was always in the estimates as a defender I believe.

What is Morton's role? He is still underpowered and too slow to play wing, undersized to play a consistent role across halfback and now has no hope of a forward gig with Watts/Cook/Jurrah/resting-ruck/Howe (and Green if you want to throw him in). Morton virtually had a 2 yr head start in order to at least hone in on his optimal role and we are still none the wiser - for me this is a bigger worry than the issue or pure form and development.

I don't like pointing out the weaknesses of young players and the #4 pick is no longer relevant either so it is not about criticising him. Now it is about having a platform to contribute and I think it will be hard for him with the way the team is heading. To my mind the only way Morton will master a position/craft is if he is given a starting spot week in week out and drilled in that particular role, the only problem is that this luxury is no longer viable IMO.

?

I don't think you read my post correctly.

And Morton's first two years were promising. The last two have been disappointing.

And I don't know what the highlighted means - what was Jamar's strength when we all wondered why we kept him ahead of Jolly? His height?

His worth to us at the trade table is miniscule, we will be better off attempting to resureet his career at the Dees.

1st 2 years = injury free

last 2 years = injury plagued

No?

Oft-ignored element in his development.

The problem I see for Morton is that he is quickly running out of time to lock down a position/role and hone a particular craft - quite simply because positions are being snaffled up.

I don't dispute that he'll be a better footballer as time goes on and despite his experience he is still young. We have to put something into context though. This is probably the first year we have locked down or earmarked most positions on the ground. As we had our list turnover period Morton enjoyed a lot of games after he was drafted (and rightly so). Some injuries haven't helped but nearly 60 games all the same. The significance of the turnover period wasn't just the game time but the availability of multiple roles and positions to gauge his strengths/weaknesses. This luxury is quickly running out. Jamar was always going to be a ruckman, Watts was always going to be a forward, Garland (despite conjecture about being played forward) was always in the estimates as a defender I believe.

What is Morton's role? He is still underpowered and too slow to play wing, undersized to play a consistent role across halfback and now has no hope of a forward gig with Watts/Cook/Jurrah/resting-ruck/Howe (and Green if you want to throw him in). Morton virtually had a 2 yr head start in order to at least hone in on his optimal role and we are still none the wiser - for me this is a bigger worry than the issue or pure form and development.

I don't like pointing out the weaknesses of young players and the #4 pick is no longer relevant either so it is not about criticising him. Now it is about having a platform to contribute and I think it will be hard for him with the way the team is heading. To my mind the only way Morton will master a position/craft is if he is given a starting spot week in week out and drilled in that particular role, the only problem is that this luxury is no longer viable IMO.

Great post and sums up the Morton conundrum perfectly. I have always wondered what position he could make his own.

I will add that it it quite feasible that if he was left alone to play unaccountable footy as he was on his first season that he would possibly pick up his thirty possies. You just cannot have an uncontested specialist in modern footy, particularly one that doesn't hurt you with his possessions. I don't see him as a midfielder in today's footy.

Morton needs a re-inventing, what shape that re-invention will take I don't know.

Steve the man, you seem to expect all players to follow the same steady gradient of incremental improvement.

Surely you understand that in real-life this is rarely the case?

And when criticising, do you take into account the bleedingly obvious issue he has had with physical development?

It has been slow, but it has happened, and injuries & surgery in the past 2 seasons and preseasons haven't helped this.

Some supporters severely lack foresight, but just as much lack proper hindsight.

id keep morton for another few years. I cant see the value in trading him. If we had other teams lining up for him with good trade offers then it would be a different story. If he comes good in 1-3 years time it'll have been worth the wait. If he doesnt then we'll have no regrets trading him as a 23-24 year old that didt deliver.

In the past we have kept guys like Newton, Dunn, PJ etc etc - no reason why we shouldnt give Cale the same time

Great post and sums up the Morton conundrum perfectly. I have always wondered what position he could make his own.

I will add that it it quite feasible that if he was left alone to play unaccountable footy as he was on his first season that he would possibly pick up his thirty possies. You just cannot have an uncontested specialist in modern footy, particularly one that doesn't hurt you with his possessions. I don't see him as a midfielder in today's footy.

Morton needs a re-inventing, what shape that re-invention will take I don't know.

I actually think his development has been slowed because he is trying to learn to play many different positions.

His place will be as a true utility, that can play and will play almost anywhere on the field.

I think in today's game with the substitute and still high rotations, he could be invaluable as someone that can slip into any position as cover and to make rotations work.

His is a spot on the interchange.

He still needs time to get bigger.

I actually think his development has been slowed because he is trying to learn to play many different positions.

His place will be as a true utility, that can play and will play almost anywhere on the field.

I think in today's game with the substitute and still high rotations, he could be invaluable as someone that can slip into any position as cover and to make rotations work.

His is a spot on the interchange.

He still needs time to get bigger.

Isn't that how Bails has basically been trying to get for almost all of our players? Besides the Jamars/deep defenders/deep fwds.

Ie he sees the future of the game as being most players have to have the ability to rotate through virtually every position to be a successful side/player?

I actually think his development has been slowed because he is trying to learn to play many different positions.

His place will be as a true utility, that can play and will play almost anywhere on the field.

I think in today's game with the substitute and still high rotations, he could be invaluable as someone that can slip into any position as cover and to make rotations work.

His is a spot on the interchange.

He still needs time to get bigger.

I think his development has been slowed because Bailey has tried to make him accountable for an opponent thereby asking him to win contests.

He struggles to win contests because:

A He is not physically strong enough.

B Because of A he doesn't have the confidence in his body.

C He possesses a slow reaction time and struggles to take the correct option under pressure.

I do agree that Morton's survival as an AFL footballer is dependent on him owning a role. I cannot see that role being as a midfielder and he will need to become physically MUCH stronger to play as a flanker at either end.

Unfortunately not playing Morton as a midfielder neutralises to an extent his greatest asset which is his running ability.

At the moment Morton is a weak bodied mid, with slow reflexes and average disposal, so he and the club need to look at what they can do with him whollistically and adopt a whole new training regime IMO. I have no doubt that the club knows all of this better than we do.

I agree with A and B.

C is exaggerated and will improve with time and experience, like all players.

I see him as more of a wingman that will play on either flank.

Morton's #1 problem on the wing is that he doesn't play on enough due to a slow take off speed and this is clearly in the back of his mind after taking a mark - hence he often looks hesitant. He can find space ok but if he has an opponent remotely in his vicinity or square on he can't get around them to run on so he either looks to offload or goes back from the mark for a kick. This is a pretty significant issue, in fact I think if given the game time, Watts could make for a better winger than Morton. Morton can only run when he has a paddock - any player can do this, he is no good in congestion and only kicks well when he has the time.

Contrary to many posts I have read over the years, size is not his main issue. As some others have said here it is strength and power, particularly from the core down that is the key for Morton. When you consider that he is underpowered for his current frame, if he puts on another 5kg without an appreciable increase in core and leg strength his career is in trouble.

In the modern (2011) vernacular the term 'utility' is more a term for a spare parts man who doesn't have a prime role IMO. Years gone past when the game was slower I think the utility was a genuine role, but (as 'Cards' noted) most players are expected to be versatile these days so the traditional utility role is becoming redundant. When you consider that the main list may be extended to include rookies and competition for spots will be unprecedented, to try and groom Morton in the substitute/"utility" role is IMO death to his career by a thousand cuts. He needs to master a role and if he becomes versatile enough to cover other spots then that is a bonus.

I do know what you're saying.

I think that take-off speed will improve with more power being built into him, but again it's dependent on his slow physical development.

He has shown surprising bursts of speed in the past month.

Yep, I agree and I think he's still valuable as a utility.

He's more valuable than most because of his height and endurance.

A player who will at least show that he wants to be playing AFL football.

The guys above have nailed it. Urgency, hunger, want for the ball, etc etc.. These are basics which should be integrated slowly into

Morton's game. Problem is, he hasn't even shown a whimper in this side of the game. No improvement.

So what are his strengths? Does this lack of ability to win his own ball mean that he's an outside player? No! Because his kicking skills and

decision making are nearly as bad as his contested ball winning ability and desire.

How can a number 4 pick possess neither one of these basic AFL skills? Not an outside player. Not an inside player.

A tall skinny kid that has elite endurance. No recruiter gets it right 100% of the time.

It's reality demons supporters.

Stop with the "he didn't have a pre season" bullshite. Look at Tapscott. Look at Jeremy Howe. Look at rookie listed players like Nicholson.

None of them have had pre seasons? I was playing footy against Nicholson last year and the guy has barely had a pre season.

I also don't believe Cale has the genetics to put on size, something which I rekon a lot of supporters are banking on as key stage to his development. I've personally met a lot of guys that no matter what can't put of weight, and unless Cale is the laziest footballer going around, he is genetically at a disadvantage.