By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE winds of change have blown through Casey Fields in the off-season as Melbourne and its VFL affiliate Casey continue to develop their exciting young playing crop.
Garfield youngster Eddie Morris was recently named as one of the Scorpions’ vice-captains on the eve of the 2015 season, in new coach Justin Plapp’s first leadership group under lead-by-example skipper Evan Panozza.
It’s a big step forward for the versatile tackling machine, but one he’s looking to help springboard him into a big year.
Morris, who also studies accounting full-time at university in the city, said his role at the Scorpions had really evolved over the pre-season.
“From talking to Plappy early in the pre-season I had a lot of discussions about where I wanted to go this year and where I could continue to grow,” Morris told the Gazette.
“We spoke about leadership and he challenged me a lot this year to be more of a leader and stand up and say more around the group.
“He was saying that a lot of guys look up to me, even though I may not know it, and to have the confidence to help them out.
“I’m a pretty vocal sort of a guy so I do talk a lot, but this year so far has been a lot more one-on-one with guys and helping them out that way. We all make mistakes but you can’t get down on yourself.”
Shannon Byrnes, who has 131 games of AFL experience with Geelong and Melbourne to his name, has an expanded role with Casey this season; both as a player, and a development coach.
Morris said he had been working closely with him one-on-one.
“Your coaches are always talking to you about how you can improve so everyone is getting challenged in their own way,” Morris said.
“He (Byrnes) has that experience that he can pass on and I’ve spent a lot of time with him on leadership as well, and how to be a better leader both on and off the field. “He’s been really big for that.”
Morris said his ultimate aim was still to find himself squarely in the sights of AFL recruiters leading up to draft time, but was quick to add that his first priority was to get himself entrenched in the Scorpions senior line-up from week to week – no easy task given the amount of talented Melbourne-listed youngsters who’re also in the side.
He said he was particularly impressed with the way his team-mates Paul Pattison and Lucas Walmsley had rolled their sleeves up and got to work over the pre-season.
“They’ve both played seniors all through the practice matches – they got an opportunity early and they were confident in themselves,” he said.
“They haven’t looked back at all and have been up to the level straight away – which is great to see.”
Morris was one of Casey’s best in a 102-point trouncing of Frankston in their AFL Victoria Development League clash at Casey Fields on Sunday. They next play Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval on Anzac Day from 11am. The Scorpions’ VFL side will head to Whitten Oval to take on Footscray from noon the following day.
