Morris, 34, will enter rarified air when he lines up in his 300^th first-grade game for the Bears against Valentine at home on Saturday.

What's more, the central defender is playing as well - and enjoying it as much - as he ever has.

"I knew if I had a good run injury-wise, I'd go close this season," Morris said of the milestone. "I love it more now than ever. You wouldn't do it if you didn't. It is too much hard work and too much time away.

"We have such a good group here. They are young, they are cheeky. You always have to be on your toes. It is at the stage now where I desperately want to do achieve something because they deserve it. They have worked their arses off since I have been back. Even just a taste of finals football and they will be hooked. They just need to play in some big games."

Morris was still very much a teenager when he made his top-grade debut under the coaching of his dad, Trevor. in 2003. He has played all his senior football with the Bears, bar 2017 when he helped Lambton Jaffas to a grand-final victory.

"I still remember a lot from the start and obviously recent seasons," he said. "There is a lot of blur in the middle.

"The box I wanted to tick was that grand final win. I won a couple of minor premierships [at Weston] and played in losing grand finals in 2004, 2010 and 2014. I knew we were rebuilding in 2017 so I thought I'd try my luck at Jaffas. It was fantastic to get the win there.

"I ticked the box and then I wanted to do it with Weston specifically.

"I saw the group the club was rebuilding with. A few boys came up from the Central Coast and I knew they had a lot of potential."

And Morris is doing his best to ensure they make the most of that talent.

"Nathan is a great leader and can still relate to the young guys," Richards said. "He is a terrific organiser. He is like having a coach on the park. It is invaluable to have someone of his experience on the ground.

"He coaches while we are playing. You can't buy that.

"The day will come when he calls it quits. Right now he is still fit enough. While ever he is taking care of his body, he is still good enough to play."

Morris has high hopes for this season, but concedes the Bears need to go on a winning run.

They currently sit in eighth spot on 11 points, five points adrift of fifth-placed Olympic.

"We are starting to lose touch so the next two games against Valentine and Adamstown are must-win," Morris said. "The comp is so tight. If you win two on the trot, you jump two or three spots."

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