Another year for Moz - Can a case be made?

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I think most thought this season might be it for the great man, but I'm starting to think another year might be possible, maybe even beneficial for him and the team. Here's why I'm in the yes category.

1. Yes he's had some injury concerns, but they're hardly in the 'old man' category, no hammie's or achilles.

2. Despite the extremely interrupted season, his game on the weekend, showed he'd not missed a beat. His strengths are still clearly his strength; compete, negate, and defensive awareness, and selflessness. Clearly traits and skills that not only stiffen us up, but also set a great learning opportunity for guys like Naughton, Young, Adams and Collins.

3. I see in Naughton some parallels with Moz. He's a competitive beast and another year of working along side Moz could only be beneficial.

4. Finally, the fire still burns. It was apparent in his interview on Fox last week that his desire to play is as strong as ever. Notwithstanding his 'The Secret' twaddle, he came across as someone who doesn't want his career to fizzle out in a mediocre side. His desire to set the standards in order to climb the mountain once more is an intangible that our very young group could harness to help coalesce their mindset and application.

Disclosure: I think Dale Morris might very well be the greatest human being to have ever lived. This may cloud my judgment...only in regards to his footballing future.. his status as greatest person ever is beyond contention.

[GVGjr]

There is a case to be made about keeping him but we might need someone like Roberts who is contracted being traded and probably Collins being moved to a rookie list.

He needs to string some more games together this year before we can really answer this. We saw the way Matthew Boyd dropped off in his last season mainly due to injuries so as great as he is we would be taking a risk with Morris.

[Pickenitup]

It’s a Yes from me Moz is just crucial for our backline the way he helps younger players by just his sheer presence and he oozes leadership would have made a fantastic captain.

[KT31]

I'm concerned he hasn't really been on the park for a year and a half, but that could also be a plus.
His influence, direction and leadership cannot be overstated, so see how his knee pulls up at the end of the season and if ok give him another season.

[westbulldog]

Yes, without hesitation, and as Captain.

[Eastdog]

Yeah I was in the camp this could be Dale's last year but his presence in the team particular for our young defence coming through is great to have.

Agree with KT31 if his knee holds up why not. I hope we can keep him around the club in some capacity in the future once he does retire.

One of the best ever tackles in our history in the GF.

[AndrewP6]

Wait and see for mine.

[angelopetraglia]

Yes. Give him a 5 year contract. Worth his weight in Gold

[SonofScray]

He is priceless. Irreplaceable.

It'd be great if he could play on, but time and tide waits for no man. Fortunately, he is more machine than man these days so maybe?

[LostDoggy]

In his recent Fox Footy appearance, Moz says he just wants to play as long as possible, when his time is up at the Dogs, he'll play VFL, and then go back to Doutta Stars. He is incredible. Because he is so smart, reads the play so well, competes like no-one else and provides such leadership, he can still be a valuable player even as his physical capabilities drop off. At this stage, I'd be thinking he's a keep.

[bulldogtragic]

Wait until the last minute before deciding. Last year we had to effectively sack Cloke and pay him out. Let's how things are situated after the trade period, for the list, and to see how his body is post season. I think that's the safe course of action, not to mention what we do with Roberts &/or Collins, whether Adams can stay foot injury free for the next 8 games, and if Naughton may be a full forward (he looks like a very good one).

[bornadog]

Wait until the last minute before deciding. Last year we had to effectively sack Cloke and pay him out. Let's how things are situated after the trade period, for the list, and to see how his body is post season. I think that's the safe course of action, not to mention what we do with Roberts &/or Collins, whether Adams can stay foot injury free for the next 8 games, and if Naughton may be a full forward (he looks like a very good one).

That would be my position as well. Love to see him play on if he can.

[Mofra]

Yes - for what he brings off field as much as he brings on it.

He played finals with a fractured leg in 2009 and a fractured back in 2016. A kid walks into the club and is immediately confronted with just how much AFL football means to a teammate who does anything he can to help the club. That has to be a plus for the development of the draftees.

I think when people at the Demons talk about how much Cross brought to the club off field when he played there a couple of years, we have someone who can have the same training-track impact in Moz and given I think there will be heavy list turnover this year just having that character as part of the playing group will be huge for us.

[I'm Not Bitter Anymore!]

I'm visualising him playing on

[The bulldog tragician]

My blog about the Legend http://www.bulldogtragician.com/the-...me-still-burns