“This was the best day of my life, without a doubt.”
As he heads west to join Fremantle, Cooper Simpson is adjusting to the emotion of realizing his AFL dream tonight.
After the Club traded up the draft order to secure him, Cooper Simpson is moving west to join Fremantle tonight, and he is adjusting to the emotion of realising his AFL dream.
Following a live pick trade with Richmond, wherein Freo advanced to pick 35 in order to draft the adaptable player, Simpson was chosen by Fremantle.
Simpson is currently experiencing the emotion with his family and friends after having a slight suspicion that he might slide to Freo.
“It’s the best day of my life, hands down, without a doubt,” Simpson said to 6PR.
“I couldn’t stop grinning when my name was called out. I was unsure whether to cry or not, but I am incredibly thankful and thrilled.
I’m ecstatic.I am (experience) all things.
“I had a slight feeling that I could get there if I slid to Fremantle’s pick, but anything could happen tonight.
“I am eager to visit that place, get to know everyone, and become a member of the Fremantle community.
According to David Walls, Head of Player Personnel at Freo, Simpson’s versatility was evident as he could play as an inside mid, wing, or half-forward flank.
Cooper fits the bill because we wanted to focus on talent in the front half, according to Walls.
“To ensure that we could acquire him in a trade with Richmond, we went up for him and invested a future 3 (third round pick).
“He’s a captivating athlete.” Capable of moving through the midfield, but also a superb dual-footed kicker at forward.
His feet move extremely quickly, and he exits the stoppage with great skill. We are very excited to get him over because he is very creative.
Simpson stated that it would be difficult to penetrate Fremantle’s current midfield depth, but he is keen to make as much of an impression as possible.
Simpson remarked, “That midfield over at Fremantle is bloody good.”
“I’m going to put in my best effort once I get to the club to show the coach that I deserve a spot on the team, wherever that spot may be.
“I’m just excited about everything,”
The 181-cm mid/forward, a former Stingray, will join Hayden Young at Fremantle. He is a member of the Dandenong Stingrays.
“The kids at Dandenong are raised to be excellent football players and better people—it’s an incredible program,” Simpson remarked.
“I’ll be happy to accompany Hayden Young there.” The fact that there is an additional Dandenong Stingray participating in AFL football is incredible, and I am eager to visit, greet him, and get to know everyone.
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Following the exchange of a few future selections during this week’s AFL Draft, the trading of 2024 draft picks has been suspended until the beginning of the following October.
After strengthening their draft position during the trade period this year, the Dockers now possess three first-round picks for 2024: their own, as well as those associated with the Power (acquired as part of Port’s attempt to sign Esava Ratugolea from Geelong) and the Magpies (acquired as part of the Lachie Schultz trade).
Those choices would be Nos. 5, No. 14, and No. 18, in accordance with the 2023 ladder. But if the Pies and Power struggle in the 2024 campaign, that hand might get better.
The Dockers, who acquired a future second and a future fourth linked to the Saints as part of the Liam Henry trade, will also benefit from a slide from St Kilda in 2024.
Only Collingwood, who acquired Hawthorn’s future second and third picks from the Jack Ginnivan trade, possesses two picks that are associated with the same team.
As Fremantle itself discovered this year, trading future picks can be a risky venture. The Demons, not the Dockers, held the coveted No. 6 pick heading into this week’s draft, which the Dees used to sign highly-rated midfielder Caleb Windsor. Freo’s disappointing 2023 season came about as a result of giving up its future first-round pick and future second-round pick to Melbourne in the trade for Luke Jackson last year.
Although the Swans are optimistic that the gifted young tall will sign a new contract that will keep him in Western Australia beyond 2024, the Dockers have made no secret of their attempts to entice Sydney forward Logan McDonald back to Perth.
In addition to having benefited from a draft bounty this week, Gold Coast has three first-round picks for 2024: one tied to the Western Bulldogs, one for itself, and an AFL compensation pick that North Melbourne received at the end of the first round.
Because they acquired an additional second-round pick through the trade that resulted in Mabior Chol moving to Hawthorn, the Suns are the only team with five picks inside the first two rounds.
The only other team with multiple first-round selections is Sydney, which also owns North’s additional first-round compensation pick for 2024.
Richmond now has nine 2024 selections, more than any other club, after trading picks this week. Richmond was not present at the top of the 2023 draft because of the trades of Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper. The only teams with three or more picks in the first two rounds are the Tigers, Dockers, and Suns.
As the Blues get ready to match bids on father-son tandem Ben and Lucas Camporeale—the twin boys of club champion Scott—Carlton currently owns three fourth-round picks.
