(99th Eagles player)
East Fremantle (WAFL) 1996-2002
Swan Districts (WAFL) 2003-2004, 2007
Collingwood (AFL) 2005-2006
Williamstown (VFL) 2005-2006
A highly talented utility who generally played off a half-back flank, Chad Morrison was extremely impressive early in his career before being slowed by a serious knee injury.
West Coast career[]
Morrison was picked up as an underage selection in the 1994 national draft as compensation for Fremantle signing Brendan Krummel as an uncontracted player, but stayed in Victoria in 1995 to finish high school.
After crossing west he made his debut in the opening round of 1996 against Freo, just two days after celebrating his 18th birthday. He ultimately played 18 games for the year including the finals against Carlton and Essendon, generally off a half-forward flank.
There was no sign of second-year blues the following year, Morrison playing every game for the season and finishing equal third in the Club Champion award, all while still in his teens. He continued his remarkable form and durability in the next three seasons, missing just two games and kicking 47 goals while spending time at half-back, half forward and in the middle. In 2000 he again finished third in the Club Champion award, behind Glen Jakovich and Dean Kemp.
In 2001 Morrison suffered the first of what would, unfortunately, become a series of serious knee injuries, requiring a reconstruction after blowing out his right knee against the Demons mid-season. He missed the second half of that season and all of 2002 after requiring a second reconstruction, and like most players after a long-term injury layoff he struggled on his return. Morrison returned in round 1 of 2003 but wound up missing most of the 2003 season to ongoing injury problems.
A purple patch in the second half of 2004, including a 6-week stretch when Morrison averaged 25 touches a game, suggested that he was back to his pre-injury best and convinced Collingwood to give up pick 37, which would net future All-Australian Mark LeCras, for him in a trade at the end of that year.
Collingwood career[]
Morrison played just 21 games in two seasons for the club he supported as a kid, and almost cost Collingwood their TAC sponsorship in 2006 after being caught drink-driving on a scooter. He announced his retirement at the end of that season; coincidentally he had played what was ultimately his final game against West Coast several weeks earlier.
Post-AFL career[]
After his AFL career ended Morrison returned to Perth, and had a stint as colts coach at Swan Districts and East Fremantle.
Stats[]
| AFL | Gm | G | B | K | M | H | D | T | Cl | WAFL | Gm | G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 0 | N/A | |||||||||||
| 1996 | 18 | 24 | 23 | 149 | 48 | 50 | 199 | 23 | EF | 5 | 8 | ||
| 1997 | 24 | 9 | 11 | 282 | 103 | 126 | 408 | 29 | 0 | ||||
| 1998 | 22 | 21 | 10 | 260 | 104 | 103 | 363 | 19 | 19 | 0 | |||
| 1999 | 23 | 13 | 4 | 215 | 89 | 142 | 357 | 24 | 31 | 0 | |||
| 2000 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 338 | 101 | 169 | 507 | 33 | 63 | 0 | |||
| 2001 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 120 | 46 | 71 | 191 | 10 | 16 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2002 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 2003 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 72 | 21 | 64 | 136 | 12 | 11 | SD | 6 | 4 | |
| 2004 | 18 | 4 | 7 | 211 | 85 | 123 | 334 | 14 | 22 | 4 | 5 | ||
| Tot | 148 | 87 | 63 | 1647 | 597 | 848 | 2495 | 164 | 162 | ||||
| Avg | 0.6 | 11.1 | 4.0 | 5.7 | 16.9 | 1.1 | 1.5 |
References[]
http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/C/Chad_Morrison.html