Morton snaps up tips from Brown
By Craig O'Donoghue, Inside Football
Wed Feb 18, 2009
Richmond forward Mitch Morton credits working closely with star Nathan Brown as the key to his promising start to the year.
Morton kicked three goals in the club's three-point NAB Cup win over Fremantle on Sunday night and helped Matthew Richardson to put the Tigers in front late in the match.
The former Eagle had 17 disposals and his ability to hit targets from difficult positions stood out.
Morton followed his mentor's lead by playing on after taking marks instead of taking the set shot and said snapping the ball around his body gave him less margin for error.
"I kick about 300 snaps a week," Morton said. "I think it gives you a higher percentage to go for the goal face. I might be on my own with that thinking.
"I've learnt a lot from Nathan Brown. He does it a lot and I look up to him. I practise it and pride myself on my goalkicking."
"I never want to kick more points than goals. I work hard on it. As long as I kick them, the coaches are happy."
With Morton, Brown and Richardson each kicking three goals and Jack Riewoldt booting two, the Tigers had plenty of firepower in attack against the Dockers.
Morton said the squad understood that goals would only come from working hard when they didn't have the ball. .
"We've really put an emphasis on our defensive pressure," he said.
"It was something we lacked. We've been 15th and 16th in tackles inside 50. It's something we need to improve to take the next step as a club.
"We've sat down as a forward group and said that's our barometer for the year.
"When you've got guys like Browny, Richo, Riewoldt and Cleve Hughes down there, the goals will come. It's more the defensive actions you need to work on."
