Morris in shock return
Under the knife, then back after 11 days
WESTERN Bulldogs veteran defender Dale Morris has pulled off another miraculous medical recovery and will play only 11 days after knee surgery.
Morris had a minor arthroscopic surgery on his knee on June 12 but was last night named as one of four inclusions to take on North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium tomorrow night.
Fellow key defenders Marcus Adams and Aaron Naughton as well as hard nut Josh Dunkley also help replace injured captain Easton Wood and star midfielder Jack Macrae.
It will be Adams’ first game since Round 12 last year when the full back suffered a serious foot injury, followed by a debilitating ankle problem in preseason.
Meanwhile, North Melbourne has dropped former Hawthorn speedster Billy Har- tung after only 10 possessions in his last game against the Cats. Jed Anderson and former Bulldog Nathan Hrovat have come in for the Roos.
It is another extraordinary comeback for Morris who has also overcome a career-threatening partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament in the preseason. The 35-year-old played his only game of the season against Melbourne in Round 11, but after going under the knife early last week, Morris has returned to help curb the Kangaroos’ tall timber up forward.
Melbourne has also recalled onballer Dom Tyson to beef up its engine room for tonight’s clash against Port Adelaide’s bunch of clearance stars including Ollie Wines.
As flagged, former Demon Jack Watts was not selected to take on his old team despite a strong performance in the SANFL last weekend.
Demons utility Cameron Pedersen was dropped for Tim Smith.
At Hawthorn, stopper James Frawley has returned from another migraine problem to take on Gold Coast in Launceston.
Collingwood onballer Brayden Sier was named in an extended squad to take on Carlton, which has flagged multiple changes after losing injured fringe midfielder Sam Kerridge.