HE DIDN’T see it coming.
Cooper Lord was aware of some interest. He entered the 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft hopeful, if anything, that he would earn a chance at the elite level.
Having undergone interviews with Carlton in the build-up, he knew there was some interest from the Blues. But with the rumour mill linking Carlton to other clubs, he wasn’t sure what to expect.
And then, watching on from the couch with his mum and his sisters (Dad was in Sydney for business), his name was called out on AFL.com.au — and things changed in an instant for the youngster.
“I didn’t expect it at all. It was pretty low key — and then it happened. I couldn’t believe it, it was an amazing feeling,” Lord said from IKON Park on Thursday.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind for the last 12 hours or so.
“After it happened, we went straight to the grandparents’ house and my mates came straight round, let themselves through the back gate and I got the shock of my life. It was very cool.”
Lord didn’t waste much time settling into his new home, with the family heading to IKON Park first thing on Thursday morning.
With the majority of the football department in South Australia ahead of the game on Thursday night, Lord settled in with the AFL Blues featuring in the VFL this weekend, taking part in a light session plus some strength work.
Of course, there was Navy Blue gear aplenty that came his way.
“It was pretty cool coming in with my family, getting all the kit, meeting some of the boys and doing some touch. It was a dream.
“I’m so excited that it’s finally happened and I’m keen to get going.”
It was Lord’s appetite which set in motion the events of Wednesday night. Ending his draft year in brilliant form for Sandringham, which culminated in a premiership win at IKON Park where he had the most disposals of anyone for the Dragons, Lord took his game to another level this year.
It’s been difficult, given he has already played for three teams in 2024: one game for the Dragons as a 19-year-old, two for the Young Guns side and seven for North Melbourne’s VFL team against AFL-listed talent.
But, as he said, it’s now all worth it.
“It was a good day [at IKON Park]: it’s pretty surreal to be back and on the other side of the facilities,” he said.
“It’s been a busy couple of months for me. The constant change in between clubs has been a little bit difficult, but I’m so grateful and I just can’t wait to get stuck in.
“I was working really hard on my fitness and my speed work, I’ve been doing a lot of that over the off-season. My main strengths are my work rate and contest work.”
They’re two things which we’re sure Michael Voss will love. We assume that formed part of the conversation when Voss called Lord from Adelaide as soon as news of the pick came in.
“He did call me, it was pretty cool. I was pretty overwhelmed to be honest. Amazing . . . amazing.”
