Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty says Ryan Morrison should be on the radar of AFL clubs

NOBLE Park coach Mick Fogarty heaps praise on Ryan Morrison after the defender holds Vermont star Brett Eddy to one goal.

Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty says AFL clubs are “crazy’’ if they are not looking at Bulls fullback Ryan Morrison.

The 23-year-old has played two VFL games for the Casey Demons this year but was squeezed out for the Round 6 match against Box Hill Hawks on Mother’s Day.

He returned to Noble’s team on Saturday and held gun Vermont goalkicker Brett Eddy to one goal in a performance that left Fogarty raving.

“Morrison was superb, absolutely superb,’’ he said this morning.

“He’s playing against a guy (Eddy) who has just come off an AFL list, and he’s beaten him in the air, beaten him on the ground, beaten him everywhere. Gee he defended well. Made him look silly at times.

“I don’t mind putting myself on a limb. You probably don’t get taken too seriously by people higher up because you coach at local level and you don’t know anything, but having seen how he played against a guy of Eddy’s calibre, you only hope they (recruiters) are taking notice. Eddy got some good balls coming in and Morrison defended so well. The ball would hit the ground and Eddy would try to pick it up and Morrison was straight on to him. In the air he punched, he spoiled. I think Eddy outmarked him once.

“My opinion, he should be playing VFL every week. I’d be putting so much time into this kid because I truly believe he can go to the next level.

“They talk about mid-season drafts … AFL clubs would be crazy if they’re not looking at ‘Morro’. He’s ready-made.’’

Even with Morrison’s heroics, the Bulls lost by 63 points.

Eddy’s great mate Jake Best popped up with seven goals as the Eagles flaunted their attacking riches.

Vermont could also include Robbie McComb from Footscray VFL and Fogarty thought he was outstanding “just with his work rate and his contested ball’’.

“Then you throw in (Tom) Schneider and (Adam) Parker and (Jordan) Collopy, they’ve just got a really strong midfield, and their ruckman (Liam Wale-Buxton) came back and had an influence around the stoppage,’’ Fogarty said.

“They’re a very well organised team. Our pressure early was good, our first quarter was good, and we battled hard against the odds and a very, very good team.’’

Vermont 3.2, 10.3, 12.9, 18.9 (117)

Noble Park 2.4, 4.4, 6.7, 7.12 (54)

Vermont goals: J. Best 7, C. Purdy 4, K. McConnon 2, T. Maas, T. Johnson, B. Eddy, T. Schneider, T. Castledine

Best: J. Best, A. Parker, R. McComb, C. Purdy, T. Schneider, K. Staples

Noble Park goals: J. Marson 2, J. Duscher, P. Wright, H. Thomas, L. Nelson, K. Martin

Best: R. Morrison, L. Nelson, A. Erbulut, M. Ghanem, J. Sketcher, B. Haynes