Player Watch #47: Cooper Trembath - signed end '26 - 17 goals in first 7 games - Rising Star nom Rd4 - re-signed until the end of 2029

[Themanbun]

That's an interesting observation. I've always wondered about those rules. Seems stupid to me but then it is the AFL...

It works for mids but no one else. Particularly key forwards. The best thing a forward can do is know how to make and create space when there is none and we manufacture conditions for our best juniors where they never get to build that skill. Seems like madness for me.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

How the **** did a bloke with those hands and leap slip through 75 odd picks?

Goodness me. What year was his draft year? Wondering how many you’d pick in front of him with hindsight. Struggling to figure out what his weakness his. Big pat on the back for how hard he’s worked but there’s a lot of raw talent and athleticism in there too.

He had a good year in 2023 for the stingrays. Really only played as a key defender though. He was an intercept marking machine but there was queries on his speed, agility and running capacity. He never made the Vic metro squad so was more likely to be a rookie pick rather than a national draft pick. He was probably a good 8-10kg overweight as well.

He did a preseason with our VFL and AFL side in 23/24 and then again 24/25. Never played a game for our VFL side instead played as an overager for the stingrays and spending a bit of time in the seniors at Blackburn (still playing ind defence).

Across 2024 he completely transformed his athletic profile and improved his conditioning and running capacity out of sight. Lost about 12kg got lean as anything and was competiting with Larks/CCJ/Darling throughout the pre season. Started the year forward at Blackburn and kicked a couple of bags. Got the call up to our VFL side and kicked 3 on debut after spending most of the game in defence.

That VFL game was enough for Thursfield & Shiels to put him on ice him and take him in the MSD. Everyone involved at VFL level couldn’t have been more complimentary on his attitude and willingness to work.

His physical transformation in the space of 12-18 months was nothing short of extraordinary and I reckon it was that professionalism and his character that really led to him getting a shot!

Just goes to show that there are plenty of kids out there that don’t get picked up, have oodles of upside potential. It’s just a matter of finding them.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I wonder if playing more local footy helped his forward craft. The elite junior pathways are full of 'fair play' guidelines (no flooding, no tagging, no zoning etc). He seems to know when to time a lead.and how to drag an opponent out also.

What makes his rise as a forward even more remarkable, is that this block of senior football is the most he has played as a key forward in his WHOLE career.

18 games go the Stingrays across 2023 an 2024. 0 goals.

2024. 5 games for Blackburn zero goals

2025. 4 games for Blackburn. 5 goals in one game. The rest he played as a defender.

 

[R00StaR]

Give him the cheque book and tell him to write whatever he wants. Freak. His ruck work in the last 10 minutes was a big reason for us winning, and 3 goals to go with it

Cos thats always worked out great for us.

 

[JUST NORTH]

What makes his rise as a forward even more remarkable, is that this block of senior football is the most he has played as a key forward in his WHOLE career.

18 games go the Stingrays across 2023 an 2024. 0 goals.

2024. 5 games for Blackburn zero goals

2025. 4 games for Blackburn. 5 goals in one game. The rest he played as a defender.

i have mentioned before,but if you look for an early interview he did after we drafted him he mentions he played forward in his junior days and he considers his kicking in front of goals one of his stengths, contrary to what others have mentioned on here,it is prob the game he played against swans in the vfl.

 

[nicko74]

A REVELATION

 

[CBSlogger]

What makes his rise as a forward even more remarkable, is that this block of senior football is the most he has played as a key forward in his WHOLE career.

18 games go the Stingrays across 2023 an 2024. 0 goals.

2024. 5 games for Blackburn zero goals

2025. 4 games for Blackburn. 5 goals in one game. The rest he played as a defender.

This makes what he's shown so far absolutely astonishing. And amidst his physical gifts it's easy to overlook his footy IQ and composure which is also off the charts. He's a natural.

Cooper's ultimate ceiling is anyone's guess but if you're plotting a trajectory, he's looking more and more like the shrewdest recruit since we sent $10k to Sydney.

 

[DocSholl]

The idea that we "hid' him is pretty funny. He had two years in the u18 system under every club's nose.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

The idea that we "hid' him is pretty funny. He had two years in the u18 system under every club's nose.

You are right to an extent…but we could’ve played him for another 3 or 4 VFL games prior to the MSD and he could’ve dominated and ended up on the radar of other clubs. It was shrewd that we identified him early and put him on ice.

The fit Trembath that we wheeled out in the VFL last year was a considerably different player than the overweight one that played in the talent league.

 

[Uncle_Leo]

It's fun to think we hid him but I think what actually happened is he worked incredibly hard to improve in a short time and we were the only ones who really knew about it.

Oh so he is Bizarro Jacob Edwards?

 

[Makeshift Park]

Luke Parker just said Coops is the best out of all of them (the kids).

 

[giantroo]

 

[Passmore]

 

[gokangas]

So far so good. Actually, so far, fuggin great.

 

[giantroo]

 

[R00StaR]

Rattles off all our top 5 picks and answers, the MSD kid. That would've drop a jaw on the ground.

 

[Roadrunner]

Need to sign him up long term.

 

[brooksnk]

I’d be putting a 4+ year deal in front of him right now. I was surprised we didn’t sign him for 2 years. I can only assume we have a trigger for a 2nd (if we were minimally competent).

It’s still early days, but the talent of this kid is insane. 193cm but seems to get higher than 200cm lads with ease. Hops like Majak, strong as shit, contested/pack marking, high football IQ, excellent field kick (and now set shot it seems), runs hard, and from all reports, top character and professional attitude.

Can anyone really justify not taking him in the top 5 if you did a redraft of any in the last 5 years?

Jamarra, Thilthorpe, Darcy, Cadman, Walter, Caddy, Morris - all top 3 picks except the latter two. I think Trembath has more natural talent/upside than any of those.

I think Darcy and Thilthorpe are the only ones you’d have to consider swapping him for today, and even then, I honestly don’t think I would. No reason why Trembath couldn’t be the best key forward in the league within 2 years.

 

[KiwiRoo]

His leap when he was rucking was just nuts...only problem was that Carlton read him better than our mids !
probably cause they're more used to the combine harvester style rucking of Xerri

 

[JUST NORTH]

I’d be putting a 4+ year deal in front of him right now. I was surprised we didn’t sign him for 2 years. I can only assume we have a trigger for a 2nd (if we were minimally competent).

It’s still early days, but the talent of this kid is insane. 193cm but seems to get higher than 200cm lads with ease. Hops like Majak, strong as shit, contested/pack marking, high football IQ, excellent field kick (and now set shot it seems), runs hard, and from all reports, top character and professional attitude.

Can anyone really justify not taking him in the top 5 if you did a redraft of any in the last 5 years?

Jamarra, Thilthorpe, Darcy, Cadman, Walter, Caddy, Morris - all top 3 picks except the latter two. I think Trembath has more natural talent/upside than any of those.

I think Darcy and Thilthorpe are the only ones you’d have to consider swapping him for today, and even then, I honestly don’t think I would. No reason why Trembath couldn’t be the best key forward in the league within 2 years.

do not get me started on the schnoz,you did not even have to be astute to see from his 3 games last year that he was one out of the blocks,3 year contract before the season started i could of handled

 

[leighlee13]

I’d be putting a 4+ year deal in front of him right now. I was surprised we didn’t sign him for 2 years. I can only assume we have a trigger for a 2nd (if we were minimally competent).

It’s still early days, but the talent of this kid is insane. 193cm but seems to get higher than 200cm lads with ease. Hops like Majak, strong as shit, contested/pack marking, high football IQ, excellent field kick (and now set shot it seems), runs hard, and from all reports, top character and professional attitude.

Can anyone really justify not taking him in the top 5 if you did a redraft of any in the last 5 years?

Jamarra, Thilthorpe, Darcy, Cadman, Walter, Caddy, Morris - all top 3 picks except the latter two. I think Trembath has more natural talent/upside than any of those.

I think Darcy and Thilthorpe are the only ones you’d have to consider swapping him for today, and even then, I honestly don’t think I would. No reason why Trembath couldn’t be the best key forward in the league within 2 years.

How ridiculous CCJ also got a one year extension. I would have given his year to Cooper and then some.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

Trembath into $26 for the Rising Star as the 5th highest rated. Jagga Smith in a shite Carlton side is leading.

 

[Daniltchenko You Beauty]

Trembath into $26 for the Rising Star as the 5th highest rated. Jagga Smith in a shite Carlton side is leading.

Will be much shorter Monday once the nom drops.

 

[archereleven]

He's fast becoming one of my favourite players. Has it all and does it all.

Why he hasn't been signed until '28 is beyond me, but thats North.

 

[Flawed Genius]

He's fast becoming one of my favourite players. Has it all and does it all.

Why he hasn't been signed until '28 is beyond me, but thats North.

You of course mean '38, yes