RUNNING it back.

In May, when Cooper Lord was selected on a Wednesday night in the Mid-Season Rookie Draft, he was surprised by a heap of his closest friends at home.

One of those who was leading the charge? Jagga Smith.

It was only fitting that six months later, Lord was right there among Smith’s inner circle when - as fate would have it - the two best mates became Navy Blue teammates.

As Lord told SEN on Friday, he refused to believe it would come to fruition until it actually did.

“We are both still struggling to believe that we’re out on the field together again. It’s been an amazing past couple of weeks.

“To share the night when I got drafted with him, for me to be at the draft with him when he got drafted, it’s been amazing. ‘Jags’ has settled in really well. He fits in well with the boys.

“I certainly won’t be giving him any handouts at training. It’s been good getting in a couple of one-on-ones with him that’s for sure.”

That competitive streak between the two of them even extended to when they were coaching Scotch College’s Year 7a football team.

“There was a bit of conflict! We had a couple of bickers on certain coaching decisions, but I feel like we worked pretty well and had a good record together.”

It’s been an incredible sequence of events that has led to Lord and Smith arriving at IKON Park.

The two would’ve been teammates at Oakleigh in 2023, but Lord was cut in the pre-season and ultimately earned an opportunity at the Sandringham Dragons. He wasn’t selected in his 18th year, but a promising start to life with North Melbourne’s VFL side saw the Blues snap him up in mid-season.

Then, the Blues entered this year’s off-season with what was initially pick No.12 - well outside the range for Smith, who they rated as their No.1 prospect. In fact, the Blues didn’t interview Smith at the draft combine, given where he was going to get picked up and where the Blues’ pick was.

But then, a suite of moves during the Telstra Trade Period saw Carlton end up with pick No.3. Smith was right in their sights, but even then, Lord refused to entertain the possibility for fear of getting caught up in hypotheticals.

“To be honest, I refused to believe it was a chance for the whole period. I was following it pretty closely with your best mate in the draft.

“We didn’t want to believe it was true until it happened. It was definitely a surprise and one I’m so grateful for.

“It’s amazing we’ll get to share the field together again, hopefully at the highest level.”