Last year Paul Roos said On the Couch that if you missed part of the pre-season nowadays, you were lucky to recover in the season. Cale's last 3 pre seasons including this one, have all been interrupted by injury and he has come in very under done for fitness which I am sure has affected his confidence. Hopefully this season is the least affected and given a few weeks to run into match fitness and build up a bit of confidence and the Cale Morton we are all hoping for may appear. If in say 4-6 weeks he doesn't get over it then I fear his papers might be stamped but I hope Neeld perseveres for that long to see what he's got. There's not much downside at the moment and the upside might be significant.

For all those who continually like to say that his draft number is now irrelevant, well it's clearly not. Why you ask?

At where any player is his career, his draft number is irrelevant. Except for poster that want to use it for self aggrandisement. And I didnt ask.

The fact is we are 2012 and Morton is contracted until to 2013. He either plays to Neelds standard or he doesnt. He either fulfills those standards and completes his existing contract or he is traded at the end of this year or delisted the following one. That is all that is relevant.

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'.

Well, i dont think those who are not trashing Morton are actually peddling that line. A bit of self aggrandisement there Stevie?

And I think you and Jose are made for each others. Peas in the pod.

Your post would have better if you just repeat that your standard line that you dont like Morton as a player rather than inventing other people's arguments. You tend to do alot of that Stevie.

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.

exactly....if he went later like Rohan Bail or Jordie McKensie they would. These two butcher the ball by foot more than Cale but people let hat go becasue Jordie is a good tackler and bail runs hard. But also because not much was expected of them in teh first place. Wheres cale runs hard is defenately not in our bottom 10 players at the club yet people talk not only about trading him but delisting him for nothing!! Funny that Gold Coasts recruiter who gets paid for his opionion on footballers rated Morton highly...

And I think you and Jose are made for each others. Peas in the pod.

What does that say about you and WYL..?

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.

Feel free to put words in the mouths of others Steve.

I hope the majority of posters don't take your posts seriously, but I know there's some that will.

What does that say about you and WYL..?

Nothing.

I want to see Neeld develop a team that can win finals.

My concern with Cale Morton is that I just can't see him developing himself to a point where he could be a damaging player in finals pressure in both body and psyche.

Not Morton bashing, I just can't see it, even when i squint really hard, then maybe I'm getting short sighted with age.

Edited April 27, 201213 yr by dandeeman

I keep banging on about the jury being out because i see something in Cale and i dont crucify players that have just hit 22 as Cale has. I still have a little patience left for Cale

I think Neeld was referring to Morton in his press conference when he said some people confuse lack of endeavour with being exhausted.

My bet is that Neeld believes Morton has not had the time put into him to be performing at the top level and thinks he can make it.

It could be the cooaches believe his poor disposal is due to lack of fitness 9something that can be rectified.

I think Neeld was referring to Morton in his press conference when he said some people confuse lack of endeavour with being exhausted.

My bet is that Neeld believes Morton has not had the time put into him to be performing at the top level and thinks he can make it.

It could be the cooaches believe his poor disposal is due to lack of fitness 9something that can be rectified.

See my post above about this being his 3rd straight interrupted pre season

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.

Regardless of draft position I doubt there is a club out there that if they had recruited Cale would have delisted him by now. He was 192cm skinny kid as if he wasnt going to be given time.

It is also quite amusing for you to say he has learnt nothing regarding defensive skills and contested footy and then ban the stats that directly refute your case.

Would I choose him at pick 4 if we had our time again no. Does he still at the age of 22 have plenty of potential that should be given every opportunity to be developed. Absolutely. There are plenty more who have reached their ceiling who will be cut before he is even considered. .

Edited April 27, 201213 yr by big_red_fire_engine

I want to see Neeld develop a team that can win finals.

My concern with Cale Morton is that I just can't see him developing himself to a point where he could be a damaging player in finals pressure in both body and psyche.

Not Morton bashing, I just can't see it, even when i squint really hard, then maybe I'm getting short sighted with age.

I'd have said the same of Andrew Mackie in 2007, as would many others.

Clinton Young, Xavier Ellis, Travis Varcoe, etc.

Not that it's setting the bar too high, but he can still be a valuable contributor.

Not that it's setting the bar too high, but he can still be a valuable contributor.

I think we all want the same thing Jose, just many here don't have the same faith in him to actually get anywhere near those folks you named........

The rest of this year (and the number of games he plays in) could and will be very telling for his career trajectory.

What frustrates me most is the fact that he is said by some to have "elite skills" yet cannot ever hit a target.

And if I hear "he can run and create space" one more time when he should be in a clinch getting the bloody ball, I will throttle him personally.

So, what really are the attributes that he has shown with any degree of consistency over his 4 or 5 year career?

What frustrates me most is the fact that he is said by some to have "elite skills" yet cannot ever hit a target.

And if I hear "he can run and create space" one more time when he should be in a clinch getting the bloody ball, I will throttle him personally.

So, what really are the attributes that he has shown with any degree of consistency over his 4 or 5 year career?

Had 82% efficiency in round 3, and everyone's disposal efficiency was crap last week.

Had 82% efficiency in round 3, and everyone's disposal efficiency was crap last week.

Reasoning doesn't work with the Morton-haters, unfortunately.

Had 82% efficiency in round 3, and everyone's disposal efficiency was crap last week.

He has his good points, no doubt, but come on, just because everyone's disposal was crap last week doesn't excuse Morton either......

Reasoning doesn't work with the Morton-haters, unfortunately.

He needs to prove them wrong, but he has a long way to go unfortunately.......

And I really don't think anyone "hates" just some are less forgiving of his development, or lack there of, than others.

And if I hear "he can run and create space" one more time when he should be in a clinch getting the bloody ball, I will throttle him personally.

Please point out last week when he was not in a clinch getting the bloody ball when he should've been - ta.

8 contested possessions, just as a reminder.

BTW I didn't hear anyone complaining after his first two seasons, but of course a couple of years of struggling and suddenly he's always been hopeless.

exactly....if he went later like Rohan Bail or Jordie McKensie they would. These two butcher the ball by foot more than Cale but people let hat go becasue Jordie is a good tackler and bail runs hard. But also because not much was expected of them in teh first place. Wheres cale runs hard is defenately not in our bottom 10 players at the club yet people talk not only about trading him but delisting him for nothing!! Funny that Gold Coasts recruiter who gets paid for his opionion on footballers rated Morton highly...

Ha. Fantastic! Morton doesn't do any of those things, let alone well. Bail and Jordie can shut down players and have a dip. Yet to see it from wonder boy.

He needs to prove them wrong, but he has a long way to go unfortunately.......

And I really don't think anyone "hates" just some are less forgiving of his development, or lack there of, than others.

I disagree.

I think there are clearly some very frustrated supporters out there who like to gave a scapegoat, and will blissfully ignore reason once they have found one.

Ha. Fantastic! Morton doesn't do any of those things, let alone well. Bail and Jordie can shut down players and have a dip. Yet to see it from wonder boy.

When did Bail or Jordie last shut down a player?

And unfortunately for McKenzie, he is no longer a "rich man's Mitch Robinson".

Far from it.

Cale Morton - break out game - round 5!

I disagree.

I think there are clearly some very frustrated supporters out there who like to gave a scapegoat, and will blissfully ignore reason once they have found one.

What better scape goat than a pick 4 who is scared of second efforts.

What better scape goat than a pick 4 who is scared of second efforts.

As has been said a million times now, his draft position is irrelevant.