Cooper Duff-Tytler named in AFL Academy squad, earmarking him as 2025 draft prospect

Woodend-Hesket junior and Calder Cannons prospect Cooper Duff-Tytler has only played a handful of games but the rising star with the “basketball background” is one to watch in 2025.

Cooper Duff-Tytler in action during the Coates League pre-season testing.

“Basketball background” has almost become a byword for talented footballer.

Expect to hear it a lot when talking about exciting tall Cooper Duff-Tytler.

The 17-year-old has only played a handful of games of footy but his inclusion in the 2025 AFL Academy squad has earmarked him as one of the top draft talents for next year.

Duff-Tytler has represented Australia at underage level in basketball – winning gold at the Under-16 Asian Cup – but has officially chosen footy as his preferred career path.

The Woodend-Hesket junior is 199cm and has already drawn comparisons to Fremantle star Luke Jackson.

Cooper Duff-Tytler in action for Vic Country. Picture: Taylor Earnshaw Photography

In six Coates League matches for Calder Cannons this season, he averaged 17 disposals, 14 hitouts, three marks, two tackles and kicked four goals.

While basketball had previously been the focus, he did play under-16s for Vic Metro and made his senior local footy debut for the Hawks this season.

Cannons talent manager Seb Spagnuolo said the sky was the limit.

“He had a fantastic bottom-age year and while his opportunities were limited due his basketball and school football commitments every time he played in the talent league he showed his potential,” Spagnuolo said.

“He’s put his best foot forward, he played on AFL Grand Final day and did quite well in that game as a ruck-forward.

“He’s so agile for a big kid he can play anywhere.

“Long-term, when he’s an AFL player, he’s in that Luke Jackson mould as a mobile tall – can mark it and his tap work and follow-up is sensational.”

All going to plan, Duff-Tytler would be the second player drafted from Woodend-Hesket after Dylan Smith (pick No.6 in 2000).

Four Hawks juniors are on Calder’s list heading into pre-season, Duff-Tytler, Ollie Watt, Cooper Reed and Willem Hanegraaf.

The Riddell District league has produced stars including Harry Jones (Gisborne Rookies), Jake Lever (Romsey) and Lachie Plowman (Macedon).

Spagnuolo said it was great for clubs like Woodend juniors and Woodend-Hesket.

“To have Isaac Kako as a high-end draft prospect from a smaller club like Northern Saints and then Cooper as a projected high-end pick in 2025 from Woodend, it should send a message to all kids at perceived smaller clubs,” he said.

“You can stay at your local club no matter how big or small and if you’re good enough and develop – with great people around you – then you’ll get noticed and earn an opportunity.

“We’re really pleased for them, Cooper is actually one of four players from Woodend-Hesket on the Cannons’ list.

“It’s a tight-knit, footy-loving community and we’re really excited that we’re starting with four.”

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Duff-Tytler attends PEGS, which has previously produced the likes of Jones (Essendon) and Cam Rayner (Brisbane).

Cannons teammate Felix Kneipp was also selected in the National Futures match on grand final day, the pair following the likes of 2024 Academy member Harry O’Farrell and potential top-10 pick Kako.

Duff-Tytler collected a match-high 10 hitouts, 10 handball receives and 13 disposals.

Calder Cannons also had two prospects picked in the girls academy, Chloe Baker-West from Strathmore and Jade McLay from Diamond Creek Women’s.