Toast Welcome To Freo Cooper Simpson (pick 35 2023 AFL Draft)

[oldgoat]

I was expecting a skinny half back. Instead we picked an undersized mid.

He does look slick though

Still growing!

 

[greatgatsby]

Just WOW!

Quality skills but enjoys laying a tackle. With confidence I think he'll start clearing it himself rather than using the quick hands (which are impressive in any case).

 

[The Feeder Club]

Hope we can get him into the middle asap. He's got traits our other mids don't have.

Agreed, it's such a great pick. I don't have time or inclination to watch vids pre draft of people we may never get, but watching his vids now it's s the prototype of what we lack. Brilliant stuff

 

[theGav56]

I would like us to build a structure which actively rotates midfielders into forward roles. We need more goals. Kick them from the midfield and be a threat in the forward line.

 

[Eski3]

The fact that:

1. JL was down on the Mornington Peninsula ready to go for the draft night vids,
2. a few Freo players had apparently contacted him before the draft, and
3. he said knew we were picking him as soon as we traded up

makes me think that we had him lined up for a while coming in to last night. Seems like a David Walls special, which he usually nails

 

[theGav56]

The fact that:

1. JL was down on the Mornington Peninsula ready to go for the draft night vids,
2. a few Freo players had apparently contacted him before the draft, and
3. he said knew we were picking him as soon as we traded up

makes me think that we had him lined up for a while coming in to last night. Seems like a David Walls special, which he usually nails

Yeah it's interesting. Nothing certain in that area of the draft but he was a clear target, and Walls had the strategy to grab him. I doubt we were the only interested club.

 

[Eski3]

Yeah it's interesting. Nothing certain in that area of the draft but he was a clear target, and Walls had the strategy to grab him. I doubt we were the only interested club.

He said there was one other club who he thought might take him, and I strongly suspect that club was Richmond given their first pick was 35 and he knew he was going at that time

 

[oldgoat]

Quality skills but enjoys laying a tackle. With confidence I think he'll start clearing it himself rather than using the quick hands (which are impressive in any case).

Wide vision
Great awareness
Good decision making

 

[oldgoat]

The fact that:

1. JL was down on the Mornington Peninsula ready to go for the draft night vids,
2. a few Freo players had apparently contacted him before the draft, and
3. he said knew we were picking him as soon as we traded up

makes me think that we had him lined up for a while coming in to last night. Seems like a David Walls special, which he usually nails

pop a collar
Cap feather for you Wallsy (or 3)

 

[MadDocker]

Old mate in the vid with a retro anchor on. I'm on board.

 

[Spirit Level]

Has he turned up to pre-season yet?

Warning signs if not

 

[oldgoat]

He said there was one other club who he thought might take him, and I strongly suspect that club was Richmond given their first pick was 35 and he knew he was going at that time

Time will tell.
I like our choices.
Wasnt everyone a bit sad before yesterday
What a difference a day makes.
Yokai!

 

[purplerunsdeep2]

For me, this has the pre draft vibes of Valente. A big slider on the night, and we all high fived. Even gave his #29

Hoping he's a long term player for us but let's see


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[serial_thrilla]

But Simpson moved quickly to allay those fears, telling The West Australian on draft night his sense of loyalty means he wants to be a Docker for life — despite having never set foot in Perth.

“It doesn’t change a thing no matter where I get drafted to, I envisaged spending my whole career there,” he said.

“I’m at Fremantle and that’s where I’ll stay.

“It’s just my loyalty I guess, I am a loyal person — to my mates, to my family and to everyone. It comes with my footy, I am loyal to the club and the players and the staff and everyone involved.

“To be a part of Fremantle, to be a one-club player at Fremantle, hopefully will be the goal.

“I have never been to Perth before, so this will be a first for me. I can’t wait to get over there and see everything that Perth has to offer. I’m bloody excited.”

That's the sort of quote that could bite him on the arse in 3-5 years time.

 

[millsy]

He said there was one other club who he thought might take him, and I strongly suspect that club was Richmond given their first pick was 35 and he knew he was going at that time

Richmond had the pick though didn't they, and traded down relatively cheaply, you'd think they were aware Simpson was likely our target.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Richmond had the pick though didn't they, and traded down relatively cheaply, you'd think they were aware Simpson was likely our target.

I think Geelong were the more likely team they were worried about selecting him. Interestingly considering we traded a future third to move up just three spots in the second round it's obvious we rated him higher than the position we drafted him at. I think there's a very good chance we would have passed on Lance Collard and still drafted Cooper if we had got the St Kilda early second rounder rather than a future second and 4th round swap it wouldn't surprise me if the future second ended up being taken higher than pick 28 in the draft too.

 

[Purpletown]

For me, this has the pre draft vibes of Valente. A big slider on the night, and we all high fived. Even gave his #29

Hoping he's a long term player for us but let's see


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I had the same thought with the comparison to Valente, hopefully Cooper can stay fit and have a good career at Freo. However it is one day post draft so all is good for the time being.

 

[Sully90]

That's the sort of quote that could bite him on the arse in 3-5 years time.

Yeah it;s nice and all now, but I wouldn't be holding him to it at all. Tonnes of new experiences for him in the next 6 months alone.

 

[greatgatsby]

w

I had the same thought with the comparison to Valente, hopefully Cooper can stay fit and have a good career at Freo. However it is one day post draft so all is good for the time being.

I get people's caution. But Valente was carrying a significant injury at the time we drafted him (I don't know to what extent the club knew of it). I think he was also already starting to feel some weight of expectation about being spoken of as an elite AFL footballer.

 

[Eski3]

Richmond had the pick though didn't they, and traded down relatively cheaply, you'd think they were aware Simpson was likely our target.

I think Richmond simply decided not to go with him and bank the future 3rd

 

[oldgoat]

I think Richmond simply decided not to go with him and bank the future 3rd

Their next pick went to a different kind of guy, Kane McAuliffe.
Big, "187cm, strong bodied, competitive midfielder with speed who likes to hit bodies and challenge the tackler. "
we'll see how he goes?

 

[Righteo]

Congrats on getting this kid. Saw him as an under age player. I thought he’d be a first rounder this year, injury restricted his season. I was over the moon when he made it to Richmond’s pick because I thought he was a certainty to be picked by the Tiges. Shattered when we traded the pick to Freo and you picked him. He has pace to burn and great lateral movement. I expect he’ll excel. Your gain and I think Richmond’s loss.

****, even we have to get a win every now and then

I'm encouraged by his references to Caleb, the most visibly motivated of all our Freo players. Modelling Caleb will be the best thing he can do - along with bringing his impressive-sounding work ethic.

I've never forgotten meeting Caleb at the AGM just after the 3 amigos joined us (btw Cerra polite, but not entirely present even then). Bubbling with infectious enthusiasm. Perfect role model for young Coops.

I do get a very AB/Serong vibe from him, just radiates professionalism and motivation.

 

[wakojako]

Still growing!

Fingers crossed! We are too small in the midfield as is.

 

[Tbonefreo]

Has a bit of Ballantyne about him maybe?

Really stoked with this one. Kid seems like a ripper. Move in with Serong!

 

[Docker82]

Fingers crossed! We are too small in the midfield as is.

That's what Johnson and Erasmus are for. Hopefully NOD too.

It's speed as much as size we lack.

Brayshaw, Serong, Johnson, Erasmus, NOD, Simpson and Stanley has a bit of everything imo. Then there's Jackson who adds something not many other teams have - a 200cm mid. Always the chance to add one or two more if/when needed.

This pick meets our needs perfectly imo. Different type of mid is what we need