With the drafting season well and truly upon us and the memories of skinny first-round draft picks being unable to stack on any kilos still fresh in our minds, I thought it might be wise to understand the science behind why some boys stay boys and others become men.

And with any hope our recruiters have watched this video and will stay away from the 'skinny and tall high-half forward, great aerobic capacity and the potential to develop into that Nick Riewoldt type player after a couple preseasons in the gym' draft prospects...

So Cale is the Myoman. Abnormal levels of Myostatin.

is myostatin found between the ears?

Edited October 24, 201410 yr by chook fowler

"So I thought that we should just try some of this experimental myostatin blocker on our guys. Hopefully it is safe, but, hell, time will tell"

"Sure James - should I deliver it to Windy Hill, through the same back door as the other stuff?"

Cale Morton had the same build as The Late Robert Flower.

Just couldn't play footy with the same panache.(Few could)

Your body shape is irrelevant in Aussie rules.

Edited October 24, 201410 yr by Biffen

Cale Morton had the same build as The Late Robert Flower.

Just couldn't play footy with the same panache.(Few could)

Your body shape is irrelevant in Aussie rules.

It's not the same anymore. Flower definitely was a once-in-a-generation player but these days you need a good balance between core strength and pace.

Cale had neither.

It's not the same anymore. Flower definitely was a once-in-a-generation player but these days you need a good balance between core strength and pace.

Cale had neither.

Libba?

Brad Hardie?

Dale Weightman?

KB?

Core strength is great but being a very good player is the most important thing.This is where we [censored] it up royally every time because we pay too many experts.

AFL recruiters seem to have lost sight of the fact that the kids need to be able to play. With all the tests of pace, endurance and agility, a great football brain and instincts seem to have taken a secondary place. They are looking for people who fit the athletic profile in the belief that they can be turned into footballers. There is no way a player like Tom Rockliff should have slipped to the PSD, but he was a pure footballer who didn't fit in the athletic profile clubs thought they needed so despite his excellent year he was overlooked. Likewise, Melbourne repeatedly drafted kids with specific athletic attributes without looking at the whole package and wound up with Morton, Bennell, Blease, Nicholson etc. All runners with question marks on their ability to play, but it was assumed that they could be taught to play.

I think it's clearly time to re-think the priorities. If we can get a kid who fits the athletic profile and can play, great. If not, get a kid who can play the game first and foremost.

I doubt recruiters are ignoring whether the guys can play or not. Morton looked absolute gun as an underage player.

I doubt recruiters are ignoring whether the guys can play or not. Morton looked absolute gun as an underage player.

And his first season with us was very promising. He looked like he was going to make it.

Morton was not developed properly and the year under Neeld completely broke him.

Cale Morton had the same build as The Late Robert Flower.

Just couldn't play footy with the same panache.(Few could)

Your body shape is irrelevant in Aussie rules.

courage & deesire, courage & deesire, courage & deesire. = the NEED to have a crack

Nothing like a Cale Morton bashing session !!!

Still my most despised player !!!!!!

I doubt recruiters are ignoring whether the guys can play or not. Morton looked absolute gun as an underage player.

Thrashed Goodes once.

Somehow.

Libba?

Brad Hardie?

Dale Weightman?

KB?

Core strength is great but being a very good player is the most important thing.This is where we [censored] it up royally every time because we pay too many experts.

Players from totally different eras. The way the game is played now, size and strength are extremely important.

I doubt recruiters are ignoring whether the guys can play or not. Morton looked absolute gun as an underage player.

Proves PRs theory,let other clubs develop them and when their ready to shine,offer a great deal and get at their prime.

Did Birchall, Suckling, Stratton, Langford, Hill, Isaac Smith,and Gunston all play in the grand final or am I mistaken?

Hill was tiny when he was drafted and is hardly bulky now. The other 6 were all tall and thin.

What was the difference between Morton's physique when drafted and that of Fyfe? Very little I would have thought. In a lot of ways Morton fits the mould for the taller midfielders that seem so prevalent these days, but he was never able to add the extra muscle that he needed to become a genuine contested ballwinner.

I doubt recruiters are ignoring whether the guys can play or not. Morton looked absolute gun as an underage player.

And his first season with us was very promising. He looked like he was going to make it.

Morton was not developed properly and the year under Neeld completely broke him.

I agree with all three of these posts, particularly the last. Morton was a far better player than most around here give him credit for, and was yet another player whose career was destroyed by Neeld.

Nothing like a Cale Morton bashing session !!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNAsH3m1lzAStill my most despised player !!!!!!

Why do I think of Grimes every time I see this clip?

What was the difference between Morton's physique when drafted and that of Fyfe? Very little I would have thought. In a lot of ways Morton fits the mould for the taller midfielders that seem so prevalent these days, but he was never able to add the extra muscle that he needed to become a genuine contested ballwinner.

I agree with all three of these posts, particularly the last. Morton was a far better player than most around here give him credit for, and was yet another player whose career was destroyed by Neeld.

I think the game changed a bit on Morton.

It got faster and he went from having a yard of speed over guys to being just average pace. And it got more congested meaning more pressure on kicks. Morton was a very good kick as a junior as he found space and could kick long to advantage.

He was destined to be a wingman. And this current Hawthorn team have brought the position back in to fashion a little. His job was pretty much to just run up and down the field and be an option, plus with his height you could kick it up to him 1 on 1 v other wingmen.

When Morton came in only Hawthorn played full ground zoning. Then St Kilda and Collingwood perfected the press. What should've happened is after a good first season, Dean Bailey should've put Morton back to the 2's and made him develop his contested ball, made him develop his kicking under pressure etc. Instead he coasted along in the team.

Neeld was right to put Morton back to Casey but ambitiously tried to make him a centre square midfielder. It didn't really work. Also tried him at half forward.