U19 Div 1

Cooper Named Round 7 NEAFL Rising Star

By Jessica Webster, AFL Media

 

Sydney University defender Nathan Cooper has been awarded the Round 7 Tribal Sport NEAFL Rising Star nomination following his impressive performance against Aspley at Graham Rd.

The 20-year-old was named among the Students’ best in their tight 10-point victory, playing a shutdown role on Aspley forward Jono Freeman and finishing with 15 disposals and 10 spoils.

A former member of the Sydney Swans Academy, Cooper joined Sydney University last season where he earned his first Tribal Sport NEAFL Rising Star nomination playing against NT Thunder.

The Pennant Hills junior also earned NEAFL representative honours against Tasmania in a breakout season for the emerging talent.

Cooper said the match-up against Freeman was a good challenge, as he hopes to build on a strong 2017 season.

“It was a learning curve in that first quarter (against Freeman),” he said.

“At quarter-time I spoke to the coaches and adapted. From then on I changed my positioning on him and tried to shut him out of the game a bit more.

“Consistency is my goal this year, and being able to play good footy week-in, week-out.”

The Tribal Sport NEAFL Rising Star is awarded to the most promising young talent in the NEAFL competition.

Nominees must be under the age of 21 and played less than 20 senior games (excluding games as AFL Academy players) at the start of the 2018 season.

 

 

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