Werribee full back Nathan Cooper has called time on his Victorian Football League career.
Cooper finishes his career on the ultimate high, stepping away as a premiership player after a four-year career with Werribee, where he built the reputation as one of the VFL’s best key defenders.
He played more than 50 games for the Tigers and more than 100 at the state league level.
Cooper said he had absolutely loved his time at Werribee.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved with the club both on and off field for making it such a great place to play footy,” he said.
“To top it off with a premiership is truly unforgettable.”
Nathan Cooper joined Werribee ahead of the 2021 season with four years and 45 games in the North East Australian Football League
He made the move south to Richmond VFL in 2020, but when the season was cancelled without a match being played due to the Covid pandemic.
Cooper made the switch to Werribee for the next season and debuted in round one.
After an injury riddled 2022, 2023 was a breakout season for the key defender.
He managed to play all 21 games in Werribee’s grand final campaign, the first season he failed to miss a match in his state league career.
He was rewarded with Werribee’s defensive player of the year and earned his first top five best-and-fairest finish for the club.
The defender showed no signs of slowing down in 2024, playing every game up until round 13, before picking up a syndesmosis injury the week later sidelining him until finals.
After nine weeks on the sidelines, Cooper returned for finals playing a key role in the premiership run.
At the VFL awards night the defender was awarded with his first career team of the year selection, and at Werribee’s Bruce Montgomery Trophy night claimed his second consecutive best defensive player award.
Cooper will still be having a kick with Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray Football Netball League.
