By Lance Jenkinson
Revered veteran defender Dale Morris was the toast of the west after notching his 250th AFL game on Sunday.
Morris produced a typically selfless performance in the Bulldogs’ come-from-behind seven-point win over North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
The Bulldogs returned from 28 points down at half-time to overrun the Kangaroos, largely on the back of a stunning eight-goal-to-two third term.
The victory was a fitting salute to Morris on his milestone day.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge enjoyed the build-up to Morris’s big day, in particular the positive media coverage the 35-year-old premiership player received.
“There was obviously a lot of commentary and some great articles and interviews surrounding Moz’s 250th game,” he said.
“It was magnificent just to sit there and read some of them and see some of the words that were spoken about him.”
Morris’s significant impact on the game did not show up on the stats sheet. He finished with three kicks, five handballs and four tackles, but it was the way he impacted in pack situations that pleased Beveridge.
“It was a pretty good eight-possession game today from Moz, when you consider how hard he hit contests, how many spoils he made, how many North Melbourne transitions that he foiled,” Beveridge said.
“It epitomise that team-based spirit and that selflessness that he brings to his team.”
Morris took the long road to the AFL, starting out with the Doutta Stars in the Essendon District Football League and getting his grounding in elite football with Werribee in the Victorian Football League.
