He looked like he was counting down the days till he's playing somewhere else tonight. He should never have come straight into the team.
He looked like he was counting down the days till he's playing somewhere else tonight. He should never have come straight into the team.
Western Bulldogs: We exist to win premierships
Up to the Collingwood game I thought he was quite good. While he had one or two performances where he was a little bit off in terms of intensity I thought he'd had an improved year and consolidated his career. His numbers in a lot of ways back that up, especially when early on Griff was out and Libba was playing a little bit shy of his best.
Agree that Smith has been playing well and was a little unfortunate not to get a senior game this week, Honeychurch on the other hand has had his taste and didn't do a great deal without being poor (kind of what you'd expect from a first year player).
My point about him being the sub (or being against it) was based around him needing some time to get into the game after a fair lay off. I do think he's been good enough to get an immediate recall, though I didn't think he would come in without being rusty, which as it turns out, he clearly was. In a sense he was on a hiding to nothing, and while it might have been better for all concerned for him to play twos this week, starting on the ground might have meant ten or fifteen minutes early of him being a liability and getting into it, rather than him being a liability with only 30 minutes to make an impact.
Dumb move by the MC playing him as the sub.
Agree with this.
You could argue that Essendon made exactly the same mistake with Hibberd who stank up the place last night after missing several games. I at least give our MC some credit for playing Cooney sub rather than starting him on the ground. Once they decided to select him I thought starting him as sub was a pretty smart move.
I thought I was wrong once but I was mistaken.
I just think we ask him if he wants to chase a premiership. If the answer is yes, i'm sure contenders would love him at the right salary, and if it takes pick 25 to 17, then like Hrovat with Lake, if we nail the pick it's a win/win/win.
If he wants to stay on the other hand...
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023
I'll take back my idea of Cooney being Gia's replacement as the super sub.
Don't piss off old people
The older we get the less "LIFE IN PRISON" is a deterrent...
You would trade Cooney for an 8 pick upgrade? If was 15 down to 7 I could see your point but...
Cooney won't be going anywhere, he might be mates with Lake but he ain't Lake.
When he done his hammy that game he was on big time, he was by far best on at the time and really was set for a cracker.
I felt for him because he needs a game like that to remind our Faithful why we should not get rid of him.
Every time I saw Coons in the coaching box both at VFL and afl level it made me think that he looked very motivated and interested in the club. Not actions I equate with someone disinterested or looking for a trade.
I simply think he struggled as the sub and needs a run or two to come good. Hindsight suggests that should have been in the VFL.
I look forward to the time in the not too distant future when Coons can be the cream on the cake with our young pups doing the grunt work.
As per Jeemak's post above. I'm not saying trade him, i'm saying ask him if he wants to chase a flag as a part of a broad discussion with him about where he's at body wise, mind wise, motivation wise etc, etc.
If he says something like 'I think i've got one good year, i'd regret not chasing a flag, (insert team) says they'd take me on on the same salary and i'd be keen.' Then the clubs work out an upgrade which we're happy with.
If he says I want to stay, I love the club, I want to see these kids win a premierships even if it means I will never get one. Then the answer is bloody obvious what we do. I've never suggested we get rid of any club champion, a few spuds over the journey i've been tough on maybe.
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023
The year we picked up Cooney,we also coughed up pick 6 for a key forward from Hawthorn who had a dodgy knee.