AFL star Adam Cooney is set to take the field for up to 10 games of suburban footy in 2019 after a decorated career at the top level.
Luke D’Anello, Maribyrnong Leader, 27th March, 2019
Brownlow medalist Adam Cooney is set to take the field for a club in Melbourne’s west this season.
It is understood the former Western Bulldogs and Essendon player has been training strongly with
Western Region Football League Division 1 contender Spotswood and put pen to paper with the club
on Tuesday night.
Cooney is likely to be rolled out in the opening round of the campaign and could play up to 10 games
around his media commitments.
One Spotswood official quipped the 33-year-old “can play where he likes” as the club looks to end Deer
Park’s run of six consecutive premierships.
Cooney’s son Jaxon plays juniors for the Woodsmen, his children attend school in the area and the
family lives locally.
His wife Haylea is also a member of Spotswood’s women’s team.
Cooney trained with the Woodsmen in November, 2016, just months after his AFL retirement,
sparking speculation he would play local footy.
“It was great that he turned up. I actually didn’t expect him to be there, but he knew we were training,”
coach Anthony Eames said after Cooney’s training appearance.
“It was good for the young kids to experience being around a player of that calibre.”
He has not played since calling time at the top level, but that is set to change is a major boost for the
profile of the competition.
Cooney made 250 appearances in a decorated 13-year AFL career.
He claimed the league’s highest individual honour in 2008 and was named in the All-Australian team
in the same year.
Spotswood contested eight consecutive grand finals between 2007 and 2014 for four premierships, but
it has not been back on the big stage since with Deer Park taking over as the WRFL’s leading club.
The Lions are gunning for their seventh flag in a row and have signed ex-Western Bulldogs forward
Jack Redpath.
Former Western Bulldogs, Sydney and Carlton utility Andrejs Everitt has also joined Division 2 club
Yarraville-Seddon.
Spotswood advanced to the second week of finals last season before suffering a three-point loss to
eventual runner-up Hoppers Crossing.
The Woodsmen will host Sunshine in the opening round on Saturday, April 6.