Don't bring back Cookie!

[Jetau]

Well, like the title says...

I adore Cookie, he's a crowd favourite if ever there was one, but this talk of allowing him to play 3 more games to gain life membership of the Fremantle FC needs to be questioned.

Even if we are out of the finals, we should be preparing for next year by blooding youngsters. Foster deserves a go, Ibbotson too, and I hear that Webster is deserving of a recall too. Cook should only play if his form warrants it.

I believe we should have a testimonial game for Parker, Cook, Bell (if he's quitting), and even Macca (depends on whether he's getting a new contract). This testimonial game should be in round 21 against Melbourne. That's fine. I want to cheer these guys one more time. But giving Cook 3 games is not fine, IMO.

I will cheer Cookie on if he gets selected, but surely it would be better to get a few games into Foster and co?

 

[Kram]

Agree. One send off game for Cook would be alright as a thank you.

 

[wehavethepassion]

Well, like the title says...

I believe we should have a testimonial game for Parker, Cook, Bell (if he's quitting), and even Macca (depends on whether he's getting a new contract). This testimonial game should be in round 21 against Melbourne. That's fine. I want to cheer these guys one more time. But giving Cook 3 games is not fine, IMO.

I will cheer Cookie on if he gets selected, but surely it would be better to get a few games into Foster and co?

As soon as you start showing disrespect towards your opposition your in trouble. Lookwhat happened to the SLime when they wer eplaying the lions at Subi it was going to be Babyoils' big return from the wilderness.

They treated the game as a training run and got pansted. Showed no respect.

Now we are playing melbourne who are crap but to bring back cookie & parker when their form doesn't warrant it means we ain't playing our best side meaning we think that melbourne are easy pickings(probably are if we play well) and don't deserve our best side. Showing no respect. Never give a the opposition a sniff or any extra incentive.

Make an exception and give cookie Life membership whether he players 150 games or not

 

[The Night Shift]

Make an exception and give cookie Life membership whether he players 150 games or not

Is there a hard and fast rule abuot how a player earns life membership. Must they play the bare ammount of 150 games to be ellegable just to be considered?

As a previous F&B winner of our team, we should try to help out Cooke. He has been a fan favourite. Surely, he could lift and play out of this world for three more games, even if sporadically of the bench. He knows himself he has three more games, i doubt he will hold back - not that he ever has.

 

[prattsta]

Is there a hard and fast rule abuot how a player earns life membership. Must they play the bare ammount of 150 games to be ellegable just to be considered?

As a previous F&B winner of our team, we should try to help out Cooke. He has been a fan favourite. Surely, he could lift and play out of this world for three more games, even if sporadically of the bench. He knows himself he has three more games, i doubt he will hold back - not that he ever has.

The club can give life membership to anyone they like. The 150 game requirement is hardly written in stone, its more of a guideline. As far as cookie is concerned i'd be more than happy for the club to make an exception.

 

[FootyEater]

Good call guys, give cookie an honorary life membership, get his picture on the wall, but give ibbo and foster a gig, as they are in form and deserve it

 

[FootyEater]

i agree with you GJ in theory on cook, but how are guys like ibbo and foster meant to feel when they dont get rewarded? you have to look on both sides, it would be damaging i think to lose a game by playing cook, parker and macca for a farewell game, and make the younger players feel like they arent wanted, also other clubs will feel like you are taking it easy on them. it would open up a big can of worms for the club.

I reckon give cookie honorary life membership, mcmanus and parks are already qualified, play our best team, win the match, and have ceremony before our last game to honour our greats. this would also give the team a good lift before the game to come out and smash melbourne for them.

That would not be treating our players badly

but thats just my opinion​

 

[TerryToonice]

Bring back the Monster, hell its three more games...sure Gibbo and co will cope. Hes given all for this club and I honestly believe if he knows hes going to get three last games will pour his heart and soul into every ball oppurtunity, seems like the guys characteristics

And as for Parker why not? He's been around since the start and a final farewell should be mandatory

 

[malpaso]

Does it surprise anyone that Parker, Cookie etc have not announced that they are retiring at season's end?

It surprises me.

Either way, maybe we should not assume that they are retiring until they have in fact done so.

 

[pinkus maximus]

Does it surprise anyone that Parker, Cookie etc have not announced that they are retiring at season's end?

It surprises me.

Either way, maybe we should not assume that they are retiring until they have in fact done so.

of course they are retiring. all are out of contract,no other club will take them

an announcement will be made soon enough

 

[jeffle]

Well, like the title says...

I adore Cookie, he's a crowd favourite if ever there was one, but this talk of allowing him to play 3 more games to gain life membership of the Fremantle FC needs to be questioned.

Even if we are out of the finals, we should be preparing for next year by blooding youngsters. Foster deserves a go, Ibbotson too, and I hear that Webster is deserving of a recall too. Cook should only play if his form warrants it.

I believe we should have a testimonial game for Parker, Cook, Bell (if he's quitting), and even Macca (depends on whether he's getting a new contract). This testimonial game should be in round 21 against Melbourne. That's fine. I want to cheer these guys one more time. But giving Cook 3 games is not fine, IMO.

I will cheer Cookie on if he gets selected, but surely it would be better to get a few games into Foster and co?

I hear where you are coming from, but if we have learnt anything in the last month ... or rather year... it has been that our team have lacked heart and flair. Compare the team to this time last year... if my memory serves me correctly they brought Cook back into the team and he VASTLY improved the midfield. Almost single-handedly turned our season around IMO.

We all seem happy to have Haselby running around basically crippled, he racks up the boring hot potato possessions... then you all look in the paper and are dazzled when you read his handball stats. I would have Cook over Haselby in my acrod team any day of the week.

Cook is ready to be unleashed for his last hoorah. If he pulls up destroyed then he should pack it in. Whatever happens we need more Dockers with his heart and determination. In a word: fierce.

 

[FootyEater]

I hear where you are coming from, but if we have learnt anything in the last month ... or rather year... it has been that our team have lacked heart and flair. Compare the team to this time last year... if my memory serves me correctly they brought Cook back into the team and he VASTLY improved the midfield. Almost single-handedly turned our season around IMO.

We all seem happy to have Haselby running around basically crippled, he racks up the boring hot potato possessions... then you all look in the paper and are dazzled when you read his handball stats. I would have Cook over Haselby in my acrod team any day of the week.

Cook is ready to be unleashed for his last hoorah. If he pulls up destroyed then he should pack it in. Whatever happens we need more Dockers with his heart and determination. In a word: fierce.

unfortunately we also need players that can kick the ball further than 20 meters straight. cook doesnt fit this catagory.
hasleby was sensational on the weekend. if cook had have played instead of hasleby on the weekend, we may have lost

 

[Kenny_01]

lol Cook in the midfield would be distasterous. He is wayyyyyyy to slow and cannot kick. Luckily the coaching staff are aware of this and are not giving him games... and rightly so.

Webster deserves a game well before Cook. He would offer us the hardness of Cook with extra agility, speed and disposal skills.

 

[FootyEater]

lol Cook in the midfield would be distasterous. He is wayyyyyyy to slow and cannot kick. Luckily the coaching staff are aware of this and are not giving him games... and rightly so.

Webster deserves a game well before Cook. He would offer us the hardness of Cook with extra agility, speed and disposal skills.

i feel a bit sorry for luke webster, im not sure he has the talent to become a regular, but he offers enough to be considered every week. im really not sure what we should do with him.

 

[prattsta]

i feel a bit sorry for luke webster, im not sure he has the talent to become a regular, but he offers enough to be considered every week. im really not sure what we should do with him.

He's got the talent to play every week, he just needs the opportunity. With a few of the older blokes calling it quits i have no doubt we will see more of him next year.

 

[estibador]

Cook is a proud guy - an "honourary" life membership is not the same as actually playing the 150 games and earning it.

I think its a complete slap in the face to Cookie to offer him a token gesture like an "honourary" membership.

I see what your saying, but is it really any different to offering Cookie 3 token games just to bump him up to 150? In his heart of hearts he will know he was only selected to nurse him to 150. That sounds like a token gesture to me.

Is it really a slap in the face to be offered an honourary life membership? It's not like the club hands them out like pills at an eagles' mad monday party.

Have we ever offered anyone honourary life membership before? Kicketty's the only past player I can think of that deserved one. If they haven't given him one they should pronto. That's not bad company for Cookie to be keeping.

Just give him and Parks a one game send off and award him the life membership. It's not like it's a sympathy vote - he's earned it.

 

[Jetau]

Saying that players should be picked on form is not being a 'fickle' supporter, GJ.

I am, and remain a fan of Cookie, but his time is up. As predicted before the season, Solomon has more or less taken his place in the team.

If his form warranted a recall, then he'd have gotten back into the team already. Saying that he is more value than Hase is laughable.

Great player, but I'm not in favour of 'handing out' games to anyone. Remember how Sheedy nursed Rioli to 100 games? Sure it was nice, but did it help the team? I doubt it. Finals are still on the cards, in theory anyway, and if they aren't, we should be playing the youngsters.

To move this discussion forward a little, does anyone know if Cook is likely to be recalled this week? Also, does his form in the WAFL warrant a recall?

Don't think I'm a Cook-basher, far from it.

 

[dugrene]

The majority agree we would like for Cook to get to 150 games for Freo.

I ask... If he plays this weekend would he being included in the side compromise us to the point that we are more likely to lose ? answer ... No.

Assuming he plays this week and we win, he needs two more games.

Imo he wont be selected for the Saints.

He could be selected for the Demon's game which means he needs only one more game.

So depending on what happens against the Saints he could get a gig against Port.
If we make the eight he might and he didnt play against Port then he might yet get his 150th.

I hope he plays this week.

 

[martorius]

Man, if Cookie had been playing all year, we would've been a certainty for the finals now!!

 

[Jetau]

Are you for real?

Cookie's a tough nut all right, but hardly the messiah....

 

[Jetau]

I said before that Cook shouldn't play unless his WAFL form deserved it. Harvey seemed to be indicating that Cook wouldn't be given an armchair ride to 150. He also said during the week that he was reluctant to change the team than flogged Essendon.

Why then was Schammer a late withdrawal for Cook? Was it an injury, or not?

Anyway, these are Cook's stats:

4 kicks, 5 handballs, 2 marks, 1 goal (a very nice one too), 2 tackles. This isn't good enough to stay in the team, IMO. Especially with Dodd and Headland poised to return, as well as Webster, Foster etc.

Simply put, why is Cook in the team? Is it just to get him to 150?

Now that Harvey decided to play him today, he'll probably have to play him next week, as it will be his last home game. Hell, I want to cheer Cookie one last time as well (and Macca - but that's still up in the air ). And if he gets to 149, then Harvey might as well leave him in against Port so that he can achieve his life membership. Don't get me wrong about this - I am not a Cook basher and he certainly deserves a life membership.

But my point is, on form, Cook should not get a game next week. His 'fairytale finish' is denying a young player like Foster or Ibbotson a couple of games under their belt going into 2008.

Am I right to question this, or am I just a mean spirited a**hole?

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

But my point is, on form, Cook should not get a game next week. His 'fairytale finish' is denying a young player like Foster or Ibbotson a couple of games under their belt going into 2008.

Am I right to question this, or am I just a mean spirited a**hole?

A couple of games won't make much difference either way to Foster or Ibbotson. Especially Ibbotson whose form doesn't warrant a recall anyway.

But two more games will make a huge difference to Cookie and is a reward for meritorious service.

To me it seems a no brainer to include him.