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Matt Windley From: Sunday Herald Sun
RODNEY Eade insists his side has not put the cue in the rack, but admits younger players will have selection priority after the Western Bulldogs' finals hopes were all but ended with an eight-point loss to West Coast at Etihad Stadium.
And while declaring Adam Cooney a near-certain starter for the Dogs' next game in two weeks, Eade said the club was considering sending the Brownlow medallist overseas at the after the season for surgery on his right knee.
He spoke of his pride in the Dogs' ability to fight back from a 50-point deficit in the third quarter yesterday, but lamented a questionable umpiring decision that gave Eagles' forward Jack Darling a go-ahead goal late in the fourth quarter.
Liam Picken was adjudged to have brought Darling to ground after a marking contest deep inside West Coast's attacking 50m.
Darling goaled from the free kick and the Dogs did not score again.
"I was watching the incident, but I didn't see the free kick," Eade said.
"But we can't get it back. If it's wrong, it's wrong, that's it. It might have cost us the game, but that's footy, that's the way it is. In a tight game like that you may keep your whistle in your pocket, but that happens.
"But, as I've said, there's some things that we needed to be better at and (show) a bit of poise. That last mark (to Dean Cox in the final minute), we should have been able to spoil."
He said the Dogs would continue to try to "win as many games as you can", but said he would continue to give youngsters game time.
The club has given debuts to eight players this year, a tally bettered only by Gold Coast. "We'll play players on form but, having said that, if there's a line ball, we'll play a kid," Eade said.
"We obviously played a lot of young lads today and we have the past eight or so weeks. But if there's a young lad who we think hasn't played a game at this stage we might obviously give him a game, so that will be a chance."
Eade said he did not see the point in prematurely ending Cooney's season - as the club has done with injured full-back Brian Lake - but admitted it was exploring options to aid the star midfielder's recovery from knee soreness.
"We might look at some alternatives overseas or something at the end of the year," he said.
"We're investigating that at the moment. But from the information we've got, there's not a lot we can do to improve it, it's just management of his knee.
"Putting Cooney out to pasture is not going to make his knee any better than what it is. If he has to have an operation then having it earlier is not going to make him any better and playing is not going to make it any worse.
"That's our medical advice. Adam's got two weeks with the bye next week, so we would think he would be right to play."
West Coast does not play a top eight side for the remainder of the season and, with a game in hand on fourth-placed Carlton, are in the box seat to snare fourth spot.
But coach John Worsfold refused to be drawn on the Eagles' finals fate after yesterday's win.
"The work we've done up until this point has been really outstanding by the players, but that's done and dusted now, that gives us nothing," Worsfold said.
"What's ahead for us is what's exciting and that starts next week.
"What comes in whatever number of weeks' time that is, who knows, we'll wait and see.
"But there's no use in this game worrying too much about possibilities because things move too quickly and change too quickly."
RODNEY Eade insists his side has not put the cue in the rack, but admits younger players will have selection priority after the Western Bulldogs' finals hopes were all but ended with an eight-point loss to West Coast at Etihad Stadium.
And while declaring Adam Cooney a near-certain starter for the Dogs' next game in two weeks, Eade said the club was considering sending the Brownlow medallist overseas at the after the season for surgery on his right knee.
He spoke of his pride in the Dogs' ability to fight back from a 50-point deficit in the third quarter yesterday, but lamented a questionable umpiring decision that gave Eagles' forward Jack Darling a go-ahead goal late in the fourth quarter.
Liam Picken was adjudged to have brought Darling to ground after a marking contest deep inside West Coast's attacking 50m.
Darling goaled from the free kick and the Dogs did not score again.
"I was watching the incident, but I didn't see the free kick," Eade said.
"But we can't get it back. If it's wrong, it's wrong, that's it. It might have cost us the game, but that's footy, that's the way it is. In a tight game like that you may keep your whistle in your pocket, but that happens.
"But, as I've said, there's some things that we needed to be better at and (show) a bit of poise. That last mark (to Dean Cox in the final minute), we should have been able to spoil."
He said the Dogs would continue to try to "win as many games as you can", but said he would continue to give youngsters game time.
The club has given debuts to eight players this year, a tally bettered only by Gold Coast. "We'll play players on form but, having said that, if there's a line ball, we'll play a kid," Eade said.
"We obviously played a lot of young lads today and we have the past eight or so weeks. But if there's a young lad who we think hasn't played a game at this stage we might obviously give him a game, so that will be a chance."
Eade said he did not see the point in prematurely ending Cooney's season - as the club has done with injured full-back Brian Lake - but admitted it was exploring options to aid the star midfielder's recovery from knee soreness.
"We might look at some alternatives overseas or something at the end of the year," he said.
"We're investigating that at the moment. But from the information we've got, there's not a lot we can do to improve it, it's just management of his knee.
"Putting Cooney out to pasture is not going to make his knee any better than what it is. If he has to have an operation then having it earlier is not going to make him any better and playing is not going to make it any worse.
"That's our medical advice. Adam's got two weeks with the bye next week, so we would think he would be right to play."
West Coast does not play a top eight side for the remainder of the season and, with a game in hand on fourth-placed Carlton, are in the box seat to snare fourth spot.
But coach John Worsfold refused to be drawn on the Eagles' finals fate after yesterday's win.
"The work we've done up until this point has been really outstanding by the players, but that's done and dusted now, that gives us nothing," Worsfold said.
"What's ahead for us is what's exciting and that starts next week.
"What comes in whatever number of weeks' time that is, who knows, we'll wait and see.
"But there's no use in this game worrying too much about possibilities because things move too quickly and change too quickly."
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