southerncross
22-04-2007, 08:03 AM
Cooney, Bulldogs back on the rise (http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/cooney-bulldogs-back-on-the-rise/2007/04/21/1176697152262.html)
ADAM Cooney felt a malaise that reflected the difficulties of his team.
Defeats by Adelaide and St Kilda had the critics circling a Western Bulldogs team that went into the season with high ratings; a premiership hope in some experts' eyes.
Something had to be done. So Cooney came out blazing against Richmond on Friday night. By game's end, he had four goals to go with a batch of disposals in the midfield and up forward. He had been a thorn in the Tigers' side all night as the Bulldogs won by 32 points, 20.12 (132) to 14.16 (100).
"I just had a down patch with everyone else," said Cooney after the victory at the MCG. "If we're going to be a good team, and I'm going to be a good player, we can't afford for that to happen."
Internally, the Bulldogs were scarcely panicking after two defeats. Cooney said the issues had been overstated; he would not even concede that Friday night's game was more crucial than any other. "It's a bit early," he said. "We were only 1-2. The media tend to jump on everything, but it wasn't dire straits for us.
"We just came out hard. I had a couple of disappointing weeks and 'Rocket' (coach Rodney Eade) had us pumped up before the game. We're on the way up."
The Bulldogs won like a good side, threatening to blow Richmond away at least twice in the game, yet were unable to shake the Tigers. But when Richmond followed up a strong third quarter with an early goal in the final stanza to move within three goals, Eade's team had to dig deep again.
That they were able to cruise away again was due to the slickness of the likes of Cooney, and the return to touch of Robert Murphy up forward. Murphy, still finding his legs after a year out with a knee reconstruction, kicked four classy goals. So did Luke Darcy, who also has had his early struggles returning from a second reconstruction.
Eade said of the Tigers' rally: "Full credit to our guys to be able to answer that and kick some good goals and find a bit in the legs. It was pleasing some good players, like 'Coons', lifted and 'Murph' kicked a couple of good goals.
"Darc is still a little bit away, but he took some marks and he looked agile … Murph is not far away (from his best). You just saw some signs he's got his twinkle toes back and his agility," he said.
Eade was also full of praise for his two debutants, Tom Williams, who particularly impressed with one run out of defence that led to a goal, and Jarrod Harbrow, who buzzed in and out of play.
Eade said: "He (Harbrow) is quick and he moves really well and he's got a good step. Tommy's first couple of touches were really good. They're positive signs for us."
Richmond was inspired by Nathan Foley's great game in the middle, where he at least broke even with the prolific Scott West, and by Joel Bowden's diligent work in defence on Brad Johnson. But the Tigers struggled for firepower, with Matthew Richardson well held by Brian Harris, who has made a good start to the season.
Richmond coach Terry Wallace said there was no need to panic after four losses, but conceded his side was beaten by a better team.
"… On effort and work levels, I didn't have any problems with our guys at all," he said. "We were beaten on execution. The opposition were far better in those areas.
"I thought we butchered a lot of opportunities to make ourselves closer on the scoreboard."
With AAP
W BULLDOGS 6.4 10.8 12.11 20.12 (132)
RICHMOND 4.2 5.5 8.13 14.16 (100)
GOALS — Western Bulldogs: Darcy 4, Murphy 4, Cooney 4, Robbins 2, Higgins 2, Giansiracusa, Hargrave, Johnson, Boyd. Richmond: Richardson 3, Polak 3, Hyde 3, Schulz 2, Tivendale, P Bowden, Tuck.
BEST — Western Bulldogs: Murphy, Gilbee, Boyd, West, Harris, Eagleton, Cooney. Richmond: J Bowden, Foley, Polak, Tuck, Polo.
INJURIES — Western Bulldogs: Cross (adductor) replaced in selected side by Robbins.
REPORTS: Murphy (Western Bulldogs) for alleged forceful contact on Raines (Richmond). King (Richmond) and West (Western Bulldogs) for allegedly wrestling.
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Margetts, Chamberlain.
CROWD: 36,821 at the MCG.
ADAM Cooney felt a malaise that reflected the difficulties of his team.
Defeats by Adelaide and St Kilda had the critics circling a Western Bulldogs team that went into the season with high ratings; a premiership hope in some experts' eyes.
Something had to be done. So Cooney came out blazing against Richmond on Friday night. By game's end, he had four goals to go with a batch of disposals in the midfield and up forward. He had been a thorn in the Tigers' side all night as the Bulldogs won by 32 points, 20.12 (132) to 14.16 (100).
"I just had a down patch with everyone else," said Cooney after the victory at the MCG. "If we're going to be a good team, and I'm going to be a good player, we can't afford for that to happen."
Internally, the Bulldogs were scarcely panicking after two defeats. Cooney said the issues had been overstated; he would not even concede that Friday night's game was more crucial than any other. "It's a bit early," he said. "We were only 1-2. The media tend to jump on everything, but it wasn't dire straits for us.
"We just came out hard. I had a couple of disappointing weeks and 'Rocket' (coach Rodney Eade) had us pumped up before the game. We're on the way up."
The Bulldogs won like a good side, threatening to blow Richmond away at least twice in the game, yet were unable to shake the Tigers. But when Richmond followed up a strong third quarter with an early goal in the final stanza to move within three goals, Eade's team had to dig deep again.
That they were able to cruise away again was due to the slickness of the likes of Cooney, and the return to touch of Robert Murphy up forward. Murphy, still finding his legs after a year out with a knee reconstruction, kicked four classy goals. So did Luke Darcy, who also has had his early struggles returning from a second reconstruction.
Eade said of the Tigers' rally: "Full credit to our guys to be able to answer that and kick some good goals and find a bit in the legs. It was pleasing some good players, like 'Coons', lifted and 'Murph' kicked a couple of good goals.
"Darc is still a little bit away, but he took some marks and he looked agile … Murph is not far away (from his best). You just saw some signs he's got his twinkle toes back and his agility," he said.
Eade was also full of praise for his two debutants, Tom Williams, who particularly impressed with one run out of defence that led to a goal, and Jarrod Harbrow, who buzzed in and out of play.
Eade said: "He (Harbrow) is quick and he moves really well and he's got a good step. Tommy's first couple of touches were really good. They're positive signs for us."
Richmond was inspired by Nathan Foley's great game in the middle, where he at least broke even with the prolific Scott West, and by Joel Bowden's diligent work in defence on Brad Johnson. But the Tigers struggled for firepower, with Matthew Richardson well held by Brian Harris, who has made a good start to the season.
Richmond coach Terry Wallace said there was no need to panic after four losses, but conceded his side was beaten by a better team.
"… On effort and work levels, I didn't have any problems with our guys at all," he said. "We were beaten on execution. The opposition were far better in those areas.
"I thought we butchered a lot of opportunities to make ourselves closer on the scoreboard."
With AAP
W BULLDOGS 6.4 10.8 12.11 20.12 (132)
RICHMOND 4.2 5.5 8.13 14.16 (100)
GOALS — Western Bulldogs: Darcy 4, Murphy 4, Cooney 4, Robbins 2, Higgins 2, Giansiracusa, Hargrave, Johnson, Boyd. Richmond: Richardson 3, Polak 3, Hyde 3, Schulz 2, Tivendale, P Bowden, Tuck.
BEST — Western Bulldogs: Murphy, Gilbee, Boyd, West, Harris, Eagleton, Cooney. Richmond: J Bowden, Foley, Polak, Tuck, Polo.
INJURIES — Western Bulldogs: Cross (adductor) replaced in selected side by Robbins.
REPORTS: Murphy (Western Bulldogs) for alleged forceful contact on Raines (Richmond). King (Richmond) and West (Western Bulldogs) for allegedly wrestling.
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Margetts, Chamberlain.
CROWD: 36,821 at the MCG.