AFL Draft Profile: Cooper Hynes

The Bonbeach teenager is an attacking midfielder who knows how to leave his mark on the game.

EDITOR | November 6, 2024 - 2:55pm

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Dandenong Stingrays teenager Cooper Hynes is a lively midfield-forward threat that looms as a strong chance to earn a selection in the first round of the 2024 AFl Draft.

Hynes enjoyed an impressive draft campaign this year with the Stingrays and Vic Country, showing off his attacking prowess as a damaging ball-winner who gave his opposition plenty of headaches.

Often waxing with fellow Dandenong co-captain Harvey Langford at both levels, Hynes managed to kick a team-high 23 goals in 2024 for the Stingrays while averaging 23.7 disposals, 4.5 inside 50s, 4.7 clearances, 7.4 score involvements and 3.1 tackles per game from his 15 outings.

His season in the Talent League was recognised across the year, with Hynes finishing runner-up in the Morrish Medal voting, polling 19 votes to fall to Gippsland Power's Xavier Lindsay by just two votes. Hynes would also earn Team of the Year honours following his Talent League spell, named in the forward pocket.

At the higher level with Vic Country, Hynes wasn't relied upon as much through the middle but was still up to put up strong numbers and leave his mark on the game, averaging a goal per game from a mean of 16.8 disposals.

A 20-disposal, two-goal performance against Western Australia was a standout outing for Hynes at this year's U18s Championships, with the Bonbeach junior garnering more attention to his game.

Hynes' front-half impact may earn him comparisons to Essendon young gun Archie Perkins or Fremantle's Neil Erasmus, who were both top 10 selections in their respective draft years.

A selection for Hynes is unlikely to come that early, but a first-round bid is most likely. Port Adelaide, Fremantle, GWS and the Western Bulldogs could all have interest in Hynes, with the four clubs each holding multiple picks between selections 13-30.