GOING STRAIGHT to one of the opposition’s gun on-ballers in the last fortnight, Carlton youngster Cooper Lord has impressed just about everyone in the last two weeks.

Adding the run-with role to his expansive repertoire this year as an inside midfielder, wingman, high half-forward and sub, Lord has limited the impact of Fremantle’s Caleb Serong and Gold Coast’s Noah Anderson in recent weeks, earning coaches’ votes against the Suns in the process.

What’s been so noticeable about Lord’s performances is that while the impact of his direct opponent has been limited, it hasn’t been to the detriment of Lord’s own performances offensively, beating his own career-high stats for disposals (22 against Fremantle, 24 against Gold Coast) and tackles (eight then 12) in that time.

But one person who hasn’t been surprised by what Lord’s produced - both in the last fortnight and across 2025 as a whole - is his best mate, Jagga Smith.

School mates at Scotch College who ended up being united by Navy Blue in 2024 (Lord via the mid-season draft, Jagga the national six months later), Smith has loved watching what Lord has been able to do while watching from the sidelines himself.

“It’s been great to see Coop develop this year and lock himself in the line-up. He’s had to play a few different roles: it’s a tough midfield to crack, but through injury comes opportunity and the roles he’s been given has been great for him to develop from,” Smith said on Channel 7’s Sunday Footy Feast.

“He can really learn off the best players in the game and for him to nullify Noah Anderson was great for the team, but he was also able to win some of the footy as well.

“He’s been doing that nullifying role since back in the school footy days, so he hasn’t changed. He works really hard and it’s great to see him get that reward.”

Lord and Smith both had different trajectories to their careers at Carlton, something the duo had spoken about constantly in their pathway to joining the Club.

But the excitement they have for playing alongside one another in the Navy Blue - which was put on temporary hold following Smith’s season-ending injury - will make it all worth it when the day comes.

“He was a mid-season pickup and he always gave me a bit of crap that I’d be the high draft pick. He’s such a hard worker and deserves everything he gets, it’s been great to see him play some great footy.”