Coach Rodney Eade flagged the likely loss of Cooney after he was kept from training on Wednesday along with Robert Murphy, Lindsay Gilbee, Dale Morris and Brodie Moles, who also showed symptoms.
However, all four of those players have been named in the side with Will Minson, Shaun Higgins and Callan Ward joining Murphy as an inclusion to the team that ended Adelaide’s finals chances last weekend.
Jarrad Grant comes out of the side with soreness while Josh Hill has been dropped.
Geelong is not without injury concerns with skipper Cameron Ling out with a hamstring strain and defender Harry Taylor to miss with a shoulder injury.
David Wojcinski and Taylor Hunt come into the side as replacements.
There are plenty of changes for Friday night's match. For Collingwood, Paul Medhurst is back after an extended spell in the VFL with Nathan Brown, Tarkyn Lockyer and Jarryd Blair also earning recalls.
Out of side goes Leon Davis (quad), Luke Ball (hip), Ben Reid (quad) and Tyson Goldsack (ankle).
Brent Prismall and Bachar Houli have paid for Essendon's limp performance against the Blues with their places in the side. Alwyn Davey (arm), Jason Winderlich (hand) and Dustin Fletcher (hamstring) also depart.
Two baby Bombers get their first games in the red sash. Jake Carlisle and Stewart Crameri will make their debuts while Henry Slattery, Ricky Dyson and Jake Melksham also come into the side.
Carlton coach Brett Ratten has rewarded the players who halted a worrying form slide last week with the same 22 who convincingly defeated Essendon named to take on Richmond on Saturday.
Richmond has made four changes for the clash. Irishman James O’Reilly makes his AFL debut with Andrew Collins, David Gourdis and Jayden Post all in as well. Luke McGuane (virus), Mitch Farmer (knee), Will Thursfield (omitted) and Jeromey Webberley (omitted) make way.
The Brisbane Lions have named Jonathan Brown and Simon Black despite question marks over their fitness for Sunday’s game against Adelaide. Tom Collier, James Polkinghorne and Travis Johnstone have been added to an expanded bench.
Adelaide will make at least two changes after losing ruckman Jonathon Griffin to an ankle injury and dropping Brodie Martin.
Phil Davis is straight into the starting 18 while Patrick Dangerfield, James Sellar, Shaun McKernan and Will Young appear on a seven-man bench.
Hawthorn loses Clinton Young to soreness for Sunday’s big clash with the Demons while Simon Taylor and Matt Suckling have been dropped.
Wayde Skipper replaces Taylor and Rhan Hooper is back from his injury-enforced layoff. Campbell Brown is back from suspension, but appears on an extended bench with Jarryd Morton, Brendan Whitecross and Carl Peterson.
Melbourne has added Matthew Warnock, Cale Morton and Brad Miller to its seven-man bench.
Ruckman Michael Gardiner sustained a hamstring injury in last week’s hammering of the Power and will miss St Kilda’s clash with North Melbourne.
The Saints have added Rhys Stanley, Jack Steven, Luke Miles and Adam Pattison to their 25-man squad.
Youngster Jamie MacMillan is out for North Melbourne with a calf injury with David Hale, Matt Campbell, Ben Warren and Marcus White appearing on an expanded bench.
