westdog54
27-06-2019, 11:47 AM
Morris to make VFL return http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2019-06-27/morris-to-make-vfl-return
Man is not human
Inspirational defender Dale Morris will return to football this weekend.
The 36-year-old will line up for the Footscray Bulldogs in their clash against Port Melbourne on Saturday, just 106 days after sustaining an ACL injury.
Senior coach Luke Beveridge has confirmed Morris is ready to return, and had built the fitness base to play the majority of the game.
“He’s as eager as he was I think when he played his first game all those years ago,” Beveridge told media at VU Whitten Oval this morning.
“Hopefully he gets through alright and the boys can have a win against Port Melbourne out there.
“I imagine he’ll be around 80 per cent game time… he’ll play most of the game.”
MACRAE: OUR BEST IS GOOD ENOUGH
For the second year running, the veteran backman suffered an ACL injury during the pre-season – one to each knee.
In 2018, Morris made his AFL return in round 11 after proving his fitness in the VFL, going on to play 11 AFL games in the back half of the season.
After sustaining the injury this year, the much-loved Bulldog said he was determined to pull on the red, white and blue again.
“Not once have I thought, ‘maybe this is it’,” Morris said only a couple of months ago.
BONTEMPELLI: FORWARD CHEMISTRY BUILDING
“That’s just not in my DNA. I want to play for as long as I can, and this doesn’t change that.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to get back, because I just love playing for this football club so much.”
Beveridge indicated that similar to last year, Morris would need to build his match fitness at VFL level before being considered for an AFL return.
“When he came back from the other one he needed a few, and he hurt himself along the way there, so I’d imagine it will probably take a bit longer than one game,” he said.
Man is not human
Inspirational defender Dale Morris will return to football this weekend.
The 36-year-old will line up for the Footscray Bulldogs in their clash against Port Melbourne on Saturday, just 106 days after sustaining an ACL injury.
Senior coach Luke Beveridge has confirmed Morris is ready to return, and had built the fitness base to play the majority of the game.
“He’s as eager as he was I think when he played his first game all those years ago,” Beveridge told media at VU Whitten Oval this morning.
“Hopefully he gets through alright and the boys can have a win against Port Melbourne out there.
“I imagine he’ll be around 80 per cent game time… he’ll play most of the game.”
MACRAE: OUR BEST IS GOOD ENOUGH
For the second year running, the veteran backman suffered an ACL injury during the pre-season – one to each knee.
In 2018, Morris made his AFL return in round 11 after proving his fitness in the VFL, going on to play 11 AFL games in the back half of the season.
After sustaining the injury this year, the much-loved Bulldog said he was determined to pull on the red, white and blue again.
“Not once have I thought, ‘maybe this is it’,” Morris said only a couple of months ago.
BONTEMPELLI: FORWARD CHEMISTRY BUILDING
“That’s just not in my DNA. I want to play for as long as I can, and this doesn’t change that.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to get back, because I just love playing for this football club so much.”
Beveridge indicated that similar to last year, Morris would need to build his match fitness at VFL level before being considered for an AFL return.
“When he came back from the other one he needed a few, and he hurt himself along the way there, so I’d imagine it will probably take a bit longer than one game,” he said.