Noble Park defender Ryan Morrison joins Eastern league rival Norwood

NOBLE Park has lost ace key defender Ryan Morrison, with the left-footer joining a rival Eastern league Division 1 club.

Ryan Morrison has left Noble Park for Norwood. Picture: Hamish Blair

NOBLE Park has suffered a fierce blow, with fullback Ryan Morrison joining a rival Eastern league Division 1 club.

The left-footer today told the Bulls he would be transferring to Norwood.

Noble was aware Morrison was in talks with the Norsemen but had hoped he would stay at Moodemere St and helped the club reboot after the exodus of senior players at the end of 2017.

Morrison joined the Bulls from Narre Warren in 2016 and quickly established himself as one of the league’s best key defenders, earning an interleague jumper in 2017.

He linked with the Casey Demons this year and in his VFL debut against Richmond at Punt Rd was named the team’s best player.

Morrison played only one more match for the season and has told Casey he won’t be continuing in the VFL.

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This year, after Morrison held Vermont spearhead Brett Eddy to one goal, Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty declared that AFL clubs should be looking at the 23-year-old.

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

“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.

Morrison tries to break the tackle of Rowville's Jake Dermott. Picture: Brendan Francis

“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.’’

In better news for the Bulls, they have signed Cranbourne goalkicker Zak Roscoe.

Norwood is also being linked with powerful Box Hill Hawks midfielder Mitch O’Donnell, who played in this year’s premiership team and is apparently considering stepping away from the VFL.