WESTERN Bulldogs players have put a tumultuous off-season behind them, veteran defender Dale Morris says.
In one mad October week, club captain Ryan Griffen asked to be traded, the Dogs parted ways with coach Brendan McCartney and recruited young key forward Tom Boyd on a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract.
Morris said he was shocked when the drama erupted but his initial disappointment at losing both Griffen and McCartney turned to excitement when Boyd was landed.
"To be honest, when it was all going down in the off-season I was just shaking my head going, 'What is going on?'" Morris, 31, told AFL.com.au.
"Talking to people and getting an education around the situation has really helped [us] get through everything that happened."
He said the players had decided to focus on the future.
"You have to. You don't want any whispers behind the back," Morris said.
"[We] just put it out there that this has happened and this is what we are going to do to move forward."
Experience had taught him little was to be gained from dwelling in the past.
"Perceptions will be derived from what we do from here on in," Morris said.
"What has happened in the past has happened in the past, so the future is in our hands."
Morris described his loyalty for the club as 'huge'.
"They have done things for my family that I don't think have been put out there and they have done things that I won't forget," he said.
"Loyalty is a big thing for me.
"I will get a lot of satisfaction watching the young guys come through and if they end up taking my position then that is the way it goes.
"They have had a lot of education and been taught a lot of things in the last few years that I don't think I was taught at my age.
"They have been taught the right way to build a foundation and a solid foundation too so their game can grow from there."
Building on that work will now be the responsibility of new coach Luke Beveridge, who has made a good early impression on Morris.
"I really like his philosophies," Morris said.
While acknowledging that experience had been lost, he said everyone had stepped in to fill the void without complaint or question.
The new faces around had given him a buzz of excitement and he felt very positive just months after the club's series of unexpected departures.
"I don't think I've seen the list like this before," Morris said.
"I'm quite at peace with it all because I know what these guys are capable of. I see what they show on the track and I'm quite excited to see where it does take us in the end."
