On Friday night against Geelong, Cupido was brilliant up forward and finished with five goals. It is the second time the former Brisbane Lion's player has booted five goals this season - the first was on Anzac Day against Collingwood. Cupido was happy with his performance against the Cats, however was more concerned that the team had a win. ""I am really pleased with the way everyone in the team attacked the game. Personally it was good to get a couple of goals after being scoreless against the Kangaroos. It was a good team effort all round and hopefully we can back it up against St Kilda this Friday night,"" Cupdio said.
It has been well documented that Cupido didn't enjoy his two seasons at the Brisbane Lions. He played just a handful of senior games and his two shoulder reconstructions definitely limited his senior opportunities. ""In Brisbane I was starved of opportunities and obviously injury played a part in that. At Essendon, knowing that the other players expect a standard from me every week and that I am a part of the team is a really good feeling. It is something that I have been missing for a while. It is great to be back at home and playing for Essendon - everything is going really well.""
Cupido has missed just one game his season due to injury and it was more of a precaution rather than anything serious. ""I have had no problems with the shoulder so far. I had a minor hiccup in the match against Fremantle but it was nothing serious, it was just a niggle. The shoulder is the best it has ever been and on Friday night I took the strapping off for the first time and it has come up really well. The shoulder is feeling great and so is the body,"" Cupido said.
Essendon spearhead Matthew Lloyd has enjoyed having Cupido play alongside him this season and said it is handy having a consistent second goal scoring option. ""Since 2000 we haven't had anyone who has kicked 20-30 plus goals. He will probably kick 40 for the season, which will be fantastic for us,"" said Lloyd. Cupido fully understands what the team need from him. ""My role is to try and take some pressure off Lloydy in terms of being another leading target from the goal square. My job is to give the team another avenue towards goal and I think it has been working out quite well so far. Whatever pressure I can take off Lloydy I am sure will be better for the team,"" Cupido said.
Cupido has uncanny skills and an ability to win a game off his own boot. Essendon supporters have already seen the excitement he can generate with his work in front of goals. Cupdio attributes a lot of his on-field development and performances this season to the belief the coaching staff has put in him. ""The coaching panel have been fantastic to me this season. They have given me the confidence each week to go out there and find the footy and if not kick goals help create them. Personally I set myself to kick a couple per game and it has been good that I have been able to kick a couple every now and again,"" the 21-year-old said.
At times this season Cupido has been criticised for his lack of defensive skills. This is an area Cupido has been working with the help of the coaching staff. ""I have been a forward all of my life and my defensive side of my game is a continuing process that I need to work on. Harvs and Shawy have been working with me to fix a few areas of my game and I would like to think that I have a lot of improvement to go.""
