CARLTON midfielder Cooper Lord has been named as the Telstra AFL Rising Star for Round 10 following an impressive performance against Sydney on Friday night.  

In just his 11th AFL game, Lord collected an equal career-high 19 disposals, had 400 meters gained as well as having four score involvements.  

Arriving at IKON Park a year ago with pick No.9 in AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, Lord earned his spot in the Blues line up just a few months later, debuting against West Coast in Round 23. 

Signing a one-year extension with Carlton earlier this year, Lord is regarded as an intelligent player who is always keen to learn and grow his game. A team-first player through the middle of the ground and in the front half, his career average for tackles is 3.3 ranking above average for the league. 

Possessing a selfless mindset, and a superior worth ethic, Lord has not only earnt him a spot in the team’s best 23 but has seen him only miss one game this season.  

Already a popular figure amongst the Navy Blue faithful, his stocks rose even higher in Round 9 against St Kilda, when he kicked a clutch goal in the final's moments of the game. 

AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss said today’s announcement is the perfect reward for all of Lord’s hard work.  

“Cooper is an extremely driven footballer, since arriving at the Club he hasn’t put a foot wrong. His diligence to execute whatever role is given to him is a credit to his dedication to the sport,” Voss said. 

“As we have seen he is a clean user of the ball and can effectively move it inside forward 50. Someone who always works hard on his game, he’s been a welcomed addition to our midfield group, with the likes of Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra taking him under their wing. 

“We are very excited for what the future holds for Cooper at the Blues, and we look forward to seeing his career unfold over the coming year.”