Adam Cooney has admitted he has concerns with the current injury dilemma encircling Essendon.
The former Bombers midfielder feels there are problems arising at Tullamarine given the quantity and quality of players who are enduring restricted training programs due to off-season issues and surgeries.
Captain Dyson Heppell gave an optimistic assessment of the club’s injury troubles on SEN Summer Breakfast on Tuesday which prompted Cooney to comment on the current situation.
“It was a positive spin from Hep, the skipper, saying it’s a blessing in disguise because some of those young players have to step up on the track because the old boys aren’t out there,” he said on SEN Summer Breakfast.
“It’s a really positive way of putting it. You obviously want your best players out on the track and fit.
“I was a little bit worried to hear about ‘Raz’ (Orazio Fantasia) and Joe Daniher still struggling in the rehab group. Obviously they haven’t got too far in terms of positive news for Daniher which is a major concern given the forward line uses they had. It looks likely to lead into 2020.
“And Fantasia, who I really rate as a quality link man, he lost a bit of speed with this hip injuries.
“Cale Hooker has had surgery not too long ago so it looks like he’ll have a delayed start to the season; Michael Hurley as well. I’ve got some real concerns with where Essendon are at leading into 2020.
“You make the obvious comparison to Melbourne straight away. You look at the amount of surgeries they had in the off-season (last year), I think it’s a serious concern.
“You want the majority of those players back in the early part of January if they are going to get their six-to-eight week block in to be fit enough to get through a whole season of football.
“You need your core group out there if you are going to be any chance of contending.”
Cooney suggested that any playing group will eventually feel the pinch if enough of their top quality personnel are sidelined for extended periods of pre-season training.
“There is a tipping point for any group. Clubs have reached it in previous years,” he added.
“If they are going to have injuries to some of those key players early, and if they don’t bank wins, it’s going to be really tough in the back end (of the season).”
As a result, should Essendon fans be tempering their expectations for season 2020?
“I’m happy to say that I am an Essendon supporter and I am tempering my expectations on them, certainly for the first half of the year,” he said further.
“At the moment, we don’t know who is out there. You look at the calibre and quality of players who are injured, I just don’t know where the group is at and I don’t know where the improvement is going to come from in 2020.”
Catch up on Heppell’s chat with Jack Heverin and Adam Cooney below: