Australian Football

Dogged, resolute and indefatigable, Bruce Morrison was the quintessential full back, and one of the finest defenders in Geelong's history. Recruited from Bairnsdale, he made an immediate impact, winning the Cats' best and fairest award in his debut season, and earning interstate selection the following year. For much of his career he formed an irrepressible back line partnership with the legendary Bernie Smith in which both players developed an almost faultless ability to provide cover for one another when it was most required.

Strong overhead, with a particularly effective spoiling technique, Morrison also displayed tremendous litheness at ground level, with his trademark sideways sprint frequently enabling him to skirt trouble. He was a superb drop kick, and his judgement of the flight of the ball was impeccable.

Bruce Morrison played a total of 130 VFL games for Geelong between 1948 and 1954, all of them on the last line of defence. (He never once troubled the scorers.) He was a member of successive premiership teams in 1951-2 and was many observers' choice as best afield in the former year.

Author - John Devaney