Cale Morton

[McQueen 17,867]

Cale will keep improving, and prove a lot of you wrong.

I'm amazed so many can watch so much footy for so long, yet still learn so little.

Surely you jest?

[Swampfox 190]

Cale will keep improving, and prove a lot of you wrong.

I'm amazed so many can watch so much footy for so long, yet still learn so little.

I am amazed you watch but cannot see

Nobody wants any of our players to fail

i see Morton as player who has not shown the talent i know he has on a consistent basis

Wouldn't be anything to do with why he struggles to be in our best 22 would it ?

[Guest José Mourinho]

I see more than most.

That's the thing - I see what others obviously don't.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Cale will keep improving, and prove a lot of you wrong.

I'm amazed so many can watch so much footy for so long, yet still learn so little.

Enlighten us.

I see more than most.

That's the thing - I see what others obviously don't.

And yet can't explain what, exactly, it is you see...

Fact. He was taken pick 4.

Fact. He has been a let down in the first 3rd of his possible football career.

Even if he somehow miraculously develops into a solid performer, he'll always have been a let down in the first part of his career.

You can talk all you like about what "you see." I'll talk about what I HAVE seen. What I have seen disgusts me as a Melbourne footy club fan. You think he would have lasted 66 matches at Geelong, Hawthorn, West Coast, Collingwood?

You see what others don't? Well here's what others "see" that you don't. Your fantasy world, in which talent/potential converts into production, is the reason we suck as a club.

Neeld could be the best coach we've had post Northey... And we might never know because this poison runs so deep it might actually take him down with it.

[jackaub 1,402]

I did not want to see Cale Morton in our jumper again but let's give credit where it is due. His clangers were really horrible and cost us at times, but his run and effort tonight was first class. He was in our best 5 clearly. If we counted personal clangers I reckon some others would be well ahead of him.

Cost us 3 goals by bad play on the members wing

Looks laconic is laconic o fierceness at all so sad

[_H_ 37]

If any other club will take him, give him away, he's usless.

[Disco Demons 92]

For a number 4 draft pick he is a terrible kick of the footy.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Enlighten us.

Fact. He was taken pick 4.

Fact. He has been a let down in the first 3rd of his possible football career.

Even if he somehow miraculously develops into a solid performer, he'll always have been a let down in the first part of his career.

His draft pick is irrelevant to where he is now.

If he develops into a solid performer we should be very happy. But keep dwelling on the past.

[drdrake 3,187]

God Help Jack Watts if we delist or trade Cale Morton at years end. Cale was very good last night he was one player that continued to run and create, he had a couple of turnovers but at least he got the footy 21 times to turn it over. Some people need to assess his performance on how he played and not on what you think of him. The handball in the last to Moloney, I thought was a well placed handball to Moloney's advantage, Moloney just needed to run flat out straight and he was clear, the problem was 4th qtr Moloney couldn't accelerate.

We all need to accept Cale for what he is not what we want him to be, he is a wingman not a Back flank he lacks defensive skills but last night he laid 6 tackles. He will never be your elite midfielder, but at the moment neither will anyone on our list, if you can put good players around Morton he can be an effective AFL player.

I'm more concerned about the form of Garland and Trengove they both have been woeful this year.

[Guest José Mourinho]

Look, I know a lot of people are sick of waiting, and it would be great if he was a gun for the last 3 years.

But he hasn't been.

And I don't know what moaning about it will do.

I can see the promise in him, and the little improvements that continue to be made.

If others don't, then fine.

But he's worth persevering with.

Like a Bennell, it's a judgment call for the footy dept whether we can wait that long for him to get there, but in the end I think he will.

And we've waited this long now, might as well stick fat.

Webjet.

Opel.

Edited April 23, 2012 by José Mourinho

[jabberwocky 2,301]

I see more than most.

That's the thing - I see what others obviously don't.

I know that voice, I'm sure I know that voice.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

He looks to have bulked up a bit in the arms etc. Obviously he is still lean, but doesn't stand out like he used to. Thought yesterday was an improvement and he was in no way the worst, but still has a way to go.

[Biffen 12,947]

66 stellar games.

Maybe 1.

[Guest José Mourinho]

I know that voice, I'm sure I know that voice.

Maybe I should have said

I see more in Cale than most posters.

That's the thing - I see what others obviously don't.

[rpfc 28,777]

From where I sat I saw Morton pick up some cheap stats but nothing I saw gave me any more confidence that he's going to be worthy of a place in our team.

Well, that's good. We are not getting enough 'cheap stats'...

What you think is cheap may be golden - we get slaughtered in the uncontested possession counts this year. We need more players running looking for 'cheap' stats.

No, he doesn't have the ability to get the ball. He has the ability to be where the ball is sometimes but that's about it. He's a dud. It's an embarrassment that he wears our jumper. Do I sound angry? That's what happens when I sit and watch insipid footballers.

Then you have made your mind up.

If you get on here after that game, in which Morton would have been top 6 or 7 players and attack him for being insipid - you have unfairly damned him by not mentioning the dozen or more players that were worse than he was.

You're tired of insipid players (I am tired of insipid performances) but if you are tired of that then you should look further than Cale.

[jnrmac 20,185]

Well, that's good. We are not getting enough 'cheap stats'...

What you think is cheap may be golden - we get slaughtered in the uncontested possession counts this year. We need more players running looking for 'cheap' stats.

Then you have made your mind up.

If you get on here after that game, in which Morton would have been top 6 or 7 players and attack him for being insipid - you have unfairly damned him by not mentioning the dozen or more players that were worse than he was.

You're tired of insipid players (I am tired of insipid performances) but if you are tired of that then you should look further than Cale.

You are delusional if you hang your Morton hat on that game.

52% disposal efficiency. 5 out of every 10 cheap possessions went to the opposition. No wonder we can't get our hands on the ball. The likes of Morton keep giving it away.....

[Nasher 33,617]

52% disposal efficiency. 5 out of every 10 cheap possessions went to the opposition. No wonder we can't get our hands on the ball. The likes of Morton keep giving it away.....

An inefficient disposal doesn't equal a turnover (see this good thread on BigFooty). A 52% disposal rate isn't great, but it doesn't mean half Morton's disposals are clangers, it just means only half his disposals are of direct benefit to the team. Given the way our team has been playing I'd be surprised if many of our players' disposal efficiency was any better than that.

Edit 1: Just looking at the stats: Daniel Cross had 28 possessions, 7 of which were clangers (i.e blatant unforced errors) which is 25% of his disposals, but has a DE of 82%. Figure that one out. Other players in the same vicinity as Morton for disposal efficiency were other hacks such as Nathan Jones (55%), Brent Moloney (53%), Adam Cooney (58%) and Matthew Boyd (58%).

Edit 2: Morton also had 8 contested possessions, so the stats also refute your assertion that his possessions were "cheap". Furthermore, I disagree with your implication that there is in fact anything wrong with winning "easy" ball - uncontested possessions (as a result of run and spread) is something we severely lack. I'd love it if Cale (and indeed everyone) could get a few more "cheap" possessions; they might lead to some more goals on the bloody score board.

Don't you just love statistics?

Edited April 27, 2012 by Nasher

[drdrake 3,187]

I still think we leave Cale on a Wing four the next 4 weeks let him be what he is and hopefully he can show the reason why he was considered a top flight midfielder. We have tried to change this guy to much and I reckon he doubted himself, back him in to be the outside wingman which I personally believe he can play this role extremely well

[Demons 32 235]

Cale still has an ability to find time when others don't....

Despite all his shortcoming, that is a rare and unteachable skill and is worth persisting with in my opinion.

[rpfc 28,777]

An inefficient disposal doesn't equal a turnover (see this good thread on BigFooty). A 52% disposal rate isn't great, but it doesn't mean half Morton's disposals are clangers, it just means only half his disposals are of direct benefit to the team. Given the way our team has been playing I'd be surprised if many of our players' disposal efficiency was any better than that. Edit 1: Just looking at the stats: Daniel Cross had 28 possessions, 7 of which were clangers (i.e blatant unforced errors) which is 25% of his disposals, but has a DE of 82%. Figure that one out. Other players in the same vicinity as Morton for disposal efficiency were other hacks such as Nathan Jones (55%), Brent Moloney (53%), Adam Cooney (58%) and Matthew Boyd (58%). Edit 2: Morton also had 8 contested possessions, so the stats also refute your assertion that his possessions were "cheap". Furthermore, I disagree with your implication that there is in fact anything wrong with winning "easy" ball - uncontested possessions (as a result of run and spread) is something we severely lack. I'd love it if Cale (and indeed everyone) could get a few more "cheap" possessions; they might lead to some more goals on the bloody score board. Don't you just love statistics?

Some crazy stats in there...

The clangers and DE one is odd.

I'm not sold on DE% so in the KPI thread I have it as a comparison to our opponent which lends itself to the explanation; whatever it entails, we are X% behind the opposition...

[nutbean 8,838]

I am in the "jury's still out" camp on Cale and am hoping that Neeld can bring something out in him that has undeniably been missing since his first season.

Even in his first games this year where he hasnt been fantastic he shows he has the ability to spread - something that has been some obviously missing from the team. Our % of contested footy overall is very high. We are not getting enough footy outside - enough uncontested footy and this is Cales strength.

Edited April 27, 2012 by nutbean

[General 35]

I agree with nutbean, those posting that his stats are cheap should check the stats, we need more cheap stats. Cale doesn't kick very well but he is not the worst. I could see him improving. Disposal efficiency is not high and not low. He is averaging almost 20 disposals, only 2 games but that is high compared with his team mates. Most of all, he can run. He can run fast, as he showed a couple of years ago in the Brendon Lade incident, and he can all day. Not many of his team mates can say the same. Running is important. Sadly past recruiters, or fatty dept's haven't acknowledged that. He is not in our bottom 5 - 10 players. No way would he be delisted. Club would surely entertain a trade if the price was right, but I'd say Cale has every chance to impress the coach. I liked his game last week. I saw at least 2 huge blunders, but he was not on his own there. Do we get tunnel vision and focus on Cale, he contributed, kicked a good goal in the last qtr when the game was up for grabs. Small step in the right direction for mine, and who else do we have this week?

[jnrmac 20,185]

I agree with nutbean, those posting that his stats are cheap should check the stats, we need more cheap stats. Cale doesn't kick very well but he is not the worst. I could see him improving. Disposal efficiency is not high and not low. He is averaging almost 20 disposals, only 2 games but that is high compared with his team mates. Most of all, he can run. He can run fast, as he showed a couple of years ago in the Brendon Lade incident, and he can all day. Not many of his team mates can say the same. Running is important. Sadly past recruiters, or fatty dept's haven't acknowledged that. He is not in our bottom 5 - 10 players. No way would he be delisted. Club would surely entertain a trade if the price was right, but I'd say Cale has every chance to impress the coach. I liked his game last week. I saw at least 2 huge blunders, but he was not on his own there. Do we get tunnel vision and focus on Cale, he contributed, kicked a good goal in the last qtr when the game was up for grabs. Small step in the right direction for mine, and who else do we have this week?

There's the nub. Small step and who else do we have? Is that the best you have? Do you really believe with that attitude the Dees can be a ruthless finals side?

Morton has played 68 games. Most recruits don't play 4 games. Magner has shown more in 4 games IMO.

He does not appear to me to have learned anything about disposal or contested footy (please don't bring up his contested count on the weekend!). He has little in the way of defensive skills - he continually hangs off his man by 5-15m. His opponents rack up uncontested stats.

Why can't people face it that he has been a wasted 4th pick and move on?

Do we want to wait until he reaches 125 games like Miller before we work out he can't play a decent game?

It's a cut throat business and we are amongst the worst at it. Why?? Because of guys like Miller and Morton.

Edited April 27, 2012 by jnrmac

[Guest José Mourinho]

There's the nub. Small step and who else do we have? Is that the best you have? Do you really believe with that attitude the Dees can be a ruthless finals side?

Morton has played 68 games. Most recruits don't play 4 games. Magner has shown more in 4 games IMO.

He does not appear to me to have learned anything about disposal or contested footy (please don't bring up his contested count on the weekend!). He has little in the way of defensive skills - he continually hangs off his man by 5-15m. His opponents rack up uncontested stats.

Why can't people face it that he has been a wasted 4th pick and move on?

Do we want to wait until he reaches 125 games like Miller before we work out he can't play a decent game?

It's a cut throat business and we are amongst the worst at it. Why?? Because of guys like Miller and Morton.

Fairly disingenuous to criticise his disposal efficiency and then completely ignore that our new gameplan has basically involved kicking long along the boundary to a contest.

Have you not even been watching us play?

Or are you just searching for any excuse, no matter how contradictory, to criticise Cale...?

Thanks for your rant though.

Edited April 27, 2012 by José Mourinho

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Fairly disingenuous to criticise his disposal efficiency and then completely ignore that our new gameplan has basically involved kicking long along the boundary to a contest.

Have you not even been watching us play?

Or are you just searching for any excuse, no matter how contradictory, to criticise Cale...?

Thanks for your rant though.

He has been missing targets under no pressure whatsoever since the first day he came to our club. It's got nothing to do with the game plan we have now. We are talking pre Neeld here.

Cale was a wasted pick no 4. Fact indeed. For all those who continually like to say that his draft number is now irrelevant, well it's clearly not. Why you ask?

Because the 'Jose' Mourinho's' of this forum will continue to have faith in the guy which is clearly because he was drafted at number 4. No one wants to beleive that a number 4 draft pick won't 'come on'.

If he went late in the national draft or was a rookie, do people really believe he would still be on our list? No. We have had to persist because he was a number 4 pick, so we are squeezing as much improvement

out of him as possible.

And for the people that say, 'well he's not the only one who can't kick in our team'.... At least those other's have strengths and attributes in other facets of the game. Morton is mediocre all round.

Feel free to 'see what other's can't', Jose'.

Yes we will probably get some more improvement out of him if we hold onto him for most of his career, but he will never live up to the player people were going on and on about on this forum.

Edited April 27, 2012 by stevethemanjordan