Steven Morris on long road to follow dad's path Zac Milbank
From: The Advertiser
May 05, 2012 HE spent four years living away from his family, started his own business and endured a knee reconstruction.
But if you ask Richmond defender Steven Morris whether it was all worth chasing his AFL dream, the answer is simple.
Particularly when it was his father - dual Tigers premiership star Kevin - handing him his Richmond guernsey before his debut in round one.
"The moment which really sticks out was having Dad present my jumper to me," said Morris, who was snapped up by the Tigers during trade week after he was initially claimed by Greater Western Sydney.
"That was before the clash against Carlton. Dad came down into the change rooms and presented all four Richmond debutants with their jumpers. Him passing on his No.38 guernsey to me was a special moment and something I will always remember.
"Looking up at my locker every day that I walk into the club and seeing K. Morris on the locker because he played more than 100 games for the Richmond Footy Club is inspiring in itself."
While Morris - who last year won West Adelaide's best-and-fairest playing in the SANFL - can't remember his father's speech word-for-word, the message sank in.
"It was along the lines of he knows how hard I've worked and that I've deserved it," said Morris, 185cm and 84kg.
"And what it means to play in the Richmond jumper. I'm certainly aware of the privilege I've got to represent the Richmond footy club."
To say that Morris has deserved his opportunity is an understatement.
Desperate to make it at the highest level after being overlooked as a teenager, the 23-year-old packed his bags and headed to another Richmond, in South Australia.
After struggling to break into the Bloods league side initially, Morris eventually made it impossible for West Adelaide coach Andy Collins not to select him. "It's probably been a blessing in disguise that I missed out when I was younger and it makes me a little bit more hungry to succeed now that I've got that opportunity, so that it doesn't slip through my fingers," said Morris, who played with the Western Jets in the TAC Cup.
"What made things a bit easier was that I was really enjoying my footy in Adelaide and I loved the lifestyle.
"The only thing I was missing was my family who I'm really close to. But I made some really good mates and really enjoyed playing at the West Adelaide footy club."
Given Morris's pedigree, it's difficult to understand why he was initially overlooked by AFL scouts. But the blond bombshell, while disappointed, wasn't surprised by the lack of interest.
"Generally when recruiters select 18-year-olds, they are the players who accumulate a lot of the ball and I've never been a high-possession winner," said Morris.
"I've always based my game on the defensive side of things and that didn't help me early on. But in the same breath, I probably wasn't quite up to it at that stage."
Nearly five years after being passed over, Morris's penchant to do the "one percenters" such as smothering, tackling, chasing and shepherding is earning him high praise at Tigerland.
It's of little surprise that Richmond coach Damien Hardwick, who prided himself on being selfless during his playing career with Essendon and Port Adelaide, is selecting Morris.
"Obviously one of my strengths is my competitive nature," said Morris, who ran a personal fitness business while in Adelaide.
"So when it is a 50-50 ball, you have to make the most of each situation. No doubt there are some similarities in the way I play and Dimma (Hardwick) played. But if I can be half the player he was and come away with a couple of premierships like he did, then I will be pretty happy at the end of my career."
If determination is anything to go by, you get the feeling Morris's aim will come to fruition.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/steven-morris-on-long-road-to-follow-dads-path/story-e6frecmc-1226347256931
