{"id":241790,"date":"2025-10-26T10:19:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T10:19:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/241790\/"},"modified":"2025-10-26T10:19:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T10:19:21","slug":"afl-draft-prospect-linked-to-west-coast-after-essendon-nga-miss-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/241790\/","title":{"rendered":"AFL draft prospect linked to West Coast after Essendon NGA miss"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Bombers have plenty of intel on Duff-Tytler, who spent time training with them in the pre-season before playing a game for the club\u2019s VFL team.<\/p>\n

\"Top<\/p>\n

Top draft prospect Cooper Duff-Tytler could have been in Essendon\u2019s NGA program.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n

That match could be important for his draft stocks. A common recruiting query about Duff-Tytler is based on his height and the role he will play in the AFL, including whether he can develop his contested marking.<\/p>\n

Is he a ruck-forward, or a forward-ruck \u2013 and can he be effective in attack? Duff-Tytler went some way to answering that question with three goals for the Bombers\u2019 reserves.<\/p>\n

Loading<\/p>\n

One of them was an impressive dribble goal where he showed off his mobility and athleticism. Scouts who spoke to this masthead noticed an extra pep in his step, as if to say, \u2018Don\u2019t forget about me and what I can do\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get talked about as a prospect \u2013 everyone does in their top-age year \u2013 and a lot of people were questioning whether I could play forward or not,\u201d Duff-Tytler said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think I really had much opportunity to show that I could, and that was the first time I played mainly as a forward, and got consistency in that role throughout a game. I think it was important for me to show that I do have that side to my game as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Duff-Tytler<\/p>\n

Duff-Tytler (left) can impact the game as a ruckman and forward.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Duff-Tytler was part of Australia\u2019s triumphant under-16 Asian Cup championship basketball squad two years ago, alongside NBA draft prospect Dash Daniels<\/a>, who plays for NBL side Melbourne United and is the brother of Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson.<\/p>\n

Daniels starred with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists in a 79-76 win over New Zealand in the final, while Duff-Tytler chipped in with six points and four boards.<\/p>\n

One of their teammates was Indy Cotton, who also turned his back on basketball to sign as a category B rookie with Adelaide in August.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very tough [to quit basketball]. I\u2019d poured about three years of my life into basketball, like full-time,\u201d Duff-Tytler said.<\/p>\n

\"Dash<\/p>\n

Dash Daniels was one of Duff-Tytler\u2019s Australian under-16 teammates at the Asian Cup two years ago. Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t put much into footy when I was 14, 15, 16, and a lot of my time went into basketball \u2013 and I had so many amazing experiences and relationships through that, playing for Vic Country and Australia. But I really enjoyed going back to footy at the end of last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo give myself the best opportunity to play professional sport, I thought it was best to put all my time into one sport. I couldn\u2019t imagine giving up footy \u2013 I just love it too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duff Tytler knows he will be drafted, and with a high pick, but it is guesswork beyond that.<\/p>\n

Four clubs \u2013 West Coast, Richmond, Essendon and Melbourne \u2013 share the first eight selections, and the teenage rising star is unfussed if he has to pack his bags to head across the country, even if it means eating his nan\u2019s curry dinners far less often.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019d be pretty special to be recognised as the No.1 pick. There have obviously been a lot of good No.1 picks in recent history,\u201d Duff-Tytler said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019d be happy to go anywhere to play AFL footy. It would be a dream come true. If that\u2019s going to Perth; I\u2019m more than happy to move there. I think I\u2019d love it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Bombers have plenty of intel on Duff-Tytler, who spent time training with them in the pre-season before…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":241791,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[638,64,63,55,639,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-241790","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-afl","8":"tag-afl","9":"tag-au","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-australian-football-league","12":"tag-australianfootballleague","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=241790"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241790\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/241791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=241790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=241790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=241790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}