Terrible early but better once Grimes was off and he played Grimes' role. 17 touches let him play one more before we delist him.

No. I'm sorry, I'm all for discussion, but you are just wrong. He was terrible all day. Full stop.

Cale Morton is afraid to get hurt. He cost us about three or four goals today because he refused to put his body on the line. Otherwise, his game was perfectly fine.

Terrible early but better once Grimes was off and he played Grimes' role. 17 touches let him play one more before we delist him.

No, should not and won't get another game for some time.

He has had many chances.

I thought he'd been okay until "that" moment on the HFF. I detest the vitriol that gets said about Cale on here, but I will say that if that's his idea of a second effort, his stay in the senior team will be short.

Morton has "moments" pretty much anytime something's asked of him in a contest. I wouldn't be so forgiving as to single just that one out. His decision making, even when given gift balls well in the clear, is atrocious. Rarely lifts his head above what's directly coming towards him in about a 30m zone and even kicking to that contest he often just doesn't kick to the advantage of team mates. The Cale experiment is well and truly over. Time for the MFC to discard stick figures and relics that play 80's style VFL level football (at best). And by 80's style footy, one classic example is the amount of time Cale takes to decide on a disposal once he's marked. He rarely moves the ball on quickly enough which is a key aspect and basic skill needed in today's fast flowing game. Doesn't have it upstairs either. Not alone here though.

P.S. Much of the blame here lays with Neeld & the selection committee though. Morton should never have been a starter in this contest. Dunn on the bench (at worst and definitely not sub) to provide a 2nd avenue to goal. Morton as the sub. HUUUUGE error IMO. Basic stuff guys. Lift your game. Fast becoming one of the worst teams i've ever seen open a season for the MFC and crap decisions like this aren't helping.

Edited April 14, 201213 yr by Rusty Nails

Terrible today.

Absolutely terrible.

Open season on Cale today. His performance today has been deplorable.

Well at least you have seen the light, Nothing today that hasn't been seen from Cale in the past 2 & 1/2 years.

Did you watch him hang 5 - 10m off his man all day. Drives me nuts. And his man continually gets the pill. Has no footy brain, doesn't go in when he has to. Sells his teamates into trouble. There is nothing about him that warrants a game at the MFC and that is saying something.

Terrible today.

Absolutely terrible.

Yip I'm very concerned about his future at the MFC - What do you think we would get for him?

Was far from our worst, atleast he got his hands on the pill.... more than half the team today

Terrible! Put team-mates under pressure, no second efforts, panicked in every contest he got near (which wasn't many). I've now given up on him (which only proves I'm a slow learner).

For someone for whom it is said his only attributes are his "silky skills" he demonstrated today that he is entirely devoid of any football attributes whatsoever. Even when not under pressure, unless perchance the mere fact of being on the MCG in front of nigh 50k fans is sufficient pressure to put him off his game (whatever game that may be) , he failed to demonstrate to me and many others any sign of silk, silk being renowned for its incredible strength and tenacity on an ounce for ounce basis. And the one mark under any pressure ---- pfffffffh IT'S TIME, CALE. G'NIGHT.

Later in the game I watched him carefully when he was on the wing at centre bounces: all others outside the square would run in to join in - he would just walk in. Shocking body language and just not good enough.

Edited April 14, 201213 yr by monoccular

Cale doens't seem to have any difficulty getting the ball when there is an absence of pressure. But it stops there.

His body work today was embarrassing to our jumper.

His disposal when free, running through wing or half back, was atrocious. If he got 50% effectiveness for uncontensted disposal I'll barrack for the Pies tomorrow!

His decision making is wobbly.Today, he refused to look beyond the first option, whereas at Casey last week he looked poised and made some great decisions.

No more cale Morton for me.

I thought Cale was pretty poor today as Ive already expressed. This doesnt make me a 'keyboard hero' for having an honest opinion and an honest assessment.

I dont think he was poor because of his kicking - which once or twice was quite nice. But poor because the weaknesses in his game were not only still there, but it was clear he wasnt really interested in improving those weaknesses or making an effort to pretend he wanted to correct those weaknesses after all the time and effort the club has put into him.

This is a player that was pick 4 - picked above numerous players that we'd likely take over him now given the choice.

On two occasions he caused team-mates to be caught with the ball by handpassing to them while they had opponents right on them - on both occasions Cale had no direct opponent. On two occasions he chose not to compete one on one and the competitive ball was won by a richmond player that went on to score a goal. And his second efforts were non existent. Same old Cale.

It would be naive to think that Neeld would not be listening to some experienced heads right about now - and according to my wife Malthouse was Scathing of Morton on Channel 7's telecast and dont doubt he will be worse in private with Neeldy.

Yip I'm very concerned about his future at the MFC - What do you think we would get for him?

Sympathy.

He is out of contract in 2013. Given our investment in him we need to establish some sort of football value out of him either as a player or trade.

Why was he In the side In the first place? His form at Casey last week was crap!

Was far from our worst, atleast he got his hands on the pill.... more than half the team today

People focus on his weakess being contesting etc, but that is what the bigger bodies are in the team for. WE get smashed on luncontested footy atm, something that was his strong point. Shouldn't the club be pushing him to help balance the team in that respect. Was good to see him hit a lot more targets apart from one big gaff when he spotted up a tigers bloke on our forward 50. definately not in our bottom 4 from today though. Hopefully Neeld rebuilds him into a player who contributes positively to the team week in.

Why was he In the side In the first place? His form at Casey last week was crap!

He was alright at Casey last week. Not the best but had a better game than tapscott (at Casey last week that is)

Cale doens't seem to have any difficulty getting the ball when there is an absence of pressure. But it stops there.

His body work today was embarrassing to our jumper.

His disposal when free, running through wing or half back, was atrocious. If he got 50% effectiveness for uncontensted disposal I'll barrack for the Pies tomorrow!

His decision making is wobbly.Today, he refused to look beyond the first option, whereas at Casey last week he looked poised and made some great decisions.

No more cale Morton for me.

here is a link, his disposal efficiency was at 82% which is very high.

http://live-footy.heraldsun.com.au/StatsCentre/Index/20120320120140302

cant comment on only uncontested by i would have thought it was equally high if his average was 82%

have fun with the filth

Why was he In the side In the first place? His form at Casey last week was crap!

because he was still better on current form than a number of people who played against west coast last week

Thats where were at

Morton was nowhere near our worst and actually provided the team with something that we sorely lack - run.

When we struggled badly with the spread from stoppages and contests, Morton ran bloody hard to provide and option. He had one or two turnovers, but that's all people remember. His hard running was actually very important and missing from many of his team mates.

Morton was nowhere near our worst and actually provided the team with something that we sorely lack - run.

When we struggled badly with the spread from stoppages and contests, Morton ran bloody hard to provide and option. He had one or two turnovers, but that's all people remember. His hard running was actually very important and missing from many of his team mates.

I actually thought his run and overlap was pretty good too. A lot of his more 'highly regarded' teammates could learn something from him.

His turnovers will be slowly eradicated from his game through better coaching and player development. Although 1 turnover was clearly the fault of one of our talls (Martin or Jamar) who have no idea how to play forward.

He is mentally fragile, if there was a time when he was going to show some steel it was yesterday. He failed to do it several times. AFL teams can no longer carry a player with his deficiencies.

He looks ok in the clear with no pressure around him, but goes to water when placed under pressure.

Imagine him in a big game where it is is close in the last quarter, or in finals footy???

I just don't think his best is good enough.

Morton was nowhere near our worst and actually provided the team with something that we sorely lack - run. When we struggled badly with the spread from stoppages and contests, Morton ran bloody hard to provide and option. He had one or two turnovers, but that's all people remember. His hard running was actually very important and missing from many of his team mates.

It's not the couple of turnovers I remember, it's his failure at any sort of a second effort after a contest. Admittedly it's only one, but it's what sticks out in my head. Watch the replay if you get a chance (I'm presuming you were at the game) - can't remember when it happens (second quarter?) - Mick Malthouse gives him a serve over it.

I don't care about a handful of turnovers - that happens, and he has friends there.

He is mentally fragile, if there was a time when he was going to show some steel it was yesterday.

What? In his first AFL game for about twelve months? I seriously doubt that. I would expect him to play better against the Dogs this week. Who knows what Neeld would have said to him in the review of the Richmond game. Perhaps he's better at developing Morton's strengths than Dean Bailey was. We have to give him at least one more week to show he's capable of learning from his mistakes under a new coach. This "bring a guy in for one week, only to drop him the next" routine is self-defeating and just ruins a team's confidence. Why would you back yourself to take risks when you know that any mistake is liable to see you end up at some wind-swept suburban ground the next week?

Fail Morton! That is all!