Adam Cooney out again of Bulldogs line-up

[G-Mo77]

WESTERN Bulldogs' hopes of a face-saving win against Hawthorn on Sunday have taken a hit, with Brownlow Medal winner Adam Cooney remaining on the sidelines.

Cooney will miss at least another week with knee soreness.

Full-forward Barry Hall is certain to return after playing in the VFL last week, but All-Australian full-back Brian Lake's immediate future remains clouded.

Lake will be discussed as an option to re-inforce the Dogs' defence, which wilted against West Coast on Sunday, but is no certainty to be promoted.

He did not dominate in the VFL last weekend and must find full confidence in his body after a series of operations in the off-season.

Cooney and Lake are the Bulldogs' highest-paid and best players, and the club faces a monumental task to resurrect its season unless they can return to fitness and form.

Cooney's preparation has been so limited the Dogs decided not to risk him against the in-form Hawks at Etihad Stadium.

With a full week of training, starting at the weekend, Cooney could return against Geelong on Saturday week. He has been battling a kneecap injury all season, affecting his kicking and confidence.

He missed Sunday's 123-point loss to West Coast in Perth.

Hall had ankle surgery after the Bulldogs' Round 5 loss to Fremantle and has missed three games. Mindful of the dangers of him returning on the expanses of Patersons Stadium at the weekend, he played for Williamstown, kicking 4.6 from 11 shots.

It remains to be seen if the Dogs can go into the Hawthorn game with Liam Jones and Jarrad Grant up forward and Hall returning.

Tom Williams may be under pressure after being savaged by Eagle Josh Kennedy, but if Lake is not promoted, Williams is likely to be required as Hawks Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead loom as threats.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...-1226063086345

[chef]

Does anyone know exactly what is wrong with his knee and would he be better off putting a line through 2011, having an op and getting ready for 2012 or is this just something he will need to manage?

[Desipura]

I can't stop thinking if he had not be foolishly playing up overseas in the offseason and treated his injury properly, he would not be in this position.
Not sure if I have previously mentioned the Nathan Buckley story.
He would train on Christmas Day. Why?
Because he knew his opponents would not be. Buckley believed he could get an advantage on his opponents fitness wise and thought in such a competitive competition, any advantage he could take, he would.

Do you think the likes of Buckley, Grant and Hird would have gone overseas or would they have stayed back home and ensured they did all the rehabilitation to ensure they were 100 per cent ready for pre season?

Lake is in a similar category as Cooney. These 2 (from what I see) have not set a good example to the rest of the playing group in terms of professionalism.
Sure let your hair down in the offseason, don't neglect your main asset that enables you to get well paid for what you do....... your body

[Cyberdoggie]

I can't stop thinking if he had not be foolishly playing up overseas in the offseason and treated his injury properly, he would not be in this position.
Not sure if I have previously mentioned the Nathan Buckley story.
He would train on Christmas Day. Why?
Because he knew his opponents would not be. Buckley believed he could get an advantage on his opponents fitness wise and thought in such a competitive competition, any advantage he could take, he would.

Do you think the likes of Buckley, Grant and Hird would have gone overseas or would they have stayed back home and ensured they did all the rehabilitation to ensure they were 100 per cent ready for pre season?

Lake is in a similar category as Cooney. These 2 (from what I see) have not set a good example to the rest of the playing group in terms of professionalism.
Sure let your hair down in the offseason, don't neglect your main asset that enables you to get well paid for what you do....... your body

That may be true and i'm sure many players don't take recovery from their injuries seriously enough, but at the same time we are asking the players to be not only full time but all time players. For the dedicated few it might be an option but some just need break now and again.

[ratsmac]

Does anyone know exactly what is wrong with his knee and would he be better off putting a line through 2011, having an op and getting ready for 2012 or is this just something he will need to manage?

This season is slipping away fast. I did read some where that Cooney's injury is a strange one where surgery is hit and miss and whether he rests it or plays with it, it will not get any better or worse. If he has a lot of pain, well he'll have to rest it then. It may have been Rocket saying it actually. So from all reports it's something he just has to manage.

[Greystache]

I can't stop thinking if he had not be foolishly playing up overseas in the offseason and treated his injury properly, he would not be in this position.
Not sure if I have previously mentioned the Nathan Buckley story.
He would train on Christmas Day. Why?
Because he knew his opponents would not be. Buckley believed he could get an advantage on his opponents fitness wise and thought in such a competitive competition, any advantage he could take, he would.

Do you think the likes of Buckley, Grant and Hird would have gone overseas or would they have stayed back home and ensured they did all the rehabilitation to ensure they were 100 per cent ready for pre season?

Lake is in a similar category as Cooney. These 2 (from what I see) have not set a good example to the rest of the playing group in terms of professionalism.
Sure let your hair down in the offseason, don't neglect your main asset that enables you to get well paid for what you do....... your body

His knee injury is a recurring problem from when he fractured his knee cap back in 2008. He still hasn't been able to get it right, the club is looking overseas for possible treatment solutions. To suggest a few weeks of extra treatment at the end of 2010 would have made the difference to a 3 year old injury is pretty far fetched.

[LostDoggy]

His knee injury is a recurring problem from when he fractured his knee cap back in 2008. He still hasn't been able to get it right, the club is looking overseas for possible treatment solutions. To suggest a few weeks of extra treatment at the end of 2010 would have made the difference to a 3 year old injury is pretty far fetched.

Maybe, but why then risk aggravating it with a stupid esky lid stunt? Sure it was harmless etc. etc.

We can make all the excuses we want for Adam, and I'm sure the injury is a real and serious one, but let's not pretend that he's more professional than he is, or even as professional as he needs to be. Training hard when you're expected to is a given (heck, that's what these guys are paid to do, no credit required when you're simply doing your job) -- a leader does more than that, and all the discussion about him potentially captaining the club simply shows the leadership vaccuum we have in our playing list.

[LostDoggy]

For the dedicated few it might be an option but some just need break now and again.

And that's what sets the elite apart from the merely very good. A fit Coons with Boydy or Crossy's singlemindedness would be near untouchable and certainly in the top 5 players in the comp.

It's not a knock on him as a human being (it's his right to be whatever type of person he chooses to be), just a shame in terms of professional potential.

[Desipura]

Lantern, you have summed it up perfectly ion your last 2 posts^^^^^

[Mantis]

And that's what sets the elite apart from the merely very good. A fit Coons with Boydy or Crossy's singlemindedness would be near untouchable and certainly in the top 5 players in the comp.

It's not a knock on him as a human being (it's his right to be whatever type of person he chooses to be), just a shame in terms of professional potential.

And what if the nature of injury means that no matter how professional (or unprofessional) he is, it just won't get any better?

As you mentioned his 'esky slide' was pretty silly and was probably an unnecessary action, but after completeing his re-hab prior to xmas his training in the lead-up to the season from what I saw was very good.... it just looks from an outsiders view that his injury as well as not enabling him to train all that often just isn't allowing him to do what we once could .ie. break lines & burst away from clearances; which is a shame because at his best he is right up there with the elite of the comp.

[Desipura]

And what if the nature of injury means that no matter how professional (or unprofessional) he is, it just won't get any better?

As you mentioned his 'esky slide' was pretty silly and was probably an unnecessary action, but after completeing his re-hab prior to xmas his training in the lead-up to the season from what I saw was very good.... it just looks from an outsiders view that his injury as well as not enabling him to train all that often just isn't allowing him to do what we once could .ie. break lines & burst away from clearances; which is a shame because at his best he is right up there with the elite of the comp.

He looked overweight just before xmas.

[Mantis]

He looked overweight just before xmas.

Perhaps not being able to run/ exercise meant he put on a little weight.... big deal.