Brisbane forward Logan Morris on the club’s inaccurate goal kicking and his debut game

Brisbane’s inaccuracy in front of goal has been a big talking point throughout season 2024 with senior players in the gun. But a first-year Lion says he is just as much to blame.

His senior teammates have borne the brunt of criticism for the inaccurate goal kicking that cost Brisbane a place in the top four, but young Lion Logan Morris says he is just as much to blame.

The Lions locked in a home elimination final with the win over Essendon on Saturday, however coach Chris Fagan lamented the previous two defeats to Collingwood and GWS as games they could and should have won if not for wayward shots at goal.

A candid Morris told this masthead he was disappointed in his goal kicking after the win over Essendon, which featured two set shot misses that skewed wildly off the boot.

On each occasion Morris was visibly frustrated with himself and that disappointment remained after the match.

Logan Morris is frustrated with his goal kicking form. Picture: Getty Images

“Obviously at the start of the year that was definitely a problem and probably for about two months we had a real emphasis on trying to nail that, so we did a lot of extra craft before training and after training,” Morris said.

“The last couple of weeks we have slipped away a bit – especially myself. I’m definitely disappointed with the way I’m kicking my set shots because I know I’m a pretty good set shot.

“I just have to keep backing myself in and move on. That was the big focus for this week, was that we were going to make mistakes – it’s normal – it’s how we move on and focus on the next moment (that is important).”

Clearly his own harshest critic, Morris conceded the mental side of set shots was a factor – but he was confident both he and his teammates could remedy the issue.

Morris has kicked 18.12 in 15 games this year. Picture: Getty Images

“Yeah definitely a bit of that creeps in,” he said.

“You try your best to go back to your routine and nail the set shot. Obviously (against Essendon) I was pretty poor, but we’ll get to work, have a week off, refresh and go again.”

Morris is one of the feel-good stories of the season.

Certainly the means in which he made his AFL debut against Gold Coast in round 8 will go down in Brisbane folklore.

With a belly full of Maccas and spicy soup from the club doctor, Morris settled into his usual pre-match routine as an emergency – only to be pulled into the team moments before the first bounce after Brandon Starcevich injured his calf in the warm-up.

With Will Ashcroft’s boots on his feet and his pre-match meal churning away, Morris marked a memorable debut with a goal in the 34-point win.

Brisbane teammates get around Logan Morris after he kicked his first AFL goal. Picture: Getty Images

Luckily his family, who had travelled up from Melbourne to watch him play VFL earlier that day, were in the stands to watch their son make the most unlikely of AFL starts.

“That debut game was something I’ll remember forever,” Morris said.

“My Nan is probably the one that brings it up the most. She loves it.

“People still come up to me today and talk to me about that day. It’s unbelievable how that happened – and to now find myself in the team and hopefully playing in my first final, it’s pretty crazy how far I have come this year. I’m super grateful and can’t wait.”

Morris has missed just one game since then and, all going well, will run out for his first AFL final next Saturday against Carlton at the Gabba.

“I never thought I’d be playing a final in my first year, so I’m super stoked,” he said.

“I can’t wait to come into finals and see how far this group can go.

“Obviously I came into this year trying to learn off the experienced players, trying to get as much knowledge as I could.

“I still sit down with the coaches each week. I have a lot of growth to go and I think that’s the most exciting thing, is that I’m still young. I’m in a hurry to get better each week and see where my footy can take me.”

Originally published as Brisbane forward Logan Morris on the club’s inaccurate goal kicking and his debut game