Adam Cooney reveals how he exited Western Bulldogs

Adam Cooney’s time was up at the Bulldogs by the end of 2014, and they didn’t mince words when showing him the door.

Adam Cooney said the Bulldogs were a rabble the end of his final year at the club.

Adam Cooney has revealed why he had to leave the Western Bulldogs and said he almost signed for North Melbourne before he was charmed by James Hird.

The Brownlow Medal winner spent a decade at Whitten Oval before being told at the end of 2014 by then coach Brendan McCartney he wasn’t going to get a game.

“I was in a meeting with North Melbourne, I was mid meeting with (coach) Brad Scott talking about where I fit in the team,’’ he said.

“I was signed, sealed and delivered, going to North, a three year deal and they were in the premiership window. And then I left there and (Essendon recruiting boss) Adrian Dodoro rang me straight away.

“He said how’d your meeting with North go, I went yeah it went pretty well and he said before you sign come have a meeting with me and Hirdy.

“As soon as I looked into Hirdy’s golden locks and his blue eyes I was like sold. He went over everything, he said look this is what the situation is, we’re 95 per cent sure that we’re going to be found not guilty, there’s no evidence against us whatsoever.”

Adam Cooney and James Hird at Essendon training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Cooney said McCartney wasn’t the right fit at the Bulldogs.

“You talk about good coaches knowing individual players, that’s why he didn’t last,’’ he said.

“He was a bit robotic, everyone has to do this, he was obsessed. Then it drove the players away from wanting to play and we were just a rabble towards the back end of 2014.

“I had my exit meeting … they sat me down and said you’ll either be playing VFL next year or we’ll probably just pay you out.

“I walked out and rang my manager and said I think I need a trade.”

Cooney said he relayed his concerns to club president Peter Gordon but never heard from the club again.

“Brownlow night, probably not the best night to do it, and I sat down with Peter Gordon who was the president of the club and I was sitting with all the boys on the table and I said I’m going to go talk to him right now.

“I just said everything, talked about all the young players, the environment just isn’t right, he’s just not the right guy for the group. And he was really thankful, he said thank you for talking to us about this. We had some concerns, let me give you a call in the next couple of days and we’ll have a meeting and sort it out. And I didn’t hear back from the club.

Never heard from any of them again.”