Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

Whilst we haven't tasted the ultimate success we've been very blessed over the past twenty plus years to have a lot of great players and people play for the club (and Im sure I will miss lots) - Brad Johnson, Chris Grant, Rohan Smith, Matt Croft, Steve Wallis, Robert Murphy, Daniel Cross, Daniel Giansiracusa, Matt Boyd, Luke Darcy etc etc - guys that are good players, teammates, clubmen, and role models

From a spectators perspective Dale Morris fits comfortably in that company and is almost as revered a figure as any of them.

Great to have you back

[LostDoggy]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

What a story and how much spirit does Dale have (and his family as well)? These are the unseen, usually untold aspects of a player's recovery.

So, so good to have you back on the park Dale - you have been missed!

[GVGjr]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

I can only say .... DITTO to all the sentiments expressed above.
Welcome back Dale, your a bl**dy hero !

Great story, and a great family. Congratulations to you all.

Round 1 was great, but watching Dale's return, and so good, will take some beating as my
highlight of season 2013.
Good luck for the rest of the season Mos.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

Also like to echo the sentiments in this thread, really shows the strength of the person, family and club that Dale has been able to get himself back from such a traumatic injury. Has to be one of the most universally admired players in the AFL. Great come back and here's hoping for another 60+ games to his career tally before it ends.

[Bornadog]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

Interview on SEN here

[LostDoggy]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

I didn't realise how serious it was at the time. Absolutely loved cheering him every time he got the ball on Saturday. So nice to have Dale back on the field.

[turtle]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

I love the man. He is just the nicest guy you could ever meet. He makes the kids feel special and you can see is just so genuine and humble. He takes nothing for granted and gives his all on and off the field.
We are very very lucky to have him.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

Dale has been offered and signed a new one year contract

[Maddog37]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

I love this man. He is just an absolute star.

[chef]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

Yay.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011


EXCLUSIVE: WESTERN Bulldogs defender Dale Morris has been rewarded with a new one-year deal, capping off a remarkable comeback season for a man who feared a year ago that his football career might have been over.

Morris, 30, has not missed a game this season after returning from an horrific broken leg suffered in 2011 and a separate stress fracture that put his career in serious doubt.

The one-time All-Australian is now thriving on the role of working with some of the Bulldogs' young key-position backmen, including Jordan Roughead and Michael Talia, as well as the rest of the defenders.

"At the start of the year it was a big unknown how my leg was going to go, so I'm absolutely rapt to get a new deal," Morris said ahead of today's clash with Adelaide.



"Coming off the injury that I've had and at my age, there are never going to be multi-year deals, but I've pleased the club has shown the faith and supported me through it all.

"I'm glad that I have been able to pay them back a little bit this year and I really love working with the young guys. Who knows, I didn't come into the system until I was 22, and then I had a year off with the injury, so hopefully I can hang around like (Dustin) Fletcher and play until I'm 40.

"I am still hopeful that I am still here when we have another crack at it. We are investing a lot of time into the young players, so that we can hopefully get the benefits later on."

Morris is enjoying playing more now than at any stage of his 170-game career, given his brush with footy mortality almost took it away from him.

"This year has been totally different to any other year I've played," he said.

"There were times when I thought I may never play footy again. So to get out there and to play every game, and to be up there with 'Roughy' in terms of game time, I never probably thought I would do that.

"I had some very low points. But the club has been fantastic for me the doctors, the physios, the fitness staff, the coaches and the players.



"I love it. I can't get enough of it. I guess I took it for granted before the injury and I am absolutely loving every moment out there now."

Morris said he can feel the Bulldogs patiently building under coach Brendan McCartney and says he too has been learning, particularly working with the club's part-time defensive coach, triple Geelong premiership player Matthew Scarlett.

"He is pretty blunt about what he says, and doesn't worry about hurting your feelings or anything like that, which is great," Morris said. "If he sees it, he says it, but he will also follow it up with you and have a coffee afterwards."

He insists the improvement of the Bulldogs in the past month or so highlighted by competitive performances against Hawthorn, Sydney and Essendon as well as wins over Carlton and West Coast shows the impact McCartney has had on the group.

"'Macca' (McCartney) has been great. He is just so measured about what he does and says to us," Morris said.

"We've been building all year and it is really good to get the rewards in the last few weeks.

"We knew internally that we had it in us, but to put it into practice, that shows what we can achieve if we stick to the plan and keep working hard."
LINK

[LostDoggy]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

Give him the captaincy next year too.

[ratsmac]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

Great stuff. He sounds like he wants to play forever too. What a champ

[Eastdog]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

Great news. Dale is a champion of our club and its great to see him playing after that major injury setback.

[KT31]

Re: Bulldog Dale Morris finally has his day after suffering a broken leg back in 2011

Excellent, and refreshing to see a player agree one year at a time is enough after the injury he has had.