Mitch Morton

[Auntie.Gerald]

I was really hoping that we would hear from all the interviews preseason............that Mitch was one of the standout performers !!!

I wonder what your thoughts are on Mitch making the grade ?

I personally think he has turned a mental and emotional corner that he needed to level jump...............he offers what Ben McGlinn offers us in terms of goal scoring up front but I think he gives us more then Gopher offers us.

I think MM is actually the ultimate player off the bench and in the 22 - he is a game changer !

he has an incredible sense for the 6 points and if he had his head on his shoulders he could have been a 40goal per season for the Tigers the last couple of years !!!

your thoughts ?

Google Image Result for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Urocitellus_columbianus_Alberta_Martybugs.jpg/220px-Urocitellus_columbianus_Alberta_Martybugs.jpg

[DamY]

He spent a fair bit of the preseason just running laps with the other injured boys. Also KJ spent a lot of time doing laps as well.

Maybe as he wasn't as deep into the drills he didn't really come to mind but I guess the jury is still out for now.

[Ludwig]

MM is not a bad player to have on your list. He has a great goal sense and can be a game changer, as AG said. He showed last year that he was willing to play 2 way footy, which was previously missing in his game. Mitch lacks a bit of pace in a team that has lots of quick players. Also seemed that his fitness level was a bit below the other boys. It's hard to say if he's made any improvement in these areas this year. It will be tough competition for him with Benny back, who has those things that Mitch lacks. I would definitely put Benny ahead of MM. We also have newbies Jed Lamb and Harry C who can kick goals and may have a few more strings in the bow.

[Hartijon]

MM is not a bad player to have on your list. He has a great goal sense and can be a game changer, as AG said. He showed last year that he was willing to play 2 way footy, which was previously missing in his game. Mitch lacks a bit of pace in a team that has lots of quick players. Also seemed that his fitness level was a bit below the other boys. It's hard to say if he's made any improvement in these areas this year. It will be tough competition for him with Benny back, who has those things that Mitch lacks. I would definitely put Benny ahead of MM. We also have newbies Jed Lamb and Harry C who can kick goals and may have a few more strings in the bow.

Have to disagree with you about MM.He was thoroughly tested in a final series and kicked 2 brilliant goals in the GF. He also held back 2 players and tapped the ball forward for another goal to Jack.
He has nothing to prove and will be a certainty to start in the top22. I believe I read somewhere that Longmire would still have gone for MM if Benny was fit.

[707]

Morton is not a lock but is now in our best 25-26 moving up from mid 30s pecking order early last year.

He has as the least credits in the bank of any of the Premiership 22 so he will find his place in the side under pressure if some of the younger talented types like Mitchell, Lamb etc start to strongly present themselves and Morton isn't setting it alight in the firsts.

[dimelb]

Have to disagree with you about MM.He was thoroughly tested in a final series and kicked 2 brilliant goals in the GF. He also held back 2 players and tapped the ball forward for another goal to Jack.
He has nothing to prove and will be a certainty to start in the top22. I believe I read somewhere that Longmire would still have gone for MM if Benny was fit.

I haven't got the reference but you read correctly Hartijon.
And here's a little more reading from The Footy Almanac by an ardent Collingwood fan describing the lead-up to Jetts' amazing run and goal in the PF:

... Toovey. He was immediately caught by Bird, resulting in another spillage that Morton, going hard (yes, you heard me) reached first ...

And that's why, along with the other examples you refer to, and injury permitting, he will be in the starting lineup in Round 1.

[Nico]

I was really hoping that we would hear from all the interviews preseason............that Mitch was one of the standout performers !!!

I wonder what your thoughts are on Mitch making the grade ?

I personally think he has turned a mental and emotional corner that he needed to level jump...............he offers what Ben McGlinn offers us in terms of goal scoring up front but I think he gives us more then Gopher offers us.

I think MM is actually the ultimate player off the bench and in the 22 - he is a game changer !

he has an incredible sense for the 6 points and if he had his head on his shoulders he could have been a 40goal per season for the Tigers the last couple of years !!!

your thoughts ?

Google Image Result for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Urocitellus_columbianus_Alberta_Martybugs.jpg/220px-Urocitellus_columbianus_Alberta_Martybugs.jpg

He kicks a lot straighter for goal than McGlynn. When watching the replays one thing I noticed was the number of goals McGlynn missed when steadied, not much pressure and running into open goals.

[ShockOfHair]

My only query over Morton is consistency. There's no doubting his defensive game. Against Collingwood he laid two big tackles: one on Swan(?) in the centre square which turned it over, and the other in the forward line which led straight to a Jetta goal.

Agree about McGlynn's goalkicking. He really has taken over from Schneider there.

[Primmy]

Mitch may be a senior player, but he only played 4 games in 2012, as a senior, therefore not playing game time with the other "first picks". I thought he slotted in pretty well considering he didn't have the player connect/understanding time that the others had built up. He had to learn a major lesson, he did, he will fight to keep his spot. He learned about defense, tackling, working for the other teammate. The boys now trust him, fine by me.

Dear Benny is committed to the Swans, from the heart. That's good enough for me. Besides which even Goodsey can be crap at goal kicking at times. It all depends on hip flexors working, niggles, all that stuff. So many of them play carrying injuries that prevent them being sparkling all the time.

Admit it, we loved MickyO, but how many of you had your nails between your teeth when it came to his goal kicking. Consistency, and length, were not always good. they all have flat spots, so I think Benny can be given a bit of breathing space. And Mitch.

[Ludwig]

If there is a consensus on this thread, it's that there is probably only one slot for the small forward role, and it's pretty close between Mitch and Benny. And there could be a dark horse in the running, like Jeb Lamb. Maybe we'll get a better idea about who is in front after the NAB cup. But it is good to see that Mitch is in the running after many doubters during last season. Agree with those that say he has proven he can play in our side.

[RogueSwan]

Admit it, we loved MickyO, but how many of you had your nails between your teeth when it came to his goal kicking. Consistency, and length, were not always good. they all have flat spots, so I think Benny can be given a bit of breathing space. And Mitch.

Magic actually had a pretty good percentage (esp. considering wonky knees ) in his last few years:
2009 24.16 60%
2008 36.21 63%
2007 40.14 74%
2006 47.32 59%
2005 52.26 67%

Benny in his time with the Swans
2012 30.24 55%
2011 30.24 55%

I think Magic was more hot or cold when it came to goal kicking. Luckily for us he was more hot than cold except for that one game.

[liz]

Without downplaying Morton's contribution during the finals, I reckon McGlynn has him covered in most areas. Goal conversion is the obvious exception, but McGlynn is capable of taking his turn through the midfield, his defensive work is terrific and he's as tough as they come. Remember the tagging job Benny did on Selwood during the 2011 season? I can't imagine Morton being able to do that.

There may be room for both in the side at stages during the year, depending on how the forward line sets up. But Longmire hasn't thus far shown much interest in small or medium sized forwards who offer little flexibility in terms of the roles they can play. All our mids are expected to rotate through the forward line and contribute on the scoreboard, which was reflected in the extraordinary combined goal contribution we had last year from Bolton, Kennedy, Jack et al. Morton will need to develop a few more strings to his bow if he's to cement a spot in the best 22.