Dale Morris
Guernsey number: 38
2013 games: 22
Career games: 173
2013 goals: 0
Career goals: 3
 

Season in short:

On the comeback trail from a long-term leg injury, Bulldogs favourite Morris returned to his best in 2013. The stalwart defender played every match, recapturing the ruthlessness to handle  the competition’s most dangerous forwards. Teammates, coaches and fans alike have come to know and love the defender’s courage and were delighted to see Morris duly presented the Scott West Most Courageous Player award at season’s end.

Stat that mattered:

Notching more one percenters than ever before (seven on averages), Morris’ courage and willingness to put his body on the line cannot be underrated. A seven week purple patch in the middle of the season also saw the 30-year-old average nine one percenters per game. Morris also had five games in which he laid five or more tackles.

What they said:

“People always ask me who have you learnt the most from in your first year and I would always tell them Dale Morris, and they would be surprised because he wasn’t playing. Just the amount of work that he did with me, we would go to games and we would sit next to each other and we would watch particular back men. He would point out parts of the game that he could do better or he did well defensively.”

- Michael Talia in May 2013

Pre-season focus:

Morris will have a dual focus throughout the upcoming pre-season at the kennel, splitting his time between getting his body in top shape and helping foster the growth of the emerging back six. After a successful return to football in 2013, the 30-year-old’s influence around the Club has been invaluable and that is set to continue over summer.

In the news:

Morris inspiring new wave of recruits

Morris pens new deal

Morris grinning from ear to ear