Michael Gleeson



Recovery Session
IN 2000, Carlton was second on the ladder and the only true rival to Essendon when Anthony Koutoufides collapsed to the ground holding his knee. His year was over, so too was Carlton's. The Blues scrounged to win one final, but in truth they were gone.

The Bulldogs had a Koutoufides moment on Saturday night. The sound of Adam Cooney's hamstring tearing was also the sound of the Bulldogs' window closing. For this year.

The situation for the Dogs is somewhat more parlous than even Carlton's in 2000. When Koutoufides went down there was nothing separating Carlton from Essendon in the popular imagination for the flag.

The Bulldogs, in contrast, were already stumbling. The abysmal 101-point loss to Geelong in round 20 reinforced the idea that they were already a clear and considerable step below each of the three sides above them on the ladder.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...823-13ij5.html