RESPECTED Western Bulldogs veteran Dale Morris is keen to extend his storied AFL career into the 2019 season, while father-son pick Mitch Wallis also wants to stay at the Kennel.
The 35-year-old Morris, who famously played in the 2016 Grand Final win over Sydney with a broken back, played his first game of the season in round 11 after suffering a partial tear to an anterior cruciate ligament in February.
He underwent knee surgery for a different issue following that match and confounded expectations with a swift return in round 14.
Morris has suffered plenty of setbacks since he broke through to make his AFL debut as a 22-year-old in 2005, but his ability to play through pain is legendary.
"I'll keep going for as long as I can ... I love the game too much," Morris told Channel Seven's Game Day.
"I just love playing ... it's the greatest job ever I reckon.
"I'll keep going as long as the body and mind holds up. So far the mind is good. The body has its issues every now and then.
"As long as there's a role I'll be there."
Morris, who will be 36 in December, has played 244 AFL games.
He is a much-respected figure at Whitten Oval, but will likely need to wait until after the season to see if a new contract will be forthcoming.
Wallis, meanwhile, has been in and out of the senior side this season, and speculation has been mounting that the tough midfielder – a restricted free agent - will be wearing new colours in 2019.
Wallis, though, says his future lies at the Kennel.
Appearing on the Nine Network's Future Stars program, Wallis said: "I'm certain that I want to stay. We're in constant chats.
"My main priority at the moment is to keep this momentum going, because it has been a bit of a disappointing year; there's been a lot written about that."
Drafted in 2010 as a father-son selection, Wallis missed the Dogs' drought-breaking premiership because of a broken leg.
He made his return to the senior side in the round 9 loss to Geelong last season and played 12 games for the year.
Wallis was overlooked for the first three games of this season, and was dropped after the round nine loss to the Crows.
Wallis added: "I just see my role as really harnessing the group, leading from the front because we have got such a young group; there's so much exciting talent coming through… who knows what we can achieve at the end of this year?
"I can say that I can see myself at the Bulldogs for a very long time.
"I know that I've got a future in the game and I hope it's going to be at the Bulldogs. We're in constant talks; we're going to get it done but we don’t have a timeline on it.
"My focus is on getting this team back playing the way we have the past few weeks."
Wallis had 24 disposals and kicked a goal in the Dogs' upset win over the Cats on Friday night.
