Jonty Ralphsmith
He takes big marks, kicks straight, and runs his defender around.
They’re the traits to look for in key forwards and Western Jet Logan Morris fits that to a tee.
The sole Jet to represent Vic Metro in their first game of the under-18 national championships on Sunday, the 192cm draft prospect played in an unfamiliar backline role.
Morris held his own, though, winning his share of the footy and nullifying his direct opponent, who at one stage was the highly-regarded Ashton Moir, to contribute to a big win over South Australia.
It’s a position he might play again in the second half of 2023, either in the national championships or Coates Talent League.
His read of the ball in the air allows him to get to the right spots and impact, highlighting his versatility – a sure way to enhance his prospects.
But it’s inside 50 where the Werribee Districts junior’s stocks are known.
Morris has 48 goals across 19 Talent League games in the past 15 months, including three bags of at least four this year.
In the Jets most recent game, he kicked 4.1 and took nine marks, with his first half in particular laying the foundation for an upset win over the Eastern Ranges.
When he gets a clear run and jump at the footy, there’s no stopping him. He has a clear understanding of his leading lanes and he’s the man his teammates look for inside 50.
“How he identifies the ball in the air separates him from the rest, which is what the game is all about now,” said Jets forward coach Ali Hamad.
“He’s worked hard since he has come into the club – he’s got to work in the gym with Melbourne Athletic, and with the club on his smarts on-field, and his off-field habits have improved, so it’s all clicked together.
“He has got his body ready to play AFL and he has full belief in his ability.”
Speaking before the weekend’s game, Morris said his five games last year taught him about the required fitness to stamp authority on a game, something particularly pertinent to a player of his height.
That has been on show this season as he has hit up further afield to provide an outlet down the line.
“Emptying out quickly, getting goal side of my opponent and then when we win the ball, if I’m on the fat side, lengthening back to goals and beating my opponent there with my running ability, that defensive side has improved definitely.
“Getting my GPS back after the games last year, I was probably a bit poor, so I have used that as a benchmark this year which has shown with my results after fitness was a focus of preseason.”
After kicking 13.3 in the first month of the season, he kicked just one goal from five shots in the Vic Metro trial game, with the Jets coaching staff noting how hard he’s worked on it off the back of that performance, as well as in preseason.
It showed against the Ranges.
“I have selected a set shot routine that I go to every time, so I’ve stuck to that all year and I’ll keep doing that going forward and hopefully kick a few more snags,” Morris said.
“It’s step right first, then six steps, then one slow one on my right, then another six and kick away. I feel like it was an all-round performance on the weekend [against the Ranges].
“My marking, I thought, dropped off a bit at the start of the year, but then I felt it was back (last) weekend so it was good.
Having spent some sessions at the Werribee in the Victorian Football League, Morris made his VFL debut during the Coates Talent League community break, kicking two goals and impressing coach Michael Barlow.
Morris will next be in action for the Jets on June 24 in Wangaratta against the Murray Bushrangers, with Vic Metro’s next game is July 1 against the Allies in Queensland.
