ADAM Cooney has announced this will be his last season as he prepares for his 250th AFL match against his old side, the Western Bulldogs.
Cooney, 30, has decided to retire after a storied career that included the 2008 Brownlow Medal with the Bulldogs.
The club and Cooney are yet to decide if Sunday's clash with the Bulldogs will be his last or if he will play against Carlton in round 23.
"I feel very fortunate to have been able to play the game I love at the highest level, and I've made plenty of great mates along the way," Cooney said on Tuesday.
"After many tough pre-seasons, gruelling training sessions, a few injuries and plenty of wonderful memories, I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my life."
Cooney joined the Bombers from the Bulldogs ahead of the 2015 season and said his time at Tullamarine had revitalised his love for the game.
"When I left the Bulldogs I was looking for a change in my career and an opportunity to develop in a new environment," he said.
"It seems a fitting tribute to be able to play against the Dogs this week to celebrate not only my 250-game milestone but also celebrate the career I have enjoyed at both clubs."
Essendon coach John Worsfold said, "In a year where we needed people to help guide our young list, Adam's experience, leadership and team care has been really vital, and he also brings a lighter mood to the group which has been particularly important at times this year."
Cooney entered this season hoping to prove to Essendon supporters why the club had secured him at the end of 2014 after a disappointing debut year at the Dons.
He said he was pleased with parts of his play this season, and that he hadn't missed any games through injury, but said his skill level had at times let him down.
The midfielder said he contemplated playing on into 2017 during some better form in the middle of this season but decided against it.
"I thought originally last year that this year would be my final season. Halfway through this year I was actually playing some OK footy and was weighing up whether to go on again, but towards the end of the season I probably started to slow down a little bit and probably haven't played the type of footy I'd like," he said.
"It would probably have been a little bit selfish of me to decide that I wanted to play on next year, so this is enough for me."
Adam Cooney in his Bulldogs days. Picture: AFL Photos
Cooney, who was No.1 draft pick in 2003, was a part of the Bulldogs side that made three successive preliminary finals between 2008-2010 without reaching the Grand Final, and he said he would leave football unfulfilled having not tasted the ultimate success.
"[I'll leave] pretty unsatisfied, and it's bittersweet I suppose. Early on when I won the Brownlow I was only 22 and I injured my knee, I probably wasn't able to play the sort of footy that I wanted to after that.
"In a way it's a little bit disappointing to not be able to play in a premiership."
