By Nicholas Creely
After toiling away at his south-eastern football club Beaconsfield, Bailey Morrish was finally given the chance to prove his worth at the Stingrays’ pre-season training in late 2015.
The left-footed defender hasn’t gone through the conventional pathway of state representation but a stunning rise late in 2016 has seen him become one of the most tantalising bargains for any AFL club.
“It’s been a bit of a mixture of hard work and realising my potential and what I can do – I was pretty unlucky to not get the Vic Country invite but all you can do is go to TAC level and work as hard as you possibly can,” Morrish said.
The 18-year-old Beaconsfield product was an enticing prospect for a club that was looking for a player with genuine leadership, athleticism and an ability to intercept the ball.
He said a certain dashing Hawk was someone he had followed closely across the journey.
“I love to run and carry, take intercept marks and use my trusty left foot,” he said.
“Isaac Smith is certainly a player I’ve watched a lot – it’s just his run and carry, his skill and I’d like to take a few things from his game into mine.
Morrish had a consistent and exciting season for the Stingrays in 2016, showcasing his impressive distribution of the ball and ability to read the play.
He said the TAC Cup was an experience he will always remember.
“It was my first full pre-season last year and this was my first year at TAC and I’ve loved every minute of it,” he said.
“It was a great experience, I’ve made new life-long friends and learnt new things and it’s just been awesome.”
This impressive season culminated in another surprise call-up, this time in the Under 18s All-Stars game, in which he impressed with his elite foot skills.
But something Morrish loves even more and will treasure for the rest of his life is the prized memories of his junior days, something that reminds him of where he has come from.
“On my wall there are three premiership flags for Beaconsfield – Under 14s, 15s and 17s – that’s been some of my biggest highlights so far in the journey,” he said.
“They are days I will never get back and I’m really thankful for everyone for their ongoing support.”
With the National Draft ticking closer and closer, Morrish is going in with no expectations, knowing all too-well that anything can happen.
“All you can do, really, is just wait and hope for the best, really,” he said.
“It’s hard to never really know whether you will get drafted – you look at Tommy Glen last year and he spoke to a lot of AFL clubs, at least a dozen and he had a great year – you just have to hope for the best.”
But despite the unknown, Morrish insists he is determined to create his own destiny, no matter where the road leads.
“I think I’m 100 per cent ready to go anywhere, I’m pretty independent and I’d love to go on my own path and if I go interstate, I’m happy,” he said.
“I’m confident that if I am lucky enough to get an AFL game, I will know I have given it my all.”
But there are people in the young man’s life that he owes a lot to, in particular his parents and the Dandenong Stingrays.
“Nick Cox, the defensive coach at the Stingrays, has done a hell of a lot for me this year in developing me as both a person and a player,” he said.
“I’d also like to thank Mark Wheeler for helping me and giving me a second chance at my dream.
“But Mum and Dad have been enormous for me and a great support base.
“They supported me and gave me the confidence to get the best out of myself.”
