EFL 2019: Balwyn forward Cooper Sharman attracting AFL attention

He’s the high-marking forward that has elevated himself into AFL draft contention after just a handful of eye-catching moments in local football. Meet the suburban young gun who has recruiters talking.

Young Balwyn forward Cooper Sharman. Picture: Stuart Milligan

One NAB League game and a handful of eye-catching moments in the Eastern Football League.

That’s all it has taken for young Balwyn forward Cooper Sharman to elevate himself into AFL draft contention.

Word has spread quickly about the kid from Leeton in country NSW with the sure hands and high-marking ability.

As many as eight AFL clubs were on hand to watch him kick three goals against Blackburn last month.

In his first game for Oakleigh Chargers he finished with 20 disposals, five marks and one goal to announce himself as a player to watch.

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Port Melbourne is also keen to play him in the VFL under the 23rd man rule.

The rangy and raw forward kicked three goals in a best afield performance in front of recruiters in Balwyn’s Queen’s Birthday clash against Noble Park.

Talent scouts attended the Round 9 fixture to catch a glimpse of Bulls defender Ariek Lual, but left asking about the 18-year-old.

Sharman had to play two games in Balwyn’s reserves this year as stresses on its player points cap squeezed him out of the seniors.

“Four or five weeks ago I was struggling to hold my spot in the first grade at Balwyn but a couple of good games down there and it’s all happened really quickly after that,” Sharman said.

“No one had obviously heard of me really but I played a couple of good games and it’s just all gone from there.”

Balwyn coach Rodney Eade is a fan of Cooper Sharman. Picture: Mark Dadswell/AAP

Oakleigh talent manager Jy Bond is a former Balwyn player and has maintained his links to the Tigers.

Bond said Sharman’s encouraging performances in the EFL prompted the club to invite him down.

“He’s new onto the scene so he hasn’t been through any programs but from what I’ve seen and looking at the vision, he’s one grab, he’s a very strong mark, he takes the ball at it’s highest position and has very strong hands,” Bond said.

“He’s a smooth mover, he’s got decent skills but his ability to mark the ball at its highest point at pace it probably what sets him apart at the moment.”

Bond said AFL interest in the commerce and business student was “gaining momentum”.

“It’s certainly snowballed in the last two weeks but if you’re a good player and if you play good footy, people find you and I think that’s what’s happened here,” he said.

Cooper Sharman shows off his vertical jump. Picture: David Woodhouse

Sharman played senior football for Leeton Whitton Crows in the Riverina Football League and featured in the club’s 2017 premiership.

So why was he overlooked for a place with the GWS Giants Academy?

“I was never lucky enough to play well in any trial games,” Sharman said.

“(It was) probably my speed with the ball and when I didn’t have the ball. That was something I was lacking.”

Sharman moved to Melbourne in March for university (he is living on campus at Deakin University in Burwood) and signed at Balwyn through fellow Riverina product Liam Frazer, who plays at the club.

“I was just hoping to come down here and play as much good footy as I can in the EFL and never would have I thought I’d be in this position,” he said.

“Hopefully I can continue to play good footy for both Oakleigh and Balwyn and obviously the big goal at the end of the year now is getting drafted.”

Not knowing much about him, Balwyn coach Rodney Eade started Sharman in the reserves in a practice match against Colac.

“He would have taken 16 to 18 marks so we knew he was well above that level,” Eade said.

“He played a senior practice match against South Bendigo and took a few good marks and against Greensborough was OK without being great — it was a very windy day.

“I thought he had a lot of upside and probably about Round 4 or 5 I thought I would have a talk to him at the end of the year to see if he wanted to play VFL next year because I thought he had the attributes to go higher.”

Eade said Sharman had the fundamentals to take his game further.

“He’s come from a long way back but his basic skill set is very good … his marking, his kicking, his ground ball and he’s got high footy IQ,” he said.

“He really just needs to get stronger, needs to get fitter and then how to utilise his running patterns.

“I think he’d flourish the higher he gets up and the more he learns.”

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