Adam Cooney: Footy’s a pain game — and so much more

ASK Adam Cooney what footy means to him and the Brownlow medallist — who estimates he received more than 1500 painkillers over four years alone — says “pain”. But he’s not complaining.

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WHEN I was asked to write about what football means to me, I must admit I struggled for a week, unsure how to write without it emerging as a “woe is me” piece.

I was fortunate enough to play 250 games and kick more than 200 goals. I was an All Australian and won a Brownlow Medal. But many of my years at the elite level were unsuccessful, mentally draining and, at times, depressing.

So what does football mean to me? If I’m brutally honest: pain.

I played so many years of my AFL career in significant pain because of a knee injury I suffered in 2008 when I was 22. I had just come off winning the Brownlow and my team, the Dogs, had played off in the preliminary final. I was supposed to go on and be a superstar, a premiership-winning midfielder over the next decade.

But my knee meant I wasn’t able to become the player I showed the football world I could be in ’08.

Between 2009 and 2012, I reached the point where I lost my love and passion for football. I was being criticised for not performing and that stung. On game days, I’d walk up the race thinking, “how am I going to get through this game if I’m in pain just walking up this incline to the field?”

Adam Cooney was supposed to go on and be a superstar after winning the Brownlow in 2008. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

But he spent most of his time over the next few years in pain.

Over the last nine years of my career, I trained and played on painkillers every session. I estimate the number of painkillers I ingested over that period would be well north of 1500. Add to that more than 50 injections, either local anaesthetic, PRP, orthokine injections or needles to drain the blood/fluid out of the knee after a game or training session and it obviously takes a toll.

Of course, it wasn’t always like that — as a junior, football was my first love.

I lived a 30m drop punt from Adelaide’s Flagstaff Hill Football Club and spent every day down there kicking goals and watching training during the week.

On Saturday mornings, I’d be boundary umpire for the under-18s then help with the scoreboard for the seniors. All for a pie and a Coke at the end of the day.

I used to watch my father play for the Unley Jets and can remember falling asleep under the table at presentations each Saturday night while the old boy sank a few West End draughts and spun a yarn or two about that afternoon’s game.

Adam Cooney gets away from Sydney Swans’ Jed Lamb in 2013. Picture: Colleen Petch

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I loved everything about it and those times are still some of the best of my life.

Now I’m happily retired and, strangely, that’s helped me rediscover my love and passion for all things AFL. Working in the media has been a revelation and I think I enjoy discussing and analysing the game more than I did playing. I can honestly say it’s been a decade since I’ve been this excited about the start of a footy season. Looking back, I can see the reasons why I loved football but I can also see why that love and passion wavered.

I’ve been well rewarded financially and I’m still employed in the football industry. I have 13 years of memories, from the highs of winning the Brownlow and playing in big finals, to playing my final and 250th game for Essendon.

Sure there were lows: injury, homesickness after moving aged 18 from SA to Victoria to play for the Western Bulldogs and realising at the end of 2014 season that my time at the Bulldogs was up and I’d finish my career at another club.

But who’s complaining? I have a beautiful house, I made friendships from football that will be lifelong, my children have had amazing experiences, running out with the team, running through banners with them, hanging out with their heroes at training ... I’m grateful to the game for what it has given me.

Brownlow Medal Selfie Haylea and Adam Cooney grab a selfie on the Brownlow Medal red carpet. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Adam Cooney says he is grateful for what footy has given him.

And I know I’m not alone. Football has changed and enhanced the lives of so many people on both sides of the fence. It brings joy to millions — plus being in the limelight has its perks.

Former England footballer Peter Crouch made me laugh when he was asked by a reporter, “if you weren’t a footballer what would you be?” He thought for a moment and said: “A virgin.”

Adam Cooney played 250 games with the Western Bulldogs and Essendon and won the 2008 Brownlow Medal