Im liking Mortons applicatiion in tight and his tackling. He isnt shirking the tough stuff. His run and spread has been good too. Keep it up Cale, you maybe a footballer after all. Well done.

Now, I've been one of his biggest critics. I used some choice words last year and copped a blasting from RR via PM. But now, well. I'm not eating my words yet, but I've certainly selected them from the tank and I'm sending them to the chef to be cooked.

But the interesting part is what he's doing. He's getting into the hard ball contest as well as playing his outside role. Sure, he's made some mistakes, but nothing like some of the terrible ones of yesteryear. He's genuinely trying to win his own ball and offer a contest. And I wonder.

Morton was lost in 2011. Didn't have a clue. Got caught out of position, couldn't move with the run when we had it and offered nothing but clangers. Now he's actually getting involved, presenting an option and hitting a target. And I have to wonder. Particularly after the first game.

I'm thinking Neeld has sat him down personally (not gone through Choco) and gone over the tape from that first game this year - the Richmond game, where he was so far outside it was a joke. Neeld has gone over his outside play, which wasn't bad apart from the clanger on the HFF and shown where he needs to hit the contest, and Morton now has the maturity to understand and adapt his game. He's at that perfect stage - not too soon in the system to be able to assess himself, but at the same time still malleable and adjustable.

The problem is that Morton is right now our only definite outside type. Blease needs form and fitness, Sylvia too. The rest of our midfield seems to be totally inside apart from JT, who can do both but is low on confidence. Once we get some outside-ness into other types as well as the inside skill, we will be more ok.

Morton is having a crack. I don't mind mistakes or the odd turnover if you're having a crack. I respect Cale's efforts over the last two games.

I'm starting to think Neeld and co maybe the making of Cale. Its not that he is improving, its that he has improved in the areas that he was so weak. The contested, hard stuff and his skills have improved. What i'm liking even more is that he is doing the tackles naturally and not shirking the issue when its his turn to go. An area everyone hated about him previously.

Morton is one of those lucky bastards who has an IQ through the roof to go with his talent, so if he's "cottoning on" quicker than everyone else then that's probably not surprising. I think the intent is there and the confidence is improving and his use of the ball is improving as a result. He made some excellent decisions both in traffic and in the open today. As B-H said - mistakes are forgivable so long as he keeps doing the right "fundamental" things.

He's beginning to feign in traffic, that's right feign in traffic. Last player to do that was one T.Johnstone! Cale has improved as said in his weaker areas and is getting the ball on more occasions in the pack than most. If his skills+decision making improve then this kid could have turned the corner completely. He's surprised me as well as many others so far, as long as he keeps it up. And yes I now believe it, Cale Morton is winning contested possessions and tackling well!

he's becoming a player .Slowly.

He will get here .

Go Cale .

(Eat up).

Neeld asked if he wanted to end up like his 2 brothers.

What i'm liking even more is that he is doing the tackles naturally and not shirking the issue when its his turn to go.

definitely looked comfortable in the clinches today

Neeld and Misson and their assistants are turning Morton back into a league footballer. Some encouraging signs from Davey too and even Blease and Bennell for Casey.

Crucial for pace and endurance which is critical for spread.

Go Cale. Stick it up the haters.

Two seasons ago I ventured out to watch us play Essendon at Visy Park in a pre-season practice match.. with only about 5 minutes left in the game Morton backed back into a back with incredible courage, in an incident where sadly he came off second best, injured his knee and missed half that season.

The boy has courage, and footy smarts... just needs to add more bulk, and get more aggression into his game. Could still be something.

He's beginning to feign in traffic, that's right feign in traffic. Last player to do that was one T.Johnstone! Cale has improved as said in his weaker areas and is getting the ball on more occasions in the pack than most. If his skills+decision making improve then this kid could have turned the corner completely. He's surprised me as well as many others so far, as long as he keeps it up. And yes I now believe it, Cale Morton is winning contested possessions and tackling well!

Needs to not only keep it Up, but needs to continue pushing his limits. IMO he's a long way from safe.

He's only just starting to play footy, but a long way short of the sort of footy the top 4 sides would expect.

Very pleasantly, very surprised at CM's improving performance in probably the last 3 games.

Still looked to handball to others as soon as he got the ball on a couple of occasions today, even if they're under more pressure than him, but he's getting in there and getting his hands on the pill. And that's much much much more than we have seen for a long time.

I just hope I'm not being seduced by the big improvement from a low base rather than seeing a genuine new goer in the team. Time will tell.

A laces out /left foot 40m pass in the last qtr doesn't suggest to me improvement , he's always had the skill and ability to read the play but has he got the ticker and heart to play AFL and get into he clinches when no one else is there to defend...juries still out for mine, but we shouldn't get sucked in beyond this yr?, or does a contract determine that. Blablabla

A laces out /left foot 40m pass in the last qtr doesn't suggest to me improvement , he's always had the skill and ability to read the play but has he got the ticker and heart to play AFL and get into he clinches when no one else is there to defend...juries still out for mine, but we shouldn't get sucked in beyond this yr?, or does a contract determine that. Blablabla

Cale's contracted until the end of next year I'm pretty sure.

I'm starting to think Neeld and co maybe the making of Cale.

Ditto Bate.

Jury still out on both but signs are encouraging, although Bate was less effective than he had been previous weeks against yesterday's quality opponents. Yesterday was Morton's best game in memory.

Agree there are certain players in our side that are responding very well to the coaching staff.

Great to see..Go Cale

Now, I've been one of his biggest critics.

We all have at some stage, and with reason. Your thoughts are simialr to mine. Cale is clearly one of those bokes who is responding well to a role and the structures which we didn't have in previous years, as was indicated by him looking like a headless chook and not knowing what to do with the ball in hand before this year.

Two seasons ago I ventured out to watch us play Essendon at Visy Park in a pre-season practice match.. with only about 5 minutes left in the game Morton backed back into a back with incredible courage, in an incident where sadly he came off second best, injured his knee and missed half that season.

The boy has courage, and footy smarts... just needs to add more bulk, and get more aggression into his game. Could still be something.

Remember that well. There's no doubt sometimes those types of incidents affects player's willingness to hit the contest in future for fear of another serious injury, which can be a traumatic experience. You only have to look at Cam Bruce pre and post Guerra tackle for evidence of that.

But Cale certainly appears to be turning the corner, which Bruce was never able to do... agree new coaching group might be the making of him...

Striker - I too have been a big critic mainly due to apparent lack of commitment, but it does appear that he may be turning the corner.

I would say that the jury is still out, but that is a positive as I suspect it was very close to coming back into the courtroom with a guilty verdict.

IF he does continue as he has the past couple of weeks it is a credit to him of course, but also to Neeld. He presumably laid down the ;aw and given him KPIs that he has followed.

Well done.

Edited May 6, 201213 yr by monoccular

The one thing Neeld has done which is simple is given him the opportunity to play in the middle. He's said, yeah I know you are still skinny but you should have a seasoned body and there's no excuse not to have a go. I think eventually he'll still end up on a wing as it suits his attributes but the opportunity to get him in the guts has been good.

I still have 3 or more Morton cringe moments each game, but I can at least see he's a guy prepared to win the ball and have a go now. His quickness in reading the play is probably his best attribute and I see why its working for him in close. He's playing a simple brand of footy and its working.

Go Cale. Stick it up the haters.

I was never a 'hater' but I'm happy to admit that I thought he was a wasted pick, I'm also more than happy to have it 'stuck it up me' for the premature assessment

He's not there yet but you can see him gaining confidence with each game, it's been enjoyable to watch.

Cale Morton is a midfielder, neeld is playing him as a midfielder, not a loose defender, tagged, forward flank, he is thriving when playing his role, I remember talking to him last year and he told me he thought that he would Be more valuable playing a midfield role and obviously he is! He knows how to get to the right spots and can use it well

Cale Morton is a midfielder, neeld is playing him as a midfielder, not a loose defender, tagged, forward flank, he is thriving when playing his role, I remember talking to him last year and he told me he thought that he would Be more valuable playing a midfield role and obviously he is! He knows how to get to the right spots and can use it well

Bingo!

Cale is loving hunting the football in the midfield.