AFL 2024: Carlton confirms debut for mid-season recruit Cooper Lord

Carlton will turn to mid-season draft recruit Cooper Lord as one of at least six replacements for Sunday’s crucial trip to Perth to face West Coast.

Lord, a 19-year-old midfielder taken with pick 9 in the mid-season draft, has played a big part in Carlton’s VFL resurgence and had 30 disposals and nine tackles in a win over Geelong on Saturday.

Carlton list boss Nick Austin said in May that Lord was “a little unlucky” not to be drafted last year after he impressed the Blues with his start to the season for North Melbourne’s reserves.

“What we love about Cooper is his desire: He gets the most out of himself every single week and he has well and truly earned his selection in the mid-season draft,” Austin said.

“He was a little unlucky not to get drafted at the end of last year, but he’s used that to elevate his game even further, showing some really promising form for North Melbourne in the VFL.

“He’s got a really high work rate and he’s got a defensive bias in his game, which we know is something that Michael Voss and the coaches really value.”

The addition of Lord as a defensive-minded midfielder may allow Carlton to use Matthew Kennedy as a deep forward as the Blues scramble for tall targets without Harry McKay (quad), Charlie Curnow (ankle) and Tom De Koning (foot).

De Koning will certainly miss round 24’s clash against St Kilda also, while McKay and Curnow are no guarantees to return as the Blues scrap for a top-eight finish.

Intercept defender Dominic Akuei and 201cm forward Harry Lemmey are both being considered to join Lord as debutants against the Eagles, while speedster Jaxon Binns is a strong chance to play his first full senior game after a brief substitute appearance in round 7.

No.29 pick Ashton Moir could also be blooded if the Blues choose to go smaller in attack, with a decision to be made on which tall defenders are thrown forward out of Mitch McGovern, Brodie Kemp and Lewis Young.

Co-vice captain Jacob Weitering said on Tuesday the Blues were not fazed by the task of beating the Eagles without their forward stars, saying their position had been similar at the end of 2022.

“We’ve got an opportunity to make it right. We’ve got some young boys who are keen for a go, and there might be some opportunities this week,” Weitering said.

“We’ve been in these situations before: it’s a test of character, culture, values and the way we play the game. From the leaders down, it’s something we’re going to take with two hands and run with.”