Toast Morabito tracking thread

[Nickos66]

if he gets a whole preseason in, i don't expect he'll need any WAFL games.

But who would then say he's a walk up start? He may not need them, but then not a lot of guys playing in the WAFL for us last year 'needed them'. He certainly has a fight on his hands to break into the 1's.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

But who would then say he's a walk up start? He may not need them, but then not a lot of guys playing in the WAFL for us last year 'needed them'. He certainly has a fight on his hands to break into the 1's.

of course. i think everyone in the side has to fight for his position. if mora is starting at square one like everyone else, he's as much a chance as anyone else, as long as his fitness base keeps him amongst it.

 

[manpurple]

But who would then say he's a walk up start? He may not need them, but then not a lot of guys playing in the WAFL for us last year 'needed them'. He certainly has a fight on his hands to break into the 1's.

Yep all day. And I said elsewhere I am not sure that RTB is as big a fan as we are here. The only hole I see him possibly fitting though is possibly a medium halfback re bounding role. Obviously his tank is geared towards the midfield and with the reduction in rotations I anticipate that this make him more attractive but there are a number of people who can run all day.

A point in case is Sherridan who most people had behind Michie last year. But he got games and I am sure it is because RTB wanted to keep his tank. Plenty of people said that he was considering going back east until he started to get games and now Michie has been traded. It seems a reasonable assumption that the match committee or RTB thought; next year we are going to have limited rotations and we need big endurance, who's got it and who hasn't.

 

[Purple Maverick]

Unfortunately I think he will get the Michie treatment in 2014. If can sneak in a few games I will be ecstatic.

Assuming all goes well, I think he will start to become a regular starter in 2015.

 

[13then7]

Morabito had a fantastic debut season but I don't think he could have been considered "one of our best". Had a few good games and better individual moments. (Bar humbug, I know but that's how I remember him.)

The sub rule will be great to ease him in if he proves himself in the pre season. If he can manage 5 starting appearances late in the season I would be wrapped. He was destined to be a star, fingers crossed it comes to fruition.

I have considered flying home just to see him run out on the ground. The place will go nuts if it's at Subi.

 

[george2]

I can see Mora competing with Deboer and Syvlia for that forward flank role. Either that or he competes with D.Pearce on the wing.
What would people think of Mora coming in and playing off the HBF to start with? I wonder if he could become a running backman and be the eventual replacement for either Johnson or Duff.

 

[Punts]

He guys sorry to intrude but did he have Lars ?

 

[Taylor]

He guys sorry to intrude but did he have Lars ?

Yes but no. He had a hybrid of both.

 

[Righteo]

I can see Mora competing with Deboer and Syvlia for that forward flank role. Either that or he competes with D.Pearce on the wing.
What would people think of Mora coming in and playing off the HBF to start with? I wonder if he could become a running backman and be the eventual replacement for either Johnson or Duff.

I don't like that idea any more than I did the "turn him into a CHF" suggestions. Unlike Harvey, Lyon has demonstrated that whilst he likes versatile players that can perform several roles he still plays guys where they're most comfortable playing. Mora is a natural goal kicking mid and should be played forward of center IMHO if we want to get the most out of him.

Ideally he'll start as sub the first few games back and then hopefully progress to a half forward flank eventually returning as a full time mid.

 

[greatgatsby]

I know we need to manage our expectations but let's be clear about what we're dealing with here: a very high draft pick who performed right up to that level in his first year of AFL footy. At the end of 2010 he would have been considered one of the best 5 young players in the comp. If he's not best 22 by mid-season next year it will be because his body simply hasn't come up.

 

[Kunna17]

instead of him playing off half-back i think he'd play on a wing with hill or d.pearce - likely d.pearce playing more time off half-back.
Really could be a mundy replacement eventuarally but let's just say:
Fit preseason'
Nab Cup form determines if in CONTENTION EARLY or not
plays wafl round 1 and see from there.

3 or 4 games as sub, first one at Subi just so the crowd goes bonkers.
Norm smith medal for one act - kicking ball out. Goes long to sandi who puts it down, Mora gets there takes it out of pack. Runs the field side steps 7-8 and kicks a beaty from the centre square.

Note: Sandi and him good combo so had to be that, could be mundy gives out to him from the pack also.

 

[Mockcockpit]

I'm betting your wank-bank is an odd place Kunna.

 

[DMan 11]

I know it's preseason not by looking at a calendar but because all the morabito fantasies are aired.
I said prior to his last injury that he should be bought back slowly, slowly with a long term view to recovery and was absolutely shot down by every Dr Nick Riviera on here spewing junk about playing 1 game of wafl then putting him straight into the Freo midfield.

Without trying to preach I'll go on record again that Mora's recovery will be longer and slower than any other ACL recovery seen. This is the last shot for the kid, as a club we have no reason to rush him back, the repair was revolutionary in AFL and there is little to nil precedent in recovery times for this type of repair.

I'd be rapped to see him running around in purple before the mid season break in 2014, but I don't think it's going to happen. He's not an instant 22 selection after 3 years off the park no matter how good his first year was, he'll need a base level of AFL intensity fitness and he'll need opportunity to break into a strong 22 that will be FFC next year.

Personally, I'm hanging for the training reports detailing what 'the beast' is up to early next year, but I definitely aint holding my breath for an early run-on next year for him in the 22

 

[13then7]

I know it's preseason not by looking at a calendar but because all the morabito fantasies are aired.
I said prior to his last injury that he should be bought back slowly, slowly with a long term view to recovery and was absolutely shot down by every Dr Nick Riviera on here spewing junk about playing 1 game of wafl then putting him straight into the Freo midfield.

Without trying to preach I'll go on record again that Mora's recovery will be longer and slower than any other ACL recovery seen. This is the last shot for the kid, as a club we have no reason to rush him back, the repair was revolutionary in AFL and there is little to nil precedent in recovery times for this type of repair.

I'd be rapped to see him running around in purple before the mid season break in 2014, but I don't think it's going to happen. He's not an instant 22 selection after 3 years off the park no matter how good his first year was, he'll need a base level of AFL intensity fitness and he'll need opportunity to break into a strong 22 that will be FFC next year.

Personally, I'm hanging for the training reports detailing what 'the beast' is up to early next year, but I definitely aint holding my breath for an early run-on next year for him in the 22

So much this. Slowly, slowly.

One more knee injury = No more Mora.

 

[mike91]

So much this. Slowly, slowly.

One more knee injury = No more Mora.

He came close to playing WAFL late in the season, club decided not to take the risk so that he'd be right for day one of pre season. You're right, but he should be fine for a big pre season. Not saying instant round one selection by any means though.

 

[pokerspiv]

It's really not that complicated. If his knee is good enough to play WAFL, then it's good enough to play AFL. The only thing that will see him playing WAFL is if the staff think his fitness base isn't there, which I find unlikely since he's been running since May.

Barring any further injury I expect Morabito to start as the sub in round 1, and in the starting 18 after that.

 

[leungtl]

It's really not that complicated. If his knee is good enough to play WAFL, then it's good enough to play AFL. The only thing that will see him playing WAFL is if the staff think his fitness base isn't there, which I find unlikely since he's been running since May.

Barring any further injury I expect Morabito to start as the sub in round 1, and in the starting 18 after that.

But then again, it really is complicated.

Sure the knee might be structurally sound to play AFL football, but using it confidently (especially after so many operations) is a whole other ball game.

You can train on it with little intensity, then you can move up to WAFL Reserves where results are largely irrelevant. League is a step up, but no one is going to be on your back if you don't give it 100% right off the bat or shirk a contest or two.

Having been through just the one myself, I can tell you it's really all about getting that confidence... and it'd be borderline negligent to throw him in there straightaway from Round 1 with very little match practice.

 

[pokerspiv]

There's also the whole pre-season matches leading up to round 1. It won't be as if Morabito will be playing his first game in round 1 of the regular season. He will have at least 5-6 games counting intra-club games and the AFL preseason comp. I'm pretty sure they will know by then how well his knee is holding up.

 

[free at last]

I just hope mora has a big preseason and then be injury-free,and play a whole WAFL season.

 

[mightymouse75]

I don't care if he never plays again, hoping only that his knee is ok and he won't end up a cripple by the time he is 30.
3 knee constructions is 1 to many.

 

[Wizard]

I don't care if he never plays again, hoping only that his knee is ok and he won't end up a cripple by the time he is 30.
3 knee constructions is 3 to many.

EFA

 

[Harry Reems]

I see Kep stated his pre-season yesterday, no word on Mora or Griff though.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

I see Kep stated his pre-season yesterday, no word on Mora or Griff though.

They would all be doing some kind of fitness regime during the off season but it's great to know Kep is up and running.

 

[leungtl]

There's also the whole pre-season matches leading up to round 1. It won't be as if Morabito will be playing his first game in round 1 of the regular season. He will have at least 5-6 games counting intra-club games and the AFL preseason comp. I'm pretty sure they will know by then how well his knee is holding up.

There's more intensity in a WAFL game than intra club or pre-season matches. Why? Because there's little to no incentive to win.

There will be an oval ball and 22 blokes running around for each team, but it won't be anything like Round 1 at all.

 

[Mockcockpit]

Nick Malceski, Max Bailey and Anthony Morabito, keep the streak alive!