Best mates in navy blue: Jagga Smith and Cooper Lord ready to make an impact at Carlton

Cooper Lord’s start to life as a Carlton player got even better following the 2024 AFL Draft.

The 19-year-old was initially picked up by the Blues in the 2024 Mid-Season Draft and he’d get his opportunity in the seniors late in the home and away season, impressing against West Coast and St Kilda with averages of 17.0 disposals, 4.0 marks, 4.5 tackles and 2.0 clearances a game.

Having already begun to announce himself as an AFL player, what better way to truly make your first pre-season at the club special than doing it with your best friend?

Well, that’s exactly what Lord is now set to do after the Blues took Jagga Smith with Pick 3 last month.

Smith and Lord went to school together at Scotch College and even coached the school’s year 7a team together. Having grown up so close, the pair can’t believe that they’ll now get to share the field as a duo at the highest level.

“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,” Lord told SEN The Run Home.

“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. As you know he’s got a great work ethic. 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.”

After Carlton finished the 2024 season in eighth, Lord didn’t think there was much hope of Smith joining him at Ikon Park given that the Oakleigh Chargers prospect was in Pick 1 discussions throughout his whole draft year.

That all changed after the Blues acquired Pick 3 from the Eagles during the trade period, and even then he didn’t want to believe that Smith could also become a navy blue until his name was finally read out on draft night.

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

“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.”

Listen to the full chat with Lord below: