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He's back!
Morris to make VFL return http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/ne...ake-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.”
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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.
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“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.
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Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 4 Likes
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Re: He's back!
Anybody else trying to return from an ACL at 36 and I would laugh in their face. Dale Morris is yet to play his best football*.
*probably
They say Burt Lancaster has one, but I don't believe them.
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Re: He's back!
Never write Dale Morris off. Amazing resilience and perseverance
Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"
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Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 1 Likes
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Re: He's back!
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
Never write Dale Morris off. Amazing resilience and perseverance
I reckon he's the bravest and toughest player I have seen wear the tricolour.
They say Burt Lancaster has one, but I don't believe them.
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Re: He's back!
Originally Posted by
Twodogs
I reckon he's the bravest and toughest player I have seen wear the tricolour.
And you saw Libba Snr play.
I can't think of higher praise.
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Re: He's back!
Hope he is back in the seniors sooner rather than later.
FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.
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Re: He's back!
Originally Posted by
westdog54
And you saw Libba Snr play.
I can't think of higher praise.
My daughter is named in honor of Tony Liberatore, I have great man love for him.
I reckon that I would have seen nearly every game that Libber Sr in person. Different sort of brave, the crowd would boo Tony and he would lap it up like like a cat drinking milk. "I love it when they boo me, they don't boo the duds, and it means that I have the ball in my hands which is just where I like it!".
But both would put their head over the ball and Tony came back from an ACL in a fortnight or a month or whatever it was. Mind you he probably shouldn't have as it turned out....
They say Burt Lancaster has one, but I don't believe them.
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Re: He's back!
Great News!
Moz is a guy who just loves to play footy for as long as he can.
"Footscray people are incredible people; so humble. I'm just so happy - ecstatic"
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Re: He's back!
Just an incredible player and person
I think he’s the toughest player I’ve seen play for us .
Legend
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Re: He's back!
Morris and Libba Snr the first 2 I would pick for the Bulldog team to play for my life.
Listening to Brahm's 3rd Racket
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Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 1 Likes
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Re: He's back!
Originally Posted by
Twodogs
But both would put their head over the ball and Tony came back from an ACL in a fortnight or a month or whatever it was. Mind you he probably shouldn't have as it turned out....
Haha. Actually I think he came back from the ACL before he tore it.*
*It actually was 18 weeks, but unlike Dale, Tony had full reco surgery.
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Re: He's back!
Is there any reason to think that Dale can't pay as long as Dustin Fletcher (40), Craig Bradley or Brent Harvey (38)?
He's one of the most durable and professional footballers I've seen in my lifetime.
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Re: He's back!
This guy is like the T-1000
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Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 2 Likes
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Re: He's back!
Originally Posted by
westdog54
Is there any reason to think that Dale can't pay as long as Dustin Fletcher (40), Craig Bradley or Brent Harvey (38)?
He's one of the most durable and professional footballers I've seen in my lifetime.
The only issue with your question is we would need to drop the captain for him. I’m up for that!
BB.
Looking forward - Naughton, Darcy and JUH. It will be the envy of everyone.