Western Bulldogs not putting a line through veteran Dale Morris' career despite latest cruel blow

The Western Bulldogs are “not overly optimistic” about veteran defender dale Morris's latest knee blow, but they're not willing to put a line through his career just yet. RECAP FRIDAY'S FOOTY NEWS

The Western Bulldogs are not putting a line through veteran defender Dale Morris’ career, saying if anyone can return from an ACL injury at the ripe old age of 36 it is him.

Morris went down during “the first couple of minutes” of match simulation at Bulldogs training on Friday in what club football boss Chris Grant described as a “cruel blow” on the eve of the season.

Grant said MRI scans would determine the course of action but Bulldogs medical staff were “not overly optimistic” about the extent of the injury.

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“At this stage we know he’s sustained an injury to his ACL in some state, shape or form,” Grant said.

“He wants to get the information and we want to get that for him ASAP and then we’ll sit with him and determine an action plan for him.

“If there was a player or an athlete within elite sport that could return at his age ... from an injury like this it is Dale Morris. But in saying that there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before we even contemplate that.”

Morris, who turned 36 in December, had been set to enter his 14th AFL season in good health and form having completed a strong pre-season and played both of the Bulldogs’ JLT Community Series matches.

The 252-game veteran signed a one-year contract extension last August after getting back to play 11 games in the second half of last season following a partial tear of his ACL late in pre-season.

“I want to play on for as long as I can,” Morris said at the time of his re-signing.

“I love this job, I love this club, I love what I do.”

Grant said the latest blow for the much-loved Morris would be felt by the playing group but the club hoped it would not greatly impact their preparations for Round 1.

“The effort that he’s put in to get back last year was in some ways miraculous and now to have this on the eve of the season again is devastating for him,” Grant said.

“But the positivity and the spirit within the group at the moment is enormous.

“We expect they’re devastated for him but at the same time still really looking forward to Round 1.”

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Originally published as Western Bulldogs not putting a line through veteran Dale Morris' career despite latest cruel blow

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