The Brownlow Medallist flew to Germany during the offseason to undergo medical treatment on his well documented knee issues.
It seems the results are paying off with Cooney gaining confidence in his body every day.
Watch Adam Cooney on the media player above speak candidly to BulldogsTV about his preseason and off-season medical treatment in Germany.
“I haven’t had a day one of pre-season out on the track in a long time, so I am certainly a lot further ahead than I was this time last year and even in previous years,” Cooney told BulldogsTV, “…it is just a good feeling to be out running with the boys this early.
“I played predominantly forward last year, probably because I didn’t have that base fitness going through the pre-season.
“I was cross training til about… mid-January to Feb, so hopefully this year I can build up a much bigger base and spend more time in the midfield.”
Already completing training sessions well above what he was capable of last pre-season, Cooney is eyeing more game time through the midfield in 2013.
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“I have ramped it up significantly since the start of pre-season,” he said.
“I’ve been able to get a lot more load through the legs - I am doing heavy legs three times a week… I was doing one last year, so I am getting a lot stronger in the legs, which [will] allow me to be more powerful hopefully.
“I haven’t missed a training session which is good - first time in about four years that I have been out there this early, so I am fairly positive.”
While the Bulldog veteran is unable to gauge how his body will hold up with complete certainty throughout the rigours of the season, he is buoyed by his current form.
“I am feeling really positive about the year ahead - I can’t predict six months down the track - but at the moment I am feeling really good,” he said.
