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I've been thinking a lot lately about a Nathan Buckley return against us. Since he played for Williamstown last Saturday (19th August), it is now practically a certainty that he will take the field for the first time this season against us at the MCG in Round 21.
Swan supporters will obviously draw pessimistic comparisons with the Ben Cousins Round 16 return against us. There is however four fundamental differences between Cousins' comeback against us and Buckley's anticipated comeback.
First, Buckley is aged 35, Cousin only 29. That six years makes a very big difference
Second, Cousins was only out for four months. His last game was a practice match in mid March against the Western Bulldogs, where he was best on ground. Until last weekend, (19th August), Buckley hadn't played any game of AFL football for over eleven months now.
Third, Cousins never was out for any reasons related to physical injuries. All the time he was out, he would been physically fit, having fully utilised his body physically. Witness the incredible state of his body when he returned. He was probably actually physically fitter than any of the other 43 players that played that night. For Buckley, it has been a slow physical return to fitness. He probably only been fully fit for few weeks. If he plays in the midfield, he simply would not have the capacity to take a very large number of possessions even going close to the 39 Cousins took against us.
Fourth, there are the comparable atmospheres. At Subi the night Cousins came back the ground was full house, with about 97% West Coast Eagles supporters. If Buckley comes back against us, the MCG will be about 2/3rds capacity, with only about 65% of the crowd supporting the Pies.
Swan supporters will obviously draw pessimistic comparisons with the Ben Cousins Round 16 return against us. There is however four fundamental differences between Cousins' comeback against us and Buckley's anticipated comeback.
First, Buckley is aged 35, Cousin only 29. That six years makes a very big difference
Second, Cousins was only out for four months. His last game was a practice match in mid March against the Western Bulldogs, where he was best on ground. Until last weekend, (19th August), Buckley hadn't played any game of AFL football for over eleven months now.
Third, Cousins never was out for any reasons related to physical injuries. All the time he was out, he would been physically fit, having fully utilised his body physically. Witness the incredible state of his body when he returned. He was probably actually physically fitter than any of the other 43 players that played that night. For Buckley, it has been a slow physical return to fitness. He probably only been fully fit for few weeks. If he plays in the midfield, he simply would not have the capacity to take a very large number of possessions even going close to the 39 Cousins took against us.
Fourth, there are the comparable atmospheres. At Subi the night Cousins came back the ground was full house, with about 97% West Coast Eagles supporters. If Buckley comes back against us, the MCG will be about 2/3rds capacity, with only about 65% of the crowd supporting the Pies.
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