The realisation that he is now an AFL player was still sinking in for Calder Cannons’ Cooper Duff-Tytler.
While having represented Australia on the national stage in basketball, it was his footballing dream that came true on Wednesday night.
After weeks of speculation, Duff-Tytler is headed to West Coast after being taken at pick four on the first night of the draft.
Speaking the next morning, it was still a dream for the Woodend teenager.
“It’s hard to settle in,” he said.
“The more you wear the colours it feels a bit more real, still not real pretty unbelievable at this stage.
“Once I get over there and start to meet everyone and get amongst training and stuff it will start to feel a little more real.”
Duff-Tytler said there wasn’t much sleep following the draft.
His family and friends celebrated with him along with number one pick Willem Duursma, who is also headed to the Eagles. Both has been predicted to end up at West Coast.
“We went out a little bit after that bit of a late night but you only get drafted once,” he said.
While Duff-Tytler had plenty of family and friends around him, there were a couple of people who were there in spirit on the draft night.
On his table at the draft was a photo of his grandparents, Brian and Dianne Lee.
“Nan and grandad on my mum’s side passed away a few years ago,” Duff-Tytler revealed about the special photo.
“They can’t be here and they always supported me a lot when I was younger and they would have been the first people in the room with me for sure.
“[I wanted to] bring them along and have them there to be a part of it.”
Brian Lee is one of the legends of the Woodend-Hesket club having played a huge role in the two club’s merging.
The club and Romsey play for the Brian Lee Cup each year.
Duff-Tytler might soon find his name up there in the rafters at Gilbert Gordon Oval as well alongside his grandfather.
The Woodend club rooms were packed on Wednesday night as the local community followed Duff-Tytler’s journey.
“He helped Wooded and Hesket merge together as clubs and he’s done everything at Woodend footy club you can do,” Duff-Tytler said of his grandfather.
“It’s a pretty good name around there.
“I’ve seen the videos and the club rooms were packed. They were jumping around when I got drafted.
“So humbling to see and the support from my local club means everything to me. To see the amount of people rally around me to see out my dream was pretty special.”
Eagles list management and recruiting head Matt Clarke said Duff-Tytler showed plenty heading into the draft.
“He was outstanding at the draft combine, running just over six minutes for the two-kilometre time trial at 201 centimetres, which is incredible.
“He also clocked sub-three seconds for the 20 metre sprint, that’s a rare combination of size and athleticism.
“What really stands out for us is his follow-up work at ground level. He’s super clean, creative with his hands, and kicks the ball really well. He fits the modern prototype for a tall.”
