This thread was prompted by, of all people, Ray Chamberlain! 
Anyway - the context: I rarely listen to SEN, as where I live in the sticks, ABC is always the clearest radio station. However on Wednesday morning, I was travelling to Melbourne, and happened to knock the station selector on my steering wheel, and the next AM station from 774 is 1116. It was a review of umpiring decisions from last week's round by Gerard Whately and Ray Chamberlain. I was going to switch back, but then Chamberlain uttered those magical and indisputable words "my two favourite players of all time - the first is Dale Morris, has there ever been a more courageous player?" (The second was Craig Bolton btw.)
Chamberlain's point was about defenders. The reason he rated these 2 were because they were both 190cm, yet both played consistently as KPDs (although Morris did also play on smalls, and even early in his career tagged in the midfield, and Bolton played on smaller forwards as well).
RC said that the hardest part of their game, as slightly shorter KPDs (and he used Nick Riewoldt as the main example of opponent, even though NR is only 3cm taller, but the basic point still stands), was it was almost impossible for them to contest in the air without resorting to chopping arms, holding or infringing in some way against the forward.
So Morris (RC focussed primarily on him but I gather Bolton tried something similar) developed a technique where he would use his chest as the ball was dropping to the contest to throw his forward opponent off balance. So there was no holding, no pushing with arms, no chopping, and technically no infringement. RC said he also believed it could have been a dangerous option if not executed well, as the defender was leaving themselves somewhat open to front on contact which could throw them off balance and out of the contest. But Morris was so good at it, that he used it consistently (according to RC).
I suspect knowing Dale Morris, he ensured his chest was well prepared physically for such a technique as well.
It's a hard one to qualify, so I'm using free kicks of KPDs around that era, but the most frees conceded for a season Morris had in his career were 16 in 2013, and most of the early Beveridge era he was only conceding single figures. Bolton conceded more, almost always double figures, and had two seasons of 20+.
Of other KPDs in that era (just a cross sample off the top of my head) where they played relatively full seasons (some obviously played finals while some did not):
Thornton (Carlton) almost always double figures per season
Prestigiacomo (Pies) was relatively miserly in FAs as well in a number of seasons, worst season conceded 17
Milburn (Cats) apart from 2021 (6 FAs in 21 games) was consistently in double figures in most of his career, several times 20+
Scarlett (Cats) also always in double figures, had 2 seasons of 28 and 29
Taylor (Cats) again most full seasons as a defender in double figures
S Thompson (Roos) only had a single season below 20, even hit 30 in 2011
Chaplin (Port) quite a few good (single figure) seasons, with only a couple of double digit ones
Grundy (Swans) almost consistently 20+ per season
Glass (Eagles) where he played a relatively full season was always in double figures
So it was an interesting listen. Chamberlain surprised me as to his analysis of the game, and obviously being so close to the action, has been well placed to observe what players are doing to gain an edge. He also noted for example that Brodie Grundy became adept at positioning himself (at bounces other than centre bounces) in relation to the umpire and his opponent so he could grab the opposing ruck behind their back and out of sight from the umpire to facilitate his ruckwork. There were a couple of other examples, but I've forgotten them.
I know the game has evolved somewhat since Morris retired, and there seem to be fewer one on one contests between KPF and KPD. Looking at our current KPDs, Keath in his time with us as a KPD has only conceded 32 frees in 53 games, however Gardner has conceded 42 in only 37 games, including 23 already this season in 16 games, while Cordy is usually in the low teens, but some of those games have been as a defensive forward, or even playing on a smaller opponent, so not as clear cut.
Anyway, my main take from this was that we really should have Dale Morris as a specialist defence coach, if only to pass on his methods and application. Probably too late now, seeing he has relocated permanently to Qld.
Anyway - the context: I rarely listen to SEN, as where I live in the sticks, ABC is always the clearest radio station. However on Wednesday morning, I was travelling to Melbourne, and happened to knock the station selector on my steering wheel, and the next AM station from 774 is 1116. It was a review of umpiring decisions from last week's round by Gerard Whately and Ray Chamberlain. I was going to switch back, but then Chamberlain uttered those magical and indisputable words "my two favourite players of all time - the first is Dale Morris, has there ever been a more courageous player?" (The second was Craig Bolton btw.)
Chamberlain's point was about defenders. The reason he rated these 2 were because they were both 190cm, yet both played consistently as KPDs (although Morris did also play on smalls, and even early in his career tagged in the midfield, and Bolton played on smaller forwards as well).
RC said that the hardest part of their game, as slightly shorter KPDs (and he used Nick Riewoldt as the main example of opponent, even though NR is only 3cm taller, but the basic point still stands), was it was almost impossible for them to contest in the air without resorting to chopping arms, holding or infringing in some way against the forward.
So Morris (RC focussed primarily on him but I gather Bolton tried something similar) developed a technique where he would use his chest as the ball was dropping to the contest to throw his forward opponent off balance. So there was no holding, no pushing with arms, no chopping, and technically no infringement. RC said he also believed it could have been a dangerous option if not executed well, as the defender was leaving themselves somewhat open to front on contact which could throw them off balance and out of the contest. But Morris was so good at it, that he used it consistently (according to RC).
I suspect knowing Dale Morris, he ensured his chest was well prepared physically for such a technique as well.
It's a hard one to qualify, so I'm using free kicks of KPDs around that era, but the most frees conceded for a season Morris had in his career were 16 in 2013, and most of the early Beveridge era he was only conceding single figures. Bolton conceded more, almost always double figures, and had two seasons of 20+.
Of other KPDs in that era (just a cross sample off the top of my head) where they played relatively full seasons (some obviously played finals while some did not):
Thornton (Carlton) almost always double figures per season
Prestigiacomo (Pies) was relatively miserly in FAs as well in a number of seasons, worst season conceded 17
Milburn (Cats) apart from 2021 (6 FAs in 21 games) was consistently in double figures in most of his career, several times 20+
Scarlett (Cats) also always in double figures, had 2 seasons of 28 and 29
Taylor (Cats) again most full seasons as a defender in double figures
S Thompson (Roos) only had a single season below 20, even hit 30 in 2011
Chaplin (Port) quite a few good (single figure) seasons, with only a couple of double digit ones
Grundy (Swans) almost consistently 20+ per season
Glass (Eagles) where he played a relatively full season was always in double figures
So it was an interesting listen. Chamberlain surprised me as to his analysis of the game, and obviously being so close to the action, has been well placed to observe what players are doing to gain an edge. He also noted for example that Brodie Grundy became adept at positioning himself (at bounces other than centre bounces) in relation to the umpire and his opponent so he could grab the opposing ruck behind their back and out of sight from the umpire to facilitate his ruckwork. There were a couple of other examples, but I've forgotten them.
I know the game has evolved somewhat since Morris retired, and there seem to be fewer one on one contests between KPF and KPD. Looking at our current KPDs, Keath in his time with us as a KPD has only conceded 32 frees in 53 games, however Gardner has conceded 42 in only 37 games, including 23 already this season in 16 games, while Cordy is usually in the low teens, but some of those games have been as a defensive forward, or even playing on a smaller opponent, so not as clear cut.
Anyway, my main take from this was that we really should have Dale Morris as a specialist defence coach, if only to pass on his methods and application. Probably too late now, seeing he has relocated permanently to Qld.
