AFL great and Seven’s Armchair Experts star Adam Cooney has opened up on his famous Brownlow Medal victory in 2008.
The super talented Cooney was the No.1 draft pick back in 2003, and he exploded in 2008, helping the Western Bulldogs rise to third on the ladder that year.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: AFL greats recall intense 2008 Brownlow battle.
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While Cooney was at the peak of his powers, another story unfolded over at Tigerland that year, with Richmond veteran Matthew Richardson moved up the ground and hitting a purple patch despite his vintage years.
The superstar forward — who retired the following season — relished his time on the wing, and his form did not go unnoticed by umpires.
It all made for an intense and thrilling Brownlow Medal count, with a then 33-year-old Richardson finding himself at the pointy end of the Brownlow board in what turned into an intense and riveting count.
Speaking on AFL Media’s Knock Offs, Cooney and Richardson (himself a beloved Seven AFL commentator) recalled the night, with Cooney making some frank admissions.
“I remember at one stage, I think you and I may have been on the same amount of votes,” Cooney said to Richardson.
“(Brisbane champion) Simon Black was around the mark and Brent Harvey, who had a really good season (but) didn’t actually poll that well … I thought he would win it …
“(But) me and you, we’d keep getting votes.”
Of course, Cooney soon found himself in a popularity contest with Richardson, and while no one had anything against the Western Bulldogs gun, the room started to sniff a Richo fairytale who had spent years toiling away in a Richmond outfit that made a habit of finishing ninth and missing finals.
“Every time you would get the three votes the crowd would erupt … everyone was cheering and screaming,” Cooney continued.
“And when I’d get the three, I was getting booed pretty much out of the room.
“It was embarrassing.
“I was quite upset at that stage.”
Cooney also revealed he “spent some time under the table”.
“A whole round (of votes) I went under the table just to try and gather my thoughts,” he said.
“And then I popped up for another three (votes).”
Richardson said he was thankful he didn’t win the medal.
“I didn’t deserve it,” Richardson said.
But Cooney interrupted: “You don’t mean that.”
Then Richardson confessed: “I did want to win.”
Sadly for Richo it wasn’t to be.
He finished his night on 22 votes, equal third with Gary Ablett Jr (who would win another two times in 2009 and 2013).
Black (who had won it in 2002) was second on 23 votes, and Cooney was the winner with 24.
Legends Adam Goodes and Lance Franklin came in at fourth and fifth (both suspended that year) and Joel Selwood was sixth to round out an leaderboard overloaded with some of the most famous names in AFL.
