OFF THE field, Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney might best be described as a laconic individual.

On the field, however, it’s a different story – as the Sydney Swans found out in devastating fashion on Sunday.

Cooney produced one of the finest games of his five-year career, racking up 25 touches and booting five goals as the unbeaten Bulldogs rolled the Swans by 18 points at the SCG.

He attributed the win to his side’s improved efforts at the stoppages – an area the Dogs struggled in last season.

“I think our contested footy’s been up there with the best of them this year. We spoke about it in the pre-season, that we really needed to up that,” he said.

“It was probably the perfect chance for us today and I thought we acquitted ourselves really well.”

Cooney said the Bulldogs were lucky to be within striking distance of the Swans after a slow start, but the players held faith in their running game. 

“In the second term we really got our run going, I thought we broke the lines open really well with some good run from defence and played through the corridor and scored heavily,” he said.

With seven rounds gone, the Dogs sit third on the ladder, behind only pacesetters Geelong and Hawthorn.

Cooney said comparisons with the competition standouts were of little concern to the Bulldogs players.

“Obviously things have been really positive and there’s a lot of belief in the group. We’re playing good footy at the moment and we’ve just got to keep that up,” he said. 

“We’ll just keep playing the same footy that we do and people will eventually take notice.”

When quizzed about the goalkicking routine that is reaping rewards, the buzzword was “casual”.

“I sort of stroll up pretty casually and try to keep it as casual as I can and keep it as straight as I can,” he said. 

“I just try to steady myself, focus on something behind the goals and try and kick it straight.”