Cale Morton

[Crackers 67]

Wow. I have now heard everything. Cale is great because he ranks number 5 for disposals. Thanks for that intelligent assessment Mrs Morton. How about how many times he turns it over? How about the fact he never picks up a player and he has no defensive skills? None of the things you see in Jones apply to Cale. Sheesh. Its school holidays again..

Where have you been, Neeld has tried to instill the defensive side into Cales game this year? We have actually witnessed Cale lay some tackles that stick this year. His pressure on Elliot last weekend in the 3 rd quarter that resulted in him missing the goal. Cale wa the only melbourne player within 30 meteres of him and you say he has no defensive skills.

I was trying to make the point that Jones used to get lambasted for turnover over the footy by foot and getting caught running on the spot, but he has slowly been reducing that. I believe that Neeld might by able to slowly smooth over a few of Cales rough edges, which has already started to show. It isn't like switching a switch. Also if average disposal effciency in teh AFL is 60% that means 4 out 10 kicks could be clangers. You get 20 touches that is 8 that won't reach an opponent. this can stand out more for a player that kicks more than he handballs and he gets twice the amount of positions than half the players on his team.

[beelzebub 23,390]

From where I sit there is an aspect to th ewhole of this year that will and ought to affect the view we have of not only Cale but all the players.

2012 is a trial.....a trial by scrutiny and accountability. I sense Neeld is effectively putting everyone through the mill and seeing who is doing what and how.

Cale is no exception to this. hes been tasked and tested. Some will be familiar territory and a lot wont. So we can excuse him and many for some errors if the 'plan' isnt working as a whole out there on the ground.

What he ought not be forgiven for is blatant poor footy. Costly turnovers and brain fades are just poor footy. You either have footy smarts or youdont. This is about skills and general talent, no, this is about producing something that contributes to a teams ability to win games. Ive yet to see it from Morton. . he does a few little things but theres no cohesion to his football....a shame.

[rpfc 28,926]

Morton frustrates me too, although I think that a couple of posts are reaching 'unfair attack' status, but we have a major problem with the lack of uncontested possessions in this team.

Only 6 players average more than 10 a game, and only three of those above 13 a game. Grimes, Jones, and...Morton.

Collingwood have 12 players that average more than 10 a game, with Buckley, Shaw, Pendlebury, Didak, Sidebottom, Beams, and Swan all averaging over 13 a game.

I used Collingwood as an example to show that it isn't just soft outside players/HBFs that push hard, spread and get uncontested possessions or 'cheap' footy - it is the best players.

It is really important.

[beelzebub 23,390]

Im so wary of stats. They can only give a bit of the picture...form a certain perspective only.

Good teams often have space to play in. they have their game 'happening' and so you thenget a lot of uncontested possesions because they are a yard in front of their opposition.. Only really when there IS a bit of a match up that you have a real contest. Then the stats swing the other way.

I'm a bit old fashioned I suspect......just prefer to watch and gain an overall impression. So much cant be put down in this column or that and even if you did what colour would you aplly to so much that is just this side of subjective or abitrary.

We will have more uncontested possessions when we are playing better , better as a team, and better than the other team

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Would people here prefer Simon Buckley or Cale Morton?

[picket fence 17,986]

You must be kidding

Give me Simon Buckley anyday

Simon Buckley can get his own ball.

Cale Morton stands off his man and in fact sometimes stands so wide his teammates need twice peripheral vision to see him! When turnovers occur he is so far off his man that, offensively he cannot possibly make up the lost space to man up! He is almost a totally a one dimensional outside player with questionable footskills.

In my opinion and with the emergent Neeld games style he is fast becoming a luxury we can ill afford

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

You must be kidding

Give me Simon Buckley anyday

Simon Buckley can get his own ball.

I agree, I'm still annoyed that Melbourne delisted him.

[rpfc 28,926]

Would people here prefer Simon Buckley or Cale Morton?

I would kept him, but he had other issues didn't he...

You must be kidding

Give me Simon Buckley anyday

Simon Buckley can get his own ball.

Cale Morton stands off his man and in fact sometimes stands so wide his teammates need twice peripheral vision to see him! When turnovers occur he is so far off his man that, offensively he cannot possibly make up the lost space to man up! He is almost a totally a one dimensional outside player with questionable footskills.

In my opinion and with the emergent Neeld games style he is fast becoming a luxury we can ill afford

I like Buckley, but my point is he actually looks to get the footy while others are happy to sit back and not make mistakes, Cale is seemingly happy to take the game on and risk giving the nonsense he sometimes gives.

I want to persevere with him and it looks as though Neeld does to.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I would kept him, but he had other issues didn't he...

Are those issues affecting him at Collingwood?

[Jordie_tackles 354]

Would people here prefer Simon Buckley or Cale Morton?

Morton all the way, dont see how peopel think Buckley is such a better player filling in at Collingwood

[beelzebub 23,390]

though heres a question ..Buckley DOES get a game at Collingwood...... would Cale ??? probably doubtful

[jnrmac 20,276]

Where have you been, Neeld has tried to instill the defensive side into Cales game this year? We have actually witnessed Cale lay some tackles that stick this year. His pressure on Elliot last weekend in the 3 rd quarter that resulted in him missing the goal. Cale wa the only melbourne player within 30 meteres of him and you say he has no defensive skills.

I was trying to make the point that Jones used to get lambasted for turnover over the footy by foot and getting caught running on the spot, but he has slowly been reducing that. I believe that Neeld might by able to slowly smooth over a few of Cales rough edges, which has already started to show. It isn't like switching a switch. Also if average disposal effciency in teh AFL is 60% that means 4 out 10 kicks could be clangers. You get 20 touches that is 8 that won't reach an opponent. this can stand out more for a player that kicks more than he handballs and he gets twice the amount of positions than half the players on his team.

You cannot compare Jones and Morton. Jones has always had a fearless attack on the footy. The knock on him has been largely his disposal and trying to break through opponents tackles. Give me Jones from 3 yrs ago any day of the week.

Morton doesn't do the hard stuff, refuses to run tackle, be accountable and to top it off his 'silky skills' that I keep reading about are a myth. His repeated turnovers are morale killers.

It is a fact that the defence 'did not trust Cale' and that this year he has worked hard to try and gain their trust back (direct quote from Rawlings). The whole football world has been lambasting Morton in recent times and I tbelieve they are totally justified. For some reason people here seem to think that because he was a number 4 pick we should cut hime more slack. Forget it. Get over it. Its a lost cause.

I think he has spent his tickets and the rest of the team are fed up with him.

[Jaded No More 68,975]

Simon Buckley? LOL

Shizen kick and a seriously unprofessional attitude.

[Nasher 33,617]

I'm a bit old fashioned I suspect......just prefer to watch and gain an overall impression. So much cant be put down in this column or that and even if you did what colour would you aplly to so much that is just this side of subjective or abitrary.

What the heck do you think the rest of us do? Divert our eyes off the game and on to the stats sheet? Those of us who love a bit a stat use them as a bit of backup for opinions we form through watching the game. Occasionally a stat will surprise me because it doesn't reconcile with what I saw - that'll make me stop and want to look again, but that's it. I've never based my opinion purely on a statistic, just used it as evidence.

I think most people base their opinions on what they see.

[Guest José Mourinho]

Oh FCS gen-not-my-fault-blame-someone-else-Y -- of course he has to take most of the responsibility for his not progressing; sure maybe not all but it is HE who goes out onto the field, not BP, Bailey, Neeld or Missen. It is HE who decides whether to jump into the contest or hang around outside the pack and hope.... It is HE who despite the much vaunted "silky skills" shanks and turns the ball over.

I didn't say Cale was blameless, but to apportion him the entirety of the blame would be an injustice.

[dazzledavey36 55,911]

Simon Buckley? LOL

Shizen kick and a seriously unprofessional attitude.

based on what?

[Biffen 12,949]

I didn't say Cale was blameless, but to apportion him the entirety of the blame would be an injustice.

Get real Jose. He isn't a 3 year old.

[Guest José Mourinho]

Get real Jose. He isn't a 3 year old.

I didn't say he is.

If you want to choose ignorance, that's fine.

But the blame is not absolutely on Cale.

[Radar Detector 1,347]

Cale's biggest problem is that his 3 clangers per game are usually so bad they make you want to tear your eyeballs out. But he is clearly improving his workrate and desire for the contest and is also getting a fair bit of the ball...I think what Cale brings to the team is worth building on and persevering with...

PS i know stats can tell a lot of half truths but despite averaging 3 clangers per game (third most in the team and approximately the same as Chip, Jones and Mitch Clark, for instance) he is also ahead of many of our better users for disposal efficiency (Trengove, Howe, Tapscott, for example).

[beelzebub 23,390]

What the heck do you think the rest of us do? Divert our eyes off the game and on to the stats sheet? Those of us who love a bit a stat use them as a bit of backup for opinions we form through watching the game. Occasionally a stat will surprise me because it doesn't reconcile with what I saw - that'll make me stop and want to look again, but that's it. I've never based my opinion purely on a statistic, just used it as evidence.

I think most people base their opinions on what they see.

So much rubbish is pased through these boards via the STATS argument with a seeming disregard from what actually transpires.

Stats in the main are somewhat useless . The only real stat of worth goes like G P B v G P B

[jnrmac 20,276]

So much rubbish is pased through these boards via the STATS argument with a seeming disregard from what actually transpires.

Stats in the main are somewhat useless . The only real stat of worth goes like G P B v G P B

Then Cale is in the negative because of the goals he gives up.

Seriously go and have a look at his last quarter. If you still believe he has elite skills, good decision making and become a key player for us I would be flabbergasted.

[old55 23,838]

Cale's biggest problem is that his 3 clangers per game are usually so bad they make you want to tear your eyeballs out. But he is clearly improving his workrate and desire for the contest and is also getting a fair bit of the ball...I think what Cale brings to the team is worth building on and persevering with...

I agree, Cale has improved this year and his article emphasised the reasons why. Neeld and co are working with him and it's a worthwhile exercise.

[beelzebub 23,390]

I agree, Cale has improved this year and his article emphasised the reasons why. Neeld and co are working with him and it's a worthwhile exercise.

only whilst this season continues. Then we get influx of New talent, better screened . Cale has only 11 or so games to solidify his case imho

[Melbournepotter 383]

i think Cale has improved this year in his physicality, but can still turn the ball over a number of times which is frustrating. The way I see it, is that at least he is not hiding and there were a number of times last weekend where he ran with the flight of the ball. He also did make a number of accurate passes but seems to have issues when he hesitates and perhaps tries too hard to create, and then causes a turnover.

I am willing to give him time. If he also puts on some weight, he could be very handy in time.

Mick Malthouse commented re Murphy of Carlton that sometimes players have to use common sense when going in for the ball. Sometimes it's unavoidable that the body has to be put on the line, but there are also cases where to dive in to prove toughness could only mean getting an injury, which doesn't help anyone at the club. I'm not comparing Murphy with Morton, but I'd rather have him on the field learning than flying recklessly in and only causing himself injury.

[Jaded No More 68,975]

based on what?

Based on knowing enough about his 'extracurricular activities'