Dees, Dogs both finals bound in 2018: Cooney

2008 Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney believes both Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will finish inside the top eight this season.

Both sides endured disappointing 2017 campaigns, with the Dogs becoming the first reigning premier to not play finals in eight years and the Demons missing out on their first top eight finish since 2006 by only 0.5 per cent.

However Cooney says that both sides will learn harsh lessons from last year which will guide them towards a return to finals football in 2018.

“I think both these teams make the finals, the Dogs and the Dees,” he told SEN Afternoons.

Speaking on his former side first, Cooney believes the Dogs have the talent and the age profile to compete in September and right the wrongs of their “horrific” 2017.

“The premiership hangover was in full effect last season…the majority of that premiership side dropped off,” he said.

“They would have learned a lot about themselves and about the group last season. They went back to earth with a thud. Most of that group will be humbled.

“They’re a young team that won it before their peak. They missed a huge opportunity last year to go back to back. If that mental state was right, I think they could have won the premiership again last year.

“They should breeze into the eight with the list they have got and the young talent coming through.”

As for Melbourne, the former midfielder says the huge disappointment from the end to their promising 2017 campaign will push them to greater heights this year.

“They missed the finals by 0.5 of a per cent last year and butchered their final round. That would have stung and burned in the off-season,” said Cooney.

“They had some good wins interstate, which is a sign of maturity amongst the group, and they have improved year-on-year over the last four years.

“Jake Lever comes into the side which allows Tom McDonald to play more forward alongside Jesse Hogan. I think those two could pair up really well. We saw what Tom McDonald could do as a forward.

“They’ve got Sam Frost back with Oscar McDonald, they can be their key posts down back with Jake Lever intercepting. You’ve got Michael Hibberd down there and Neville Jetta who takes care of the small forwards. They look really solid across all facets of the ground.”

Cooney has given the Demons the slight nod over the Dogs in terms of finishing position this year, believing the Dogs’ off-field issues are still the big question mark hanging over his former side.

“Just comparing the lists and the burn Melbourne would have had pre-season, I think Melbourne marginally finish ahead of the Dogs this year. I think the Dees are ready,” he said.

“The biggest question with the Western Bulldogs is what is happening off the field. Luke Beveridge is a coach that probably gives them more trust and leeway than any other coach in the AFL, and there is no doubt there was a group of players last year that betrayed that trust and freedom that Luke Beveridge gave them.

“They did drop their standards off the field last year, a group of the Western Bulldogs players, and that filtered through to the playing group overall.”

Listen to Adam Cooney chatting with Brett Phillips on SEN Afternoons below: