IMPROVING his consistency and taking on more responsibility were the two main goals Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney set himself heading into this season.

With the year more than half over, the impressive 22-year-old has done just that - both on and off the field.

An average of 27.1 disposals and frequent mentions among his side's best have indicated the consistency box has been checked with 12 rounds played. And, with a leadership role on field and a new baby son off it, it seems the responsibility objective has been ticked off as well.

"[Consistency] is certainly something that I wanted to look at improving," Cooney said on Wednesday.

"In previous years, I've been a bit up and down, and I spoke a lot about it in the pre-season with trying to get my fitness up to play more consistent footy.

"'Westy' has been the main man over the last 25 years, so I think it was about time that some of the other guys stepped up [in responsibility].

"There's a number of guys that can play in the midfield there. 'Aker' comes through and Daniel Giansiracusa plays in there a bit, and we've got guys like 'Crossy' and 'Boydy' who have stepped up another level, and Ryan Griffen as well.

"The midfield is all playing really good footy at the moment, which helps my job and everyone else."

On the eve of his 100th game, achieved in his fifth season at the club after his memorable drafting at No. 1 in 2003, Cooney reflected on how much he has changed since arriving at Whitten Oval.

"I had silly hair and I was a bit fat," he recalled.

"I've changed the hair and lost a bit of weight since then."

He's also become a parent twice. Already a step-father to partner Haylea's seven-year-old daughter Ashlea, Cooney added another member to his family last month when son Jaxon was born.

"It's been good stability for the last couple of years having Haylea and Ash around, so it definitely helps going home to a lovely family," he said.

"The little man is travelling well. He's putting on a bit of weight, and he loves his milk.

"It's been good dealing with a little baby. He's been really good, he's sleeping really well and he keeps us pretty busy."

Playing football has also kept Cooney busy the past five years, although it's been a period of his life he believes has "flown", given how much fun he claims to have had.

Coach Rodney Eade believes Cooney was unfairly maligned by the media last year after having a limited pre-season, but now believes the only way is up for his star midfielder as he started to "show his true form".

"He's carried a bit of pressure with him, because young players that get the No. 1 draft tag usually do," Eade said.

"He played some bad games last year but he had some terrific games, and I thought he really started to show his wares last year. He's got a good pre-season under his belt now."

As far as favouritism for the Brownlow medal is concerned (Cooney is currently running second to Geelong's Gary Ablett), Eade believes his midfielder has the mental capacity to stay "unfazed" by the building hype.

While Cooney himself ignores the speculation he'll claim the league's best and fairest in September, he believes the winner could be an unexpected recipient given the growing number of players becoming ineligible.

"There's still a long way to go, and I try not to take too much notice of that sort of stuff," he said.

"It's only a distraction when you get asked about it in the media. If I can just keep doing what I'm doing and keep playing my role in the team, that's what matters.

"The winner might do a bit of a Steven Bradbury with how many people have fallen over this year, so we'll have to wait and see."