SFNL: Isaac Morrisby battled tonsillitis and Bali belly before bucking his side’s form with nine goals

East Malvern star Isaac Morrisby bounced back from tonsillitis and Bali belly to kick nine goals in a must-win match. He discusses his month, facing two opponents and what the Panthers can achieve.

Isaac Morrisby. Picture: Ash Hill

East Malvern star Isaac Morrisby called his past month “a minor hiccup”.

Morrisby kicked nine of the Panthers’ 13 goals on Saturday to steer them to victory over Highett, 13.16 (94) to 13.9 (87).

The haul follows a month of setbacks for the forward after he was hit with tonsillitis and Bali belly in successive weeks.

Morrisby, who is “on the mend and back to 100 per cent now”, was on a soup diet ahead of a mid-season trip.

He had just three days between recovering from tonsillitis before he caught Bali belly.

“I missed the Murrumbeena game which was disappointing, I would’ve liked to play against them and see where I stacked up,” Morrisby said.

“It was very debilitating, it doesn’t sound like much but it was very painful.

“I couldn’t swallow anything so I was on a soup diet for a fortnight there, cold foods only – it was just very uncomfortable.

“There’s far worse things out there though.”

Isaac Morrisby lines up for one of his 41 goals. Picture: Ash Hill

Morrisby modestly said midfielders Jacob Brunner, Pat McNamara and Robbie Amendola allowed him to kick nine goals.

“They were sensational for us,” he said.

“A nice dry day on a small deck also allows me to do what I can do in terms of marking, kicking and doing what a full forward should be doing and that’s kicking goals.”

The 25-year-old got his chances one-on-one at the weekend but it hasn’t always been the case this year.

Morrisby has kicked majority of his 41 goals this season with dual opponents.

“I actually don’t mind it, I back myself to at least make a contest and then there’s also times I am happy enough to go against a couple of opponents,” he said.

“I feel like I can get in a position to out read or out body my opponent but it’s a lot easier when you’ve got teammates kicking you the ball.

“I don’t mind the challenge, it is what it is, it comes with the territory.”

Morrisby, 25, kicked nine goals to single-handedly beat Highett. Picture: Ash Hill

Morrisby doesn’t have any expectations for what the Panthers can achieve this year but knows they’ll back themselves in any situation.

“I love the East Malvern footy club and the people involved with it,” he said.

“I am certainly pretty comfortable there for the time being and I love the club, the people and it’ll be nice to see what we can produce.

“There’s certainly no limit on what we can achieve, I know Murrumbeena are good and there’s healthy respect there but we’ll back ourselves against any opponent.”

Doveton, Murrumbeena, Caulfield Bears and Keysborough also had wins across Division 2.