For the last four seasons he has averaged almost 20 possessions a game, with moderate improvement year by year. He virtually doesn't have bad games full stop. He doesn't have that many elite games either (although that might change), but if his lower level remains competitive, that will insulate him. Then you have to factor in the big body that he brings to the contest, plus the kicking penetration, plus the maturity factor given his age.
Don't think he's vulnerable at all. Very consistent performer as well as a good leader. Would take something extraordinary for him to lose his spot
But because our side lacks pace, even if Cooney is just ticking along at 20+ a game like he did in 2014, i think he will have greater value to our side than he did to the WB side. It's only through his body letting him down that i can see him losing enough form to get dropped. Those niggling injuries could do the job on him...
Was dropped to the VFL last year for a couple of games, I believe.
I guess Hams is an unknown quantity, but it would be staggering to see him rise that far that quickly.
That's my side, but i like Zach as the sub. I think we need to start using the sub properly this year. The sub has to be an impact style player rather than the 22nd best player. Licka would be the only other that i would consider as a sub from that side as things stand right now (Colyer and Cooney are too valuable in the midfield). In general, Howlett, Dal, Edwards, Hams are the types we can look at during the year.
The reason i think Myers is safe is because he so rarely has a bad game, and is having less and less of them each year. He is that work horse presence in the midfield that is really hard to stop. When was the last time you remember thinking 'Jeez Myers had a bad one!'? The only criticism he has copped had been relation to being another slow midfielder when we were desperate for pace, and having gone ahead of Stanton, he is safe on that score.
You're right in that he has to improve if he wants to be part of a premiership side. Like i said, i think he would get more of the ball if he wasn't second fiddle to Watson and Heppell, but that means he needs to find ways to impact the game more when he is not playing the inside role. One way would be using his left foot to advantage by receiving on the outside when in attack. I think this has been tried, but his lack of pace means he doesn't get space very often.
Hird has dropped Melksham before. In both 2011 and 2013 (Anzac Day).
Apologies, it was Knights dropping him in 2010 that I remember. But yes, he has been dropped by Hird once. It's always stuck in my head because until Round 17 last year, he'd never played in winning side against Collingwood because of being dropped for that game.
I don't doubt you are right. But if he continues in his 'average' capacity, he will make our side each week because he fills a need regardless of inside or outside. Unless we lose and start looking like s**t that is
