Cooper Duff-Tytler Draft Profile

Calder CannonsRuck Forward

#6

Cooper Duff-Tytler

height: 200cm

weight:

D.O.B: 22-08-2007

Leagues: AFL U18 Championships, Coates Talent League Boys

Snapshot
Analysis
Summary

SNAPSHOT: “Choosing to pursue a career in Aussie rules over basketball, Cooper Duff-Tytler is an exciting prospect who has the capability to revolutionise the way the ruck role is played with his movement and ability to cover the ground.” – Adrian Dixon

There have been few more highly touted key position prospects in recent seasons than Calder Cannons product Cooper Duff-Tytler, who only over 12 months ago decided to pursue an AFL career that will soon come to fruition.

Set to become another graduate from the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar production line, Duff-Tytler played most of his junior football with Woodend in the Riddell District Football League, where he eventually made his senior debut in 2024.

Before he was even assigned to a Coates Talent League program, Duff-Tytler represented Vic Metro at the Under 16 National Championships in 2023 and in the first game against Vic Country, would prove to be impressive with his follow up work, athleticism and ruckwork. That same year, he represented Australia’s Under 16s at the FIBA Asia Cup.

After dominating AGSV First 18 football to start off 2024, Duff-Tytler would eventually be unleashed unto the Coates Talent League scene in May. He would also represent Vic Metro in the Under 17 trial game against Queensland where he played as a forward, and while it was a rough day, he showed resilience to hit the scoreboard in the last quarter with two goals.

He then backed it up with an excellent end to the 2024 Coates Talent League season, which included a 30-disposal and three-goal effort against the Dandenong Stingrays, and winning a much-anticipated ruck battle against Louis Emmett in the Wildcard Round loss against the Oakleigh Chargers. He then again impressed for Team Sloane in the Under 17 Grand Final curtain raiser at the MCG.

Heading into season 2025, many were excited to see Duff-Tytler’s progress having been named in the AFL Academy squad and Vic Metro summer hub. After a much-anticipated start to the season where he took out honours in another ruck battle against Emmett, Duff-Tytler would continue to impress for Cannons and in the major representative fixtures.

That included strong performances with the AFL Academy against Richmond and Coburg, and winning All-Australian honours at the Under 18 championships. The accolades didn’t just finish there; he also played in an AGSV premiership for PEGS and put in a strong performance for the Essendon VFL team against Sandringham in the last round of the season.

While the Cannons’ 2025 campaign ended once again in straight sets, Duff-Tytler again performed strongly in the postseason. Altogether, he has been compared to another former top draft pick who also was a basketballer in Fremantle’s Luke Jackson, while he models his game on recent St Kilda acquisition Tom De Koning.

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STRENGTHS:

+ Athleticism
+ Cleanliness
+ Follow-up work
+ Mobility
+ Upside
+ Versatility

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Physicality
- Ruck craft

Duff-Tytler’s versatility is one thing that will be at the forefront of the recruiters’ minds. When it came to his VFL debut for Essendon, he was positioned up forward as the second tall and was able to demonstrate his ability to play as an effective key forward, positioning well one-on-one to win free kicks and present well on a lead.

In the postseason campaign for the Calder Cannons, when he was positioned forward he caused plenty of problems for his opponents, spreading and breaking away on numerous occasions inside 50 to provide an option He was named at centre half-forward in the All-Australian team for the Under 18 Championships, despite being the number one ruckman for Vic Metro. When it comes to the club that takes him, this will give the coaching staff something to strongly consider as to how he can break into the side as soon as possible.

Duff-Tytler’s athleticism and mobility are attributes that stands out to many, especially considering his size. Effectively a fourth midfielder, his ability below the knees at ground level is a sight to behold. This was also shown on his VFL debut, and in the final game for Vic Metro in the Under 18 Championships, where on both occasions he showed his ability to help the team by moving around the ground quickly and helping out defensively. That attribute for a player of his athletic profile is quite rare, and that will be one that undoubtedly will hold him in good stead.

His follow-up work is also another attribute that has been a feature. On numerous occasions throughout 2025, he would start to play that role as the fourth midfielder while in the ruck and would get involved in numerous running passages of play having spread from the contest, showcasing his determination to work hard as soon as the ball is in play. This has been complimented with his skills and cleanliness with the ball in hand, as the big man refined his disposal throughout the year.

Areas of improvement for Duff-Tytler include his size, physicality and ruck craft. If he is to become a number one ruckman, then there is a considerable amount of development that’s needed to fast track him, especially as he will be coming up against older, stronger and more experienced opponents.

This was seen in his VFL debut against Sandringham, where despite going into the ruck in the last quarter he came up against Isaac Keeler, an opponent with reasonable experience who put him to the test - especially when it came to his body work at the stoppages. While Duff-Tytler did win numerous ruck battles throughout the season against his opponents at Under 18 level, he also was beaten on a few occasions despite often getting the chocolates for his work around the ground.

DRAFT RANGE: 1-3

For quite some time, Duff-Tytler was predicted by many to be featuring as a contender for the number one draft pick for 2025. There is every chance going into the draft that West Coast may hold the first two selections, and while a bid or two on club-tied prospects could also be made in the opening few picks, it’s hard to envisage that we don’t hear Duff-Tytler’s name called out. With an AFL preseason under his belt and some rapid development, expect Duff-Tytler to come under some consideration for a debut at some stage throughout 2026, and to eventually push for regular senior selection in the years to come.

AFL U18 Championships

Season	Team	K	HB	D	M	CP	UP	T	HO	CLR	I50	R50	GL	GM	K	H	D	M	HO	T	G	DC
2025	Vic Metro	29	29	58	16	27	31	11	56	7	8	7	3	4	7.3	7.3	14.5	4.0	14.0	2.8	0.8	78
Total	-	29	29	58	16	27	31	11	56	7	8	7	3	4	7.3	7.3	14.5	4.0	14.0	2.8	0.8	78

Coates Talent League Boys

Season	Team	K	HB	D	M	CP	UP	T	HO	CLR	I50	R50	GL	GM	K	H	D	M	HO	T	G	DC
2024	Calder Cannons	50	53	103	20	0	0	11	87	0	15	4	4	6	8.3	8.8	17.2	3.3	14.5	1.8	0.7	77
2025	Calder Cannons	55	47	102	28	63	43	8	87	19	20	9	5	5	11.0	9.4	20.4	5.6	17.4	1.6	1.0	113
Total	-	105	100	205	48	63	43	19	174	19	35	13	9	11	9.5	9.1	18.6	4.4	15.8	1.7	0.8	190