ESSENDON veteran Adam Cooney will undergo ankle surgery and miss the remaining three matches of the season.
The former Bulldog has been struggling in recent matches and he has decided to have arthroscopic surgery to ensure he is ready for the start of pre-season training.
"Adam's got a surface cartilage injury in his ankle," Doctor Bruce Reid said on the club's website.
"He's been playing with some limitation from this and some pain.
"We've made the decision to get this fixed now to ensure he is right for the start of pre-season."
Hamstring injuries and a one-match suspension for bumping Giant Stephen Coniglio has limited Cooney to just 11 games in his first season at Essendon.
It is the fewest amount of matches he has managed in a season across his 12-year career.
Cooney, who turns 30 next month, has another year to run on his contract after joining the Bombers from the Bulldogs in last year's trade period.
