THREE weeks after returning from a month-long layoff with a knee complaint that continues to give him trouble, Adam Cooney is working back into the kind of form that won him the 2008 Brownlow Medal.

Cooney put on a dominant display in the Western Bulldogs' 64-point drubbing of Melbourne on Friday night, peeling off 26 disposals and seven clearances.

Along with teammates Ryan Griffen, Callan Ward and Shaun Higgins, he provided a spark and drive that the young Demons struggled to match.

Importantly for the Bulldogs, Cooney's performance was his second impressive outing in a row following his 23-touch, three-goal effort against Gold Coast last week.

It's a positive sign the 25-year-old is fighting the good fight against the knee problem that's hampered him all season and kept him out of action from rounds nine to 12.

"He was good last week and he was good again tonight, but I don't think he's ever going to be 100 per cent pain-free with his knee, and some weeks he's going to pull up worse than others," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said post-match.

"But due credit to Adam, he's working extremely hard off the field.

"He's doing a lot of extra cross-training sessions to keep his aerobic fitness up, and he's doing everything required to manage his knee.

"Hopefully it doesn't blow up after tonight, but we've got a nine-day break, so that will be a good chance for him (to rest and recover)."

The highlight of Cooney's performance against the Demons was a phenomenal soccer-style goal during the first quarter.

After a short pass from Daniel Cross went over his head in the forward pocket, Cooney turned and kicked the bouncing ball out of mid-air, striking it flush off the centre of his boot and sending it straight through the big sticks.

It left teammates, including defender Easton Wood, in awe of his freakish talent.

"I don't know how he does that, it's pretty incredible," Wood said.

"I don't know how the thought process to do that even goes through your head."

Perhaps it's no coincidence that Cooney's return to the line-up has coincided with three straight wins for the Bulldogs as they begin to gather momentum towards September.

"'Coons' was exciting tonight, and 'Higgo' (Shaun Higgins) and big 'Baz' (Barry Hall) as well," Wood said.

"With class players like that at full fitness, we're going to be a lot better off."