Carlton youngster Cooper Lord has been rewarded with a one-year contract extension, keeping him in the navy blue until the end of 2026.
Lord was taken with Pick 9 in the 2024 Mid-Season Draft after being overlooked six months earlier but has quickly immersed himself into life as an AFL footballer.
The 19-year-old made his debut in Round 23 last year against West Coast, collecting 15 disposals and two clearances.
Lord remained in the senior side amid an injury crisis on the eve of the 2024 finals series, and upped his output in the final home and away game against St Kilda, recording 19 touches and seven tackles.
Head of List Management Nick Austin has seen tremendous progress in Lord's game, which the club was happy to reward with a new deal.
"Cooper has injected a great energy into our midfield group; he is tough at contests and has the agility and speed to break free and effectively dispose of the ball out of the high-pressure moments," Austin said.
"He has grasped the opportunity to be on an AFL list with both hands and it is wonderful to be able to be able to recognise and reward his effort with a contract extension.
"He has shown an impressive level of maturity at such a young age and is a great story for players coming through the system, showcasing that the dream doesn't stop on draft night.
"He is an exciting talent, and we are looking forward to seeing all he can produce in the Navy Blue over the coming years."
In November, Lord was joined at the club by school mate Jagga Smith, the Blues' Pick 3 in last year's National Draft.
Smith and Lord attended Scotch College and even coached the school's 7a team together.
