Adam Cooney says it's time to raise the bar, perhaps not as high as it was set during his 2008 Brownlow Medal year, but certainly higher than he originally thought possible at age 29.
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The former Bulldog admits he had pretty much "written himself off" in 2012, in terms of reaching the lofty standards a player with his record should be trying to achieve in the final phase of his career.
However, as he embarks on a new chapter at Essendon, Cooney says the degenerative knee injury that forced him to scale back his expectations two years ago was now feeling "70 per cent better", and allowing him to cautiously re-raise those goals.
"The last two pre-seasons, I've completed 80 per cent of the work," said Cooney, who has managed to play 37 of a possible 44 games during seasons 2013 and 2014.
"I'm probably a lot fitter than what I thought I could get to when I said those quotes," he added, referring to his previous outlook during the slump in his career between 2011 and 2012 where he managed just 27 matches.
"This year, I haven't missed a session yet. So I'm fitter again ... and coming back in January we'll step up the workload."
The turning point for Cooney's knee problem came with revolutionary treatment - called "Orthokine" or "Regenokine" - that involves extracting his own blood, treating it by heating and spinning, and then re-injecting it into his knee joint.
Cooney said not even he could have imagined how effective the treatment would be, although there was hope given the same process breathed new life into the career of St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt at a critical juncture.
Not only does he have far more speed and explosiveness, Cooney said he was able to recover far quicker after games, which allowed him to train more often during the week.
It has also helped him find more consistency, reflected in his output since beginning the treatment, which includes 20 disposals or more in 28 out of 37 matches.
Naturally Cooney was asked by the media on Wednesday whether by "raising the bar" he thought it was possible in the two-year contract he has signed with the Bombers to return to his absolute peak.
"I don't think anyone wants to come out and say they're going to win the Brownlow," he said. "I just want to play consistent footy at the new footy club, gain the guys' respect and hopefully help the guys win some games next year.
"The move has certainly freshened me up mentally. At the Bulldogs, I had probably given all I could to that club. For me to get the most out of the rest of my career, we both sort of felt it would be best to move clubs."
Cooney is expected to be used as an outside finisher for James Hird next year, providing punch at half-forward and creativity off half-back, as well as stints through the midfield.
He will have a long wait - round 18 next year – for a reunion with the Western Bulldogs, the club he played 219 games for, including eight finals, and was drafted as the No.1 pick in 2003.
Cooney predicted the sting out of his defection might have dissipated by August andbelieves "there are a few other enemies the Dogs want to sort out first before me", in a not-to-subtle reference to former skipper Ryan Griffen, who sensationally asked to be traded to Greater Western Sydney in October and will meet the Dogs for the first time as an opponent in round nine next year.
