Dale Morris is preparing to approach his fifteenth AFL pre-season with the same hunger and energy he has shown throughout his career.

A key cog in the Bulldogs’ defence since his arrival at the Club in 2004, Morris played his 250^th match this season and remains as dedicated as ever to preparing his body and mind for the next campaign.

“I had the first week off of the holidays, but it was doing my head in, so I got straight back into training,” Morris told RSN this morning.

“I can’t sit still, I love training.

“It’s different in the break - you can do your own thing, in your own time, when you want, and work around the kids.

“I’ve got a gym set up at home with a few things. I just go out there and do what I can.

“It helps prepare you - not just physically, but mentally as well.  If you can come in to pre-season knowing you’ve done a body of work, it can help set you up for the next season.”

Morris said the break allows him to refresh by spending time with his kids.

“I can only speak for what we do at the Bulldogs, but they do a fantastic job in terms of encouraging guys to take a break and refresh mentally, get away from everything,” he said.

“My escape are my two kids.  I’m not very active on the social media stuff but when I get home, I try and park the footy bags and the stress bags at the door. (I) come inside and I’m ‘dad’.  I just want to be ‘dad’.

“I run around with the kids.  They don’t care if I’ve won, if I’ve lost, if I’ve played good or played bad. They’re just there.  They love me for me, not for my football.”