Fracturing his leg late in the 2011 season, Morris has undergone an intensive rehabilitation program, working meticulously to build his body and mind to recommence his AFL career.
After an uninterrupted preseason the 30-year-old is confident that he is beginning to reap the rewards for his patience.
''It feels like what it was up to pre-injury,'' Morris told The Sunday Age.
''There's no problems turning and cutting and accelerating and everything. The more you do it in training the more confidence you feel that everything is going well.''
Morris recalls his fleeting VFL reserves match return in 2012 as an emotionally demanding period in his rehabilitation but credits his support system at home and at the Club for helping him through the trying time.
''To get moving again and get close to coming back, and then to play a quarter and have the setback, it was the highest of highs and then the lowest of lows,'' he said.
''But I'm surrounded daily by great people at home and at the club. They've really helped and they were there for the bad times, but they'll be there for the good times too.''
Yet to play under senior coach Brendan McCartney - who was appointed to the head role in September 2011 – Morris is conscious of the change in game style both within the Bulldogs and across the league.
''Even in just a year the game has definitely changed and got quicker,'' Morris said.
''Now all teams are adopting a similar game plan, whereas when I got injured only some teams used a zone and got players up the ground.
“Now everybody does it. Just the speed and how skilful you have to be to pierce the zones.”
While his exact return is yet to be decided, the 30-year-old will add an experienced head amongst an otherwise youthful back six - and Morris is looking forward to developing a cohesive defensive unit.
''We've got a young defensive group and I'm really excited to see how these guys will go,” he said.
''It's exciting with the young guys there to … form a solid back six like the one that I was fortunate to play in early in my career.''
