Adam Cooney’s Essendon career may have begun with a loss but he gave the Bomber faithful plenty to cheer about. 

Cooney kicked three goals including a torpedo after the quarter time siren.

“That’s the furthest I’ve ever kicked the ball by about 20 metres.  I thought it hit the post as well so I didn’t really know what was going on,” Cooney said.  

The former Bulldog was a constant threat in the Bombers forward half.

He combined with Patty Ambrose and Zach Merrett to apply pressure on the Swans defence. 

“A lot of forwards – you’ve got to work up and back.  It’s a high work rate role.  I’d like to spend a bit of time up in the midfield as well but I think the way things worked today I spent a lot more time up forward. 

“I was really proud of all the guys efforts.  We did really well for probably three quarters and then they got a bit of momentum in the last and things went their way.”

When Cooney kicked his third goal, the Essendon lead had blown out to 41 points nearing three quarter time.

But the Swans came home strongly.

“Sydney are the best contested ball side in the comp’.  They got us around the footy, we probably dropped off around the ball.  We were really good for most of the game, the guys did some great work inside early and then probably got beaten in the last quarter there.”