Return driving Dogs ironman
WESTERN Bulldogs warrior Dale Morris knows the end is nigh but remains determined to extend his AFL career after making a successful return from a second knee reconstruction.
The 36-year-old has pulled up well after playing for Footscray in the VFL on Saturday, just 106 days after suffering a partial ACL tear in his left knee. Long known for his toughness and powers of recovery, Morris also made a speedy comeback last year from a similar injury to his right knee. He is likely to spend a couple more weeks playing at reserves level before being considered for a senior comeback.
But Morris is refusing to dwell on whether this will be his last campaign as he approaches the end of his oneyear contract.
“It’s no secret that I’m 36. I am old in footy terms,” Morris said yesterday.
“But I want to play for as long as I possibly can. Where that is, I don’t know.
“I’d never go into any year thinking it’s going to be my last year. I just want to go in and play footy and see what happens.”
Coach Luke Beveridge has said the Dogs will not rush Morris back into senior football, a position the key defender is more than comfortable with. “I’d need a good run to get the form and fitness back into me,” he said.
The 252-game veteran said their upset win over Port Adelaide had inspired plenty of confidence that finals were still in the mix.
Meanwhile, Bulldogs backman Caleb Daniel has been ruled out for up to four weeks after tweaking his hamstring against Port Adelaide.
Mitch Wallis (ankle), however, could return to face ladder-leader Geelong on Saturday night.
At COLLINGWOOD, the imminent return of Jamie Elliott spells good news as the Magpies look to bounce back from a shellacking at the hands of North Melbourne.
After eight weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, Elliott has been declared fit ahead of Friday night’s clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.
The small forward could be fast-tracked back into the Magpies’ senior side, helping to fill the void left by Jaidyn Stephenson’s lengthy gambling suspension.
James Aish and Brayden Sier will meanwhile face fitness tests.
Aish was a late withdrawal for the Kangaroos clash with hamstring soreness, while Sier sat out the second half after being concussed.
Important onballer Taylor Adams (groin) remains at least another week away, while defensive duo Jeremy Howe (calf) and Tom Langdon (knee) and swingman Ben Reid (calf) are among others on the injury list.