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
Chris Cavanagh
2 min read
March 15, 2019 - 5:19PM
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.
“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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Updates
Crow blow on eve of Round 1
Ben Broad
Andrew Capel reports …
Adelaide midfielder Paul Seedsman is out of the club’s season opener against Hawthorn next Saturday after breaking a finger.
The long-kicking wingman had surgery on Friday after suffering the untimely injury in a tackling drill at training at AAMI Stadium on Thursday morning.
Crows science and medical services co-ordinator Steve Saunders said Seedsman would miss round one against the Hawks at Adelaide Oval next Saturday but could be available for the round two clash against Sydney at the SCG on March 29.
“Displacement of the small bone fragment is sufficient to warrant surgical intervention to ensure the long-term function of his finger,” Saunders said.
“Fortunately, given the nature of the injury, his conditioning during this very short rehabilitation period will not be compromised in any significant way.’’
Seedsman is the second player considered to be in Adelaide’s best 22 ruled out of the season opener, joining small defender Luke Brown on the sidelines.
Brown underwent surgery last week on his plantaris tendon and is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks.
Jordan Gallucci and Elliott Himmelberg (feet), Andrew McPherson (groin) and Shane McAdam (soreness) have slight injury concerns and face fitness tests next week to determine their availability.
Star Kanga eyes Round 1
Ben Broad
JON RALPH reports …
North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell believes vice-captain Robbie Tarrant will front up to lead the club’s defence in Round 1 after returning to training today.
Tarrant suffered what seemed a serious AC joint injury last month and was in danger of missing the Round 1 clash against Fremantle.
But while he will need to fly through all of next week’s training, Tarrant has made clear he has no intention of missing in a Roos backline already without Scott Thompson (suspended) and Majak Daw.
“I think Robbie will play. He has to train next week in the main session. There is a bit of time there but I was chatting to him yesterday and he said he’s feeling really good, so he’s very optimistic he will play Round 1.
“The boys are training today and he was going to be out there but he’s already done a hell of a lot of work since he had his surgery and he’s running so he will be fit enough and ready to go.“
Young defenders Ben McKay and Ed Vickers Willis will both be strongly in the selection frame, with Sam Durdin (finger) still out for another six weeks.
Midfield star Ben Cunnington missed the club’s final JLT game with a corked thigh but is certain to play against the Dockers in the Optus Stadium clash.
Fremantle has consolidated its defensive stocks with key defender Joel Hamling signing a long-term contract extension that ensures he'll be in purple until at least 2023.
Hamling, discarded by Geelong before playing in a premiership with the Western Bulldogs, has played 40 matches for Freo after joining the club at the end of 2016.
Earlier this year the 25-year-old was elevated to Freo's leadership group – and he's capped that by signing on for a further four seasons – taking him off the free agency market.
“I’m honoured to be a part of the club for the next five years and really getting stuck into my role,” Hamling said.
“I’m feeling really good about my footy. I’ve had a full pre-season this year. It’s season eight for me now so I’m really comfortable in my body and my ability.
“I’m just looking forward to round one, just getting stuck into it again.
Teammate Sam Switkowski has also extended his stay at the Dockers, the small forward adding another two years to his contract which was due to expire at the end of 2019.
From AFL scrapheap to locked-in defender
Ben Broad
Fremantle has consolidated its defensive stocks with key defender Joel Hamling signing a long-term contract extension that ensures he'll be in purple until at least 2023.
Hamling, discarded by Geelong before playing in a premiership with the Western Bulldogs, has played 40 matches for Freo after joining the club at the end of 2016.
Earlier this year the 25-year-old was elevated to Freo's leadership group – and he's capped that by signing on for a further four seasons – taking him off the free agency market.
“I’m honoured to be a part of the club for the next five years and really getting stuck into my role,” Hamling said.
“I’m feeling really good about my footy. I’ve had a full pre-season this year. It’s season eight for me now so I’m really comfortable in my body and my ability.
“I’m just looking forward to round one, just getting stuck into it again.
Teammate Sam Switkowski has also extended his stay at the Dockers, the small forward adding another two years to his contract which was due to expire at the end of 2019.
We missed Darcy last year: Pendles
Ben Broad
Can a fit Darcy Moore take the Pies one step further in 2019?
Skipper Scott Pendlebury says the emerging defender had impressed him more than any other Magpie during the club's pre-season campaign – and he hopes the son of club great Peter can carry that form into the home and away season.
"Darcy Moore's probably been the standout for me, just his ability in the air and to know when to mark or when to spoil," Pendlebury said at the AFL Captains' Day.
"A real strength is his aerial stuff, and that's probably something we really missed towards the back end of last year – having that real big key defender.
"Hopefully he can grab that opportunity and have a really good season."
Check out a brand new episode of the Phantom's Lair as we count down to the first SuperCoach lockout of the season
Veteran Western Bulldogs defender Dale Morris has suffered a serious knee injury at pre-season training.
Morris hyperextended his left knee during this morning's training session at Whitten Oval, and scans later confirmed an ACL injury.
The Bulldogs have described the news as "a devastating blow" on the eve of the season.
Morris tore the ACL in his opposite knee during the 2018 pre-season but made a remarkable comeback in Round 11.
The 36-year-old has played 252 games including playing a key role in the drought-breaking 2016 premiership.
He is the third-oldest listed player in the AFL and his future is uncertain after signing a one-year contract extension in August last year.
BREAKING: 'Devastating' blow for Dogs veteran
Al Paton
Veteran Western Bulldogs defender Dale Morris has suffered a serious knee injury at pre-season training.
Morris hyperextended his left knee during this morning's training session at Whitten Oval, and scans later confirmed an ACL injury.
The Bulldogs have described the news as "a devastating blow" on the eve of the season.
Morris tore the ACL in his opposite knee during the 2018 pre-season but made a remarkable comeback in Round 11.
The 36-year-old has played 252 games including playing a key role in the drought-breaking 2016 premiership.
He is the third-oldest listed player in the AFL and his future is uncertain after signing a one-year contract extension in August last year.
Suns add another recruit
Al Paton
Gold Coast has joined the rush to sign top-up players before today's 5pm deadline.
The Suns have added midfielder Sam Fletcher to their list under the AFL's new pre-season supplementary period.
The 19-year-old has been training with VFL side Box Hill after missing out on last year's draft.
"We’re really looking to add some further depth to our midfield and we’ve been monitoring Sam’s progress over the past couple of months," Gold Coast football manager Jon Haines said.
PLAYERS SELECTED UNDER PRE-SEASON SUPPLEMENTARY PERIOD Michael Gibbons (Carlton) Matthew Cottrell (Carlton) Zac Clarke (Essendon) Shane Mumford (GWS Giants) Jay Lockhart (Melbourne) Corey Wagner (Melbourne) Tom Campbell (North Melbourne) Mav Weller (Richmond) Sydney Stack (Richmond) Jonathon Marsh (St Kilda) Hayden McLean (Sydney Swans) Keegan Brooksby (West Coast)
Today is the annual AFL captains day at the MCG … or at least that's what it's billed as.
This year's event hasn't exactly lived up to its title with several fill-ins representing their clubs in place of captains who couldn't make it for one reason or another.
Joe Daniher is standing in for Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell, Jason Johannisen is covering for Bulldogs captain Easton Wood and Max Gawn is taking the place of Melbourne co-captains Jack Viney and Nathan Jones.
The growing trend of co-captains means several clubs had to toss a coin (we assume) to decide who would be part of this year's iconic photo (below).
The Giants picked Phil Davis with Callan Ward staying home, Adelaide's Taylor Walker took the day off with new co-captain Rory Sloane doing the honours, injured Carlton co-captain Sam Docherty missed out with the Blues represented by Patrick Cripps, Jarrod Witts edged out new Gold Coast co-captain David Swallow, Tom Jonas is representing Port Adelaide while co-captain Ollie Wines recovers from his waterskiing injury, and it looks like Luke Parker won the game of rock, paper, scissors to be one of Sydney's three co-captains to catch a flight south.
By our count, in all that makes 11 AFL captains who aren't at the captains day.
UPDATE: Glenn McFarlane has updated us on where the missing captains were:
– Demons Jack Viney and Nathan Jones were training at the time, and trying to ramp up their fitness levels for Round 1. – Dyson Heppell (Ess) and Easton Wood (WB) attended the AFL breakfast but didn't make the media session. – Heppell's training schedule changed, and he was originally going to be replaced by Cale Hooker (who was injured), but it was decided to put Joe Daniher up, as he explained his injury. – Easton Wood had a wedding to attend.
It’s not a guarantee that Jake Stringer will be playing for GWS in 2025, but if he is, there’s plenty to be excited about as a Giants fan. Lachlan McKirdy analyses how ‘The Package’ fits in.
