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DEFENDERS who can quell the influence of mercurial small forwards one week and then find themselves pitted against monster key forwards the next are rare.
Fortunately for the Western Bulldogs, Dale Morris is one of that extraordinary breed, and a week after helping keep Adelaide star Eddie Betts goalless, he'll spend time on Sunday trying to negate the influence of Demon behemoth Jesse Hogan.
"I love it. I love the challenge of playing on short, quick guys and then the tall forwards who can take pack marks," Morris told AFL.com.au.
"You need to be versatile and you need to adapt. It's something I take great pride in - taking on whoever comes my way."
His debut off the rookie list back in round five, 2005 saw him keep Crows' great Andrew McLeod to just nine possessions, and since then Morris has held his own against All Australian key forwards like Nick Riewoldt, Matthew Pavlich and Jonathan Brown.
In the ultimate compliment, Brown went so far to say, "Morris is the type of player you hoped didn't come your way."
But with team defence all the rage in modern day football, the veteran seldom finds himself going head-to-head with an opponent for the whole game.
And the AFL's stingiest backline will once again employ its trademark communal approach in an attempt to curb Hogan's influence.
"I reckon Fletcher (Roberts) and I will be chopping and changing," said Morris.
"It will mainly be about team defence because we like to help each other and not leave anyone one-on-one.
"If the mids and forwards are doing their jobs up the field there won't be a heavy reliance on 'Fletch', Matthew Boyd, Easton Wood and myself."
While he's had to adapt to a new defensive mindset in the twilight of his career, the 2008 All Australian is reveling in Luke Beveridge's attacking plan.
Despite the need to take risks and be daring, the formerly dour backman is sitting ninth in the AFL for effective disposals per game.
"The majority of my career I've been a one-on-one player, and nowadays you really need to work on both defence and attack," Morris said.
"It goes to show it doesn’t matter how old you, are you can still improve in footy and I don't like to waste possessions because I don't get many of them.
"It's fun playing with a bit more adventure."
However, that newfound sense of adventure hasn't resulted in Morris ending his goal drought.
The last time the 207-game veteran kicked truly was in round seven, 2011.
"I've hit the post twice this year and for me to have two shots on goal is some sort of record," Morris joked.
"I think I've just got to get a bit closer to goal so I can make sure of it."
At 33, you'd think time might be running out to kick that elusive fourth career major, or add to his solitary Brownlow vote, but Morris isn't contemplating life after footy just yet.
"The body is feeling great and I put that down to our medical and fitness teams because they've been great looking after the older blokes," he said.
"I'll play on for as long as I can and as long as I'm playing my role for the team and contributing.
"However long that is, who knows?"
DEFENDERS who can quell the influence of mercurial small forwards one week and then find themselves pitted against monster key forwards the next are rare.
Fortunately for the Western Bulldogs, Dale Morris is one of that extraordinary breed, and a week after helping keep Adelaide star Eddie Betts goalless, he'll spend time on Sunday trying to negate the influence of Demon behemoth Jesse Hogan.
"I love it. I love the challenge of playing on short, quick guys and then the tall forwards who can take pack marks," Morris told AFL.com.au.
"You need to be versatile and you need to adapt. It's something I take great pride in - taking on whoever comes my way."
His debut off the rookie list back in round five, 2005 saw him keep Crows' great Andrew McLeod to just nine possessions, and since then Morris has held his own against All Australian key forwards like Nick Riewoldt, Matthew Pavlich and Jonathan Brown.
In the ultimate compliment, Brown went so far to say, "Morris is the type of player you hoped didn't come your way."
But with team defence all the rage in modern day football, the veteran seldom finds himself going head-to-head with an opponent for the whole game.
And the AFL's stingiest backline will once again employ its trademark communal approach in an attempt to curb Hogan's influence.
"I reckon Fletcher (Roberts) and I will be chopping and changing," said Morris.
"It will mainly be about team defence because we like to help each other and not leave anyone one-on-one.
"If the mids and forwards are doing their jobs up the field there won't be a heavy reliance on 'Fletch', Matthew Boyd, Easton Wood and myself."
While he's had to adapt to a new defensive mindset in the twilight of his career, the 2008 All Australian is reveling in Luke Beveridge's attacking plan.
Despite the need to take risks and be daring, the formerly dour backman is sitting ninth in the AFL for effective disposals per game.
"The majority of my career I've been a one-on-one player, and nowadays you really need to work on both defence and attack," Morris said.
"It goes to show it doesn’t matter how old you, are you can still improve in footy and I don't like to waste possessions because I don't get many of them.
"It's fun playing with a bit more adventure."
However, that newfound sense of adventure hasn't resulted in Morris ending his goal drought.
The last time the 207-game veteran kicked truly was in round seven, 2011.
"I've hit the post twice this year and for me to have two shots on goal is some sort of record," Morris joked.
"I think I've just got to get a bit closer to goal so I can make sure of it."
At 33, you'd think time might be running out to kick that elusive fourth career major, or add to his solitary Brownlow vote, but Morris isn't contemplating life after footy just yet.
"The body is feeling great and I put that down to our medical and fitness teams because they've been great looking after the older blokes," he said.
"I'll play on for as long as I can and as long as I'm playing my role for the team and contributing.
"However long that is, who knows?"
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