Adam Cooney tackles Brownlow blues
Adam Cooney tackles Brownlow blues
Jackie Epstein | January 18, 2009 12:00am
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24925412-19775,00.html
BULLDOGS midfielder Adam Cooney is fighting to avoid the Brownlow Medal blues. Cooney admits he went into hiding after winning the award, but feels confident he can handle the pressure of being the reigning medallist.
"There is that little bit of expectation because you are a Brownlow medallist," he said. "But I copped a fair bit last year to be honest."
Cooney is still two weeks away from proper running after knee surgery in October.
He says he copped plenty of attention last year from close-checking taggers so he knows what lies ahead.
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"It sort of creeps into my head every now and then, but I try to forget about it," Cooney said about winning the Brownlow.
"I've tried to stay out of the media spotlight as much as I could since I won the Brownlow. I've gone into hiding a little bit, but it's something I'm proud of and hopefully I can continue on and have a good year this year.
"Everything is exactly the same. People just call out to me that I won the Brownlow . . . like I didn't know already.
"I got used to it last season and it's something all midfielders get."
Cooney says he will play at some stage during the NAB Cup and expects to be fit for Round 1.
"I was lucky enough to have a full pre-season last year and I found the first half of the year a lot easier because you're used to working and it felt a lot better," he said.
"It'll definitely be harder coming from rehab, but I've just got to do as much as I can and make the best of it.
"You don't want to peak too early anyway and I think we travel to Perth twice in the first four weeks so that gets our long travel out of the way and we've got Darwin in pre-season as well. If we can win those games it'll get us off to a good start."
Cooney says all the players are hurting after getting so close to a Grand Final last season.
With a new fitness coach, Bill Davoren, he says the group has reached new levels.
"(Davoren) has just been fantastic since he got to the club," he said.
"Every club improves their fitness but we pride ourselves on being a fit group and the guys have stepped it up again this year and everyone's in really good nick.
"I think fitness will be a factor and if we can maintain that later in the year coming into finals I think we'll have a good shot at it."