“HE HAS been fantastic.”

It was at the end of May when Cooper Lord became a Carlton footballer, and since that very moment, the mid-season draftee has left nothing to chance. 

The young midfielder was selected by the Blues as a rookie, filling the list spot vacated by Jack Silvagni’s injury in pre-season, and has now played four games for the Carlton Reserves at VFL level.

Held over until after the bye, Lord’s last month has seen him average over 22 disposals as well as six tackles per game, while also registering just shy of four clearances. He kicked his second goal for the Blues on the weekend in the last quarter of a narrow loss to second-placed Footscray.

Speaking to Carlton Media, development coach Brad Ebert - who oversees the midfield at VFL level - has been wholly impressed by what the youngster has been able to achieve in his short time.

“He’s an awesome kid to work with. He’s fit into the group super well: from a personality point of view, he’s eager to learn, be part of the group and improve.

“On a Sunday night, I’ll get a message from him every week to ask what time he can do his review. The next morning, one of the other boys was there waiting by the desk and I was like ‘nope, you haven’t organised this, Cooper has!’.

“It shows the planning and dedication he’s got to his game.”

Ebert highlighted Lord’s key strengths in a playing capacity as his balance as a midfielder, who can combine his contested work with the ability to spread on the outside. The development coach also labelled Lord a “competitor” who’s “always after the ball and man”.

The chance to play alongside the experienced George Hewett in the VFL on the weekend was an eye-opener for Lord, whose life changed in a flash when his name was called out by Carlton less than two months ago at the mid-season draft.

“He said it was great. He could sense George’s presence on the field, his leadership and his ability to set stoppages up. I think he took plenty out of that, as a similar sort of player in a sense: he saw a guy who was up for the fight, tough in close and over the footy.

“He’s quite studious in the way he goes about things to pick everything up.”

Lord - who turned 19 in March - signed an 18-month contract with the Blues during the mid-season draft, and according to Ebert, he’s already shown himself as something who’s looking to maximise every possible chance at the elite level.

“He’s been a bit more of a late developer: coming in, you could see he was settling in really well straight up. I don’t think surprised is the word, but I’ve been impressed.

“He knows he’s got this 18-month period to cement himself, he’s not taking any shortcuts. He’ll make the most of his opportunity, for sure.”

Photo credit: Jackie O'Sullivan