Dale Morris Biography

Dale Morris joins Brisbane as a development coach.

"The Lions are such a proud club and have done a lot right over a long period of time, so I can't wait to contribute to this," Morris said.

"I'm pumped with the opportunity of working with such a talented and exciting group of players and coaches, and be part of a great football club."

Bailey Smith credits Bulldogs assistant coach Dale Morris for helping cope with his mental health struggles.

"There was actually a time where (Morris) looked after me - I broke down at the club, everyone had left one night, and I was just struggling, this was in my first year, when it all gets too much for you," Smith said.

"Everyone had left. And he walked into the changerooms and gave me a big hug and said, 'I'm here for you'."

Just weeks after announcing his retirement, Dale Morris will take on a development role at the Western Bulldogs.

"This opportunity came about and I was really excited by it," Morris said.

"To be able to stay and hang around and help this club further, I'm pumped. At the end of the day, footy is what I love."

Dale Morris announces his retirement at the age of 36, effectively immediately.

Morris courageously fought his way back from two knee reconstructions, only to suffer a third ACL injury in round 19.

"Everyone who knows me knows that if I could play footy forever, I would. I just love the game so much. But unfortunately, that's not possible for any footballer, and although it was a tough decision for me to make, the time has come for me to finish my playing career," Morris said.

"Since injuring my knee I’ve had some time to reflect with my wife Gem, my boys Riley and Charlie, my family and friends, and those closest to me at the club. I'm at peace with the decision to retire and I’m looking forward to what life after playing will bring."

Dale Morris may have played his final AFL game after scans confirmed he ruptured the ACL in his left knee against Fremantle.

Morris, 36, suffered a partial tear of the same ligament in the pre-season but chose to avoid surgery, preferring a natural rehab ahead of his VFL return a month ago.

Sunday was his first AFL game this season but he suffered a tweak to his knee in the first term, before suffering a full rupture in the third quarter.

"Dale will undergo a conventional ACL reconstruction today," Bulldogs medical services manager Chris Bell said.

"Although he passed every test, ticked every box in rehab and returned to play a month of VFL football, unfortunately Dale's knee was unable to withstand the high demands of AFL football."

Dale Morris is expected to find out by Monday if he has suffered a third anterior cruciate ligament tear in 17 months.

He was playing his first senior game of the year, after a month of games in the VFL, since recovering from a partial ACL tear in the same knee sustained in a training mishap in March.

Morris was chasing a loose ball on the wing early in the third term of Sunday's 47-point win over Fremantle when a sudden change in direction forced the 36-year-old's left knee to twist.

"I patted him on the back at three-quarter time and he had this big smile on his face, which just shows the character and attitude of Dale Morris and we're really fortunate to have had him in our ranks for so long," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said after the game.

"He's obviously been an enormously influential player at our football club for such a long period of time, a great example-setter, like a father figure (or) big brother.

"For him to even be in that frame of mind and still be vocal supporting his teammates after he went down with the injury, speaks volumes for his integrity and who he is."

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge expects 36-year old veteran defender Dale Morris to play on in 2020.

"If he's physically OK and he's playing good footy and we believe he can next year, then he'll go on," Beveridge said.

"I think he'll put up his hand if he's not right, but I can't see that happening, I think he's going to be fine.

"I think Dale wants to play until his legs fall off, and we're open to that as long as he continues to belong at the level."

Dale Morris will play his first game of 2019 this week after suffering a partial ACL tear in March.

Dale Morris hasn't written off playing on in 2020 despite being 36 years old.

"I am old in footy terms, but I want to play for as long as I possibly can and where that is I don't know," Morris said.

"I'd never go into any year thinking it will be my last year, or this could be my last year. I just want to go in and play footy and see what happens."

Dale Morris will make his playing return this weekend, less than four months after suffering an ACL injury.

"Provided he gets through training this week like we expect, he will make his long-anticipated comeback this weekend, which is extremely exciting for everyone else at the club," Dogs medical services manager Chris Bell said.

Dale Morris has revealed the extraordinary lengths he's going to as he attempts a miraculous recovery from a serious knee injury, including consuming one litre of bone broth a day made by his wife Gemma.

"You boil the bones down and all the ligaments and cartilage and bone marrow all goes into this soup. You take the bones and the meat out, boil it down into this gelatinous substance and that's great for your body to heal," Morris said.

"It's good for your body anyway, but even more so for healing ligaments and good for joints.

"When I found out I'd done my ACL, after I rang her and you have your little cry on the phone - 'why me' sort of thing - you look at what's next.

"She goes 'I'm going to go home and I'm going to cook you the biggest pot of bone broth you've ever seen, and you're going to drink it and you're going to get better’."

After rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at training in mid-March, the 36-year-old opted to avoid surgery, as he did last year when he had a similar injury in the opposite knee.

His leg is kept in a brace that keeps it straight and the 2008 All Australian explained why when speaking to Channel Seven.

"The knee is in the perfect position. The brace holds it all there," Morris said.

"There's a lot of fluid in the knee and for the ACL to heal you want the blood clots to form and to be able to scar up, to heal, to strengthen the ACL.

"If you move your knee, it kind of washes all those blood clots out. To lock it in place gives it the best opportunity to heal."

Dale Morris avoids surgery and aims to return during the 2019 season after suffering a high-grade injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

"We have decided to manage Dale's knee injury conservatively, and that means he will not require any surgery. Dale will go into a splint in the hope that the cruciate ligament heals," Bulldogs medical services manager Chris Bell explained.

"We will assess the stability and degree of healing of the cruciate again in four to six weeks to determine when he can come out of the splint. It's also at this time that we will get a clearer idea of his return to play timeline."

Dale Morris' season and career is in doubt after suffering an ACL injury at training.

Dale Morris signs a new one-year deal with the Bulldogs to remain at the club in 2019.

"I'm one of the lucky ones that gets to play footy for a living, so to be able to do that again for another year at least, is something I'm really excited about," Morris said.

Ahead of his 250th game, Western Bulldogs veteran Dale Morris has no doubts he can play on in 2019 despite injury plaguing him over the past two seasons.

"I'm never one to put a cap on my career, I'll keep going as long as I can, as long as there is a role for me to play," Morris said.

"As long as I hold up physically and mentally, but physically the body has copped a bit of a battering.

"I've been able to bounce back every time. I'll keep going for as long as I can, it's too good not to. It's the best job."

Luke Beveridge says he would love for Bulldogs veteran Dale Morris to play on in 2019 despite being 35 years of age.

"He's playing pretty well, he's been strong and his desire to go on has been strong enough, and he thinks he's got more than another year in him," Beveridge said.

"I don't pay much attention to the actual age of the player, it's just their output and their willingness to get everything out of themselves."

Dale Morris is keen to extend his storied AFL career into the 2019 season.

The 35-year-old Morris played his first game of the 2018 season in round 11 after suffering a partial tear to an anterior cruciate ligament in February.

"I'll keep going for as long as I can ... I love the game too much," Morris told Channel Seven's Game Day.

"I'll keep going as long as the body and mind holds up. So far the mind is good. The body has its issues every now and then.

"As long as there's a role I'll be there."

Dale Morris will have minor surgery to repair meniscus damage in the knee he partially tore in the pre-season.

The 35-year-old will undergo an arthroscope procedure after developing pain over recent weeks, and with the club unable to predict a return date, the Morris may have played his last game for the Western Bulldogs.

Dale Morris is expecting to miss around 12 weeks with the partially torn ACL he suffered at training last week.

"I went to turn one way, went the other and heard a pop and click in the knee and felt like not much at all, but it turns out there was a bit going on in there," he said.

"I went in to see (the club doctors) and got informed of the partial ACL tear, which was a bit full-on to hear.

"It turns out I was unlucky to get the injury, but lucky it was only a partial (tear)."

Dale Morris suffers a partial ACL tear at training, but will not require surgery.

"While this is not a common injury, there have been other similar cases in the AFL where surgery was not required for the healing process," Bulldogs medical services manager Chris Bell said.

"Given the type of injury this is, and the unknown nature of the recovery time, we will work with Dale over the coming eight to 12 weeks to more accurately determine when he is able to return to the field."

Dale Morris signs a new deal with the Bulldogs to play on for the club in 2018.

“He’s been a stalwart at our footy club for many, many years, and with his experience, toughness and work ethic, he’s the ideal player to have around our young group as they continue to grow and mature,” Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said.

Dale Morris says he is keen to play on next season if the Western Bulldogs see him as part of their future.

"I’ve said all along that if the club want me and there’s a role for me there, then I’ll keep going forever," Morris told Fox Footy.

"But we’ll have those discussions in due course and work all that out. Except for my chalky bones, yes, I feel great."

Dale Morris' fractured right arm is likely to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the 2017 season.

The 34-year-old underwent surgery on the fractured radius bone in his forearm and the recovery period is expected to be up to two months.

"Dale's gone in for surgery (on Monday afternoon) to have a plate and screws put into that fracture site to realign it and at this stage we’re guessing that Dale's going to miss the next six to eight weeks of footy," Bulldogs medical services manager Chris Bell said.

Dale Morris' career could be over after the veteran Bulldog broke his forearm against Gold Coast in Cairns.

"It's unfortunate, he’s been such a sensational player for a long time," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.

"Maybe (he’ll go on next year), we’ll have to work through that with Dale, and work out whether it’s right for him and for the club."

Dale Morris will miss an estimated two months with a broken leg.

The 34-year-old sustained the injury in the dying seconds of the Bulldogs' opening round win over Collingwood, but will not require surgery on his left fibula.

Dale Morris suffers a suspected leg spiral fracture with less than a minute left in the Bulldogs' round one win over Collingwood.

Marcus Bontempelli caps off a remarkable 2016 season by winning the Bulldogs' best and fairest award.

Bontempelli polled 319 votes to finish 71 votes clear of defender Dale Morris (248) with midfielder Lachie Hunter (246) rounding out the top three.

"This is an incredible thing for me personally, to be etched in the Bulldogs' fabric and history at this point in time," Bontempelli said.

"That's something that I'm going to forever look back on and be grateful for."

After winning the 2016 Grand Final with the Bulldogs, Dale Morris reveals he played through the finals series with a cracked vertebrae.

Morris had broken two vertebrae in his back in the round 23 loss to Fremantle.

"Everyone plays through injuries," Morris said.

"I talked to the fitness staff, the (doctors) and all the rest of it and we go through things and they assured me nothing can get worse.

"It's a pain management thing and we go for it."

Dale Morris will extend his AFL career into a 13th season in 2017 after turning his back on free agency and signing a new one-year deal with the Western Bulldogs.

Dale Morris says he relishes the task of playing on the best small and tall forwards in the AFL.

"I love it. I love the challenge of playing on short, quick guys and then the tall forwards who can take pack marks," Morris said.

"You need to be versatile and you need to adapt. It's something I take great pride in - taking on whoever comes my way."

Young Bulldogs defender Zaine Cordy says veteran teammate Dale Morris has been a role model to him.

"Probably my biggest influence is Dale Morris, he's the person who took me under his wing when I first came to the club," Cordy said.

"Because we play pretty similar roles, he's been a pretty big help to me."

Marcus Bontempelli looms as the next captain of the Western Bulldogs after he was elevated to club's leadership group in just his third season in the AFL.

The 20-year-old has shown great maturity across his 37-career games and was voted in by his teammates to support re-elected skipper Robert Murphy, new vice-captain Easton Wood and veterans Matthew Boyd and Dale Morris.

Murphy said he was delighted to retain the captaincy in the knowledge the up-and-coming Dogs had plenty of young leaders waiting in the wings.

"It’s an honour to lead the club, it’s been an honour of mine to play for the club for a long time,” Murphy said.

"They’re (Wood and Bontempelli) high quality people, great players, and I think they really capture a lot of the spirit of the team and the club at the moment."

Dale Morris has avoided surgery on a fractured jaw and is a chance to face Gold Coast in Cairns this week.

Morris was initially expected to spend several weeks on the sidelines after sustaining the injury early in the 11-point win over Carlton.

"What we've discovered since is that he has a slight fracture to his jaw bone," Bulldogs football manager Graham Lowe said.

"On a positive note, there's no surgical intervention required, but we're certainly going to monitor and assess how he travels during the week."

Dale Morris will be for up to two months after having surgery to repair a torn left pectoral injury.

The 32-year-old suffered the injury in his side's 70-point loss to Hawthorn last Sunday and was substituted out of the match at quarter-time.

"After further consultation with a specialist, we've determined the best course of action is for him to have surgery so he'll be unavailable for six to eight weeks," Bulldogs football manager Graham Lowe said.

Dale Morris will extend his career into an 11th season after signing a one-year contract extension.

The 31-year-old key defender was due to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, but is now set to become a 200-game player at the Bulldogs next year.

"A lot of people don't realise what the club has done for me," Morris said.

"They've been enormous for me, my family and my life, so to play another year I'm absolutely thrilled."

Dale Morris is set to play on next season with the veteran defender close to re-signing with the Western Bulldogs.

Dale Morris will miss Sunday's clash with Carlton after accepting a one-match suspension for tripping Greater Western Sydney midfielder Will Hoskin-Elliott.

Morris' six-year good record at the Tribunal allowed him to escape with the one-game ban following his early guilty plea.

Dale Morris has been cleared of any serious damage to his sprained left ankle but he remains an uncertain prospect to face Carlton in round five.

Initial fears were that Morris had sustained a broken leg when he collided with Greater Western Sydney midfielder Will Hoskin-Elliott.

Both players were substituted out of the game after their collision.

At 31 years of age, Dale Morris says he wants to keep playing for another five years at least.

"The body feels great, better than this time last year," Morris said.

"I feel like I've got plenty of good footy left in me, how much that is I don't know but I'm hoping five, six, seven years … you never know.

"But at my age you need to take it one year at a time."

Dale Morris signs a one-year contract extension for the 2014 season, capping his outstanding return from a career threatening broken leg.

"At the start of the year it was a big unknown how my leg was going to go, so I'm absolutely rapt to get a new deal," he told the Herald Sun.

"Coming off the injury that I've had and at my age, there are never going to be multi-year deals, but I've pleased the club has shown the faith and supported me through it all."

Dale Morris says he was excited to finally play again in round one of 2013 after returning from a broken leg he suffered in 2011.

"To get up and play round one this year, I was just rapt to be out there. (I was) nervous, probably more nervous than my first game," Morris said.

"The last time I played we had Lake, Hargrave, Gilbee, and I played all my games with them.

"To come in with guys that I hadn't played much, if any footy with, it's just fantastic to see the growth over the last year and the off-season."

Bulldog defender Dale Morris says he feared his career was over as he battled ongoing leg injuries.

"There were times when you really start doubting yourself, if the leg wasn't progressing as much as I'd like, especially with that setback I suffered," Morris said.

"You start to really question things. But the people around the footy club have that much confidence in myself, and I have that much confidence in them – all the medical staff and fitness staff – that (after) talking to them I knew everything was going to be fine."

The Bulldogs hope revolutionary sensor technology will resurrect the career of veteran defender Dale Morris.

Using Melbourne company dorsaVi's 'ViPerform' product, four wireless sensors are usually placed on the player's lower back to measure muscle movement during training, providing data that can identify weaknesses and be used to modify training techniques and programs.

Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney says the club must be patient when it comes to managing Dale Morris' return from a broken leg that robbed him of his 2012 season.

"He was making good steps towards the end of the year but we thought it was probably better to wait until next year," McCartney told SEN.

"There's still a little bit of work to do with him being able to run at a good speed on a harder surface and being able to deal with it, but we've been patient."

Important Western Bulldogs defender Dale Morris has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from a broken leg and will miss a further six weeks.

Morris will require minor surgery after experiencing soreness in the leg last week where scans revealed a stress fracture in the fibula - in a different spot to the initial break.

Western Bulldogs defender Dale Morris is not expected to play for at least the first five weeks as he recovers from a broken leg.

Dogs defender Dale Morris will miss the rest of the season and the club's finals campaign after suffering a fracture in his back against the Swans.

"He'll be able to jog in about four weeks' time," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said.

"It's a vertebrae; it's not affecting anywhere near the spinal cord. It's like a cracked rib more than anything."

Western Bulldogs' renowned hard worker Dale Morris has been forced to slow down after having to rest his broken leg that he played with for several weeks in 2009.

"The leg is fine. It just needed some time off and you can't really take time off during the year for something like that," Morris said.

"That's another reason why I had to spend a few weeks off doing nothing, which was pretty hard."

Dale Morris is revealed to have played with stress fracture to his tibia against superstar Nick Riewoldt in the Bulldogs' loss to the Saints in their preliminary final.

"He has had a bit of a crack or a stress fracture," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said.

"We were worried about it . . . if it cracked too far he wouldn't have been able to run.

"He is so mentally tough. He told us he was right to give us 100 per cent, but he is very sore."

Bulldogs backman Ryan Hargrave believes he has teammate Jarrod Harbrow to thank for his reinvention as a running defender this season.

"Dale Morris and Brian Lake have been playing more of the key position defender roles, which has helped, while Jarrod has definitely contributed to the move as well," Hargrave said.

"He's taking the small defender, which means I'm getting the one in the middle whereas I used to be on a key tall or a key small and I've had to concentrate on them.

"It's left me with more of an attacking role from defence, which has been really good. I've really enjoyed it."

Dale Morris again outpointed a larger opponent in Michael O'Loughlin in the Bulldogs' big win over the Sydney Swans on Saturday.

"He's a very dangerous player, and one who can pop up and kick a lot of goals in a short space of time," Morris said after the game.

"He's got some tricks as well, so I knew leading into the game that I'd have to be right on him because he's still got great agility and pace ... if you blink you can lose him."

Matthew Boyd and Dale Morris join the Bulldogs leadership group that include five members from last year including Brad Johnson, Scott West, Robert Murphy, Daniel Cross and Daniel Giansiracusa.

"It's a good cross-section of age and certainly positions," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said. "We'd certainly like to add to that as we go along. What you'd like to have is 30 players in the leadership group, with everyone having a say."