Every now and then, a name comes along that you just can’t shake.
Not because of hype. Not because of phantom draft buzz.
Because when you watch them, you feel it – this kid could wear the sash.
Let me introduce you to Cooper Duff-Tytler.
200cm of modern prototype. A ruck/forward hybrid out of Calder Cannons and Vic Metro. Draft range? Anywhere from Pick 1 to Pick 4. Comparisons? Think Luke Jackson – but with a cleaner skillset and perhaps even more upside in traffic. His name has been murmured by recruiters since he was 16. Not just a ruck, but the ruck. Maybe the first ruck to go number one since Kreuzer in '07.
And here's the kicker... If West Coast blink, if they go Harley Reid 2.0, or opt for a key back, then Cooper Duff-Tytler could fall to US.
Let that sink in.
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⚖️ The Duff-Tytler Package: What Are We Getting?
Let’s break it down. There are plenty of 200cm rucks who can tap it down and disappear into the mist. CDT isn’t one of them.
What separates Duff-Tytler is his work rate after the ruck contest. He’s a weapon once the ball hits the deck. That basketball background isn’t just a cliche—it’s visible in how he moves. He slides into space like a midfielder, evades like a flanker, and delivers the ball like a utility.
He’s not a big lug who camps in the square. He’s a modern ruck-forward, a mobile marking threat, and a ground-level clearance machine.
And let’s talk character. Leadership at every level. Humble off the field. Competitive beast on it. He’s got that Richmond DNA – even if he doesn’t know it yet.
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🐯 Why Richmond? Why Now?
Let’s be honest. Toby Nankervis is a warrior. An all-time clubman. But he turns 31 next year. His body’s taken a pounding, and we don’t have a clear successor waiting in the wings.
Soldo? Gone. Sims? Talented, but more forward than ruck. Samson Ryan? Depth at best. Big question marks remain.
Now imagine this:
Cooper Duff-Tytler comes in, spends a year or two in the VFL, learns from Nank, builds his tank, understands the Tiger way. By 2027, he’s the centre-square general for a new-look midfield.
He becomes the link between the next premiership era and the current one. That’s the kind of drafting that changes the DNA of a club for a decade.
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🔥 Pros & Cons: The Tiger Tragician’s Verdict 🔥
✅ Pros:
Size: Legit 200cm and still filling out
Athleticism: Covers ground like a 190cm midfielder
Breakout age: Dominated Vic Metro reps as a bottom-ager
Ball skills: Elite foot skills for his size
Ruck craft: Already one of the best tap rucks in the draft
Character/Leadership: Future captain vibes
Ceiling: Potential top 10 player in the comp
⚠️ Cons:
Position value: Rucks aren’t always seen as Pick 1 material
Low floor: If he doesn’t develop physically or tactically, could top out as a decent depth ruck
🟡⚫ Want Factor: 10/10
If he’s there, and the Tigers read out “Cooper Duff-Tytler” on draft night… I’m fist-pumping the ceiling.
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🗣️ What Does It Mean For The Rebuild?
You don’t draft a ruck at Pick 3 (or Pick 1!) unless you believe he can be foundational. Duff-Tytler isn’t just a cherry on top. He’s part of the core that will grow with Brown, Bauer, Sonsie, Clarke, and Cumberland.
You win premierships with dominant talls. And the next great Richmond side will need one.
It’s a risk – no doubt. But in a draft class light on genuine ruck-forward hybrids, Cooper Duff-Tytler could be the biggest swing we’ve taken since Dusty. And if it lands?
He’ll be taking centre bounces at the MCG for a decade to come – in yellow and black.
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🐯 Over to You, Tiger Army 🐯
What do YOU think?
Would you use a top 3 pick on a ruck?
Do you trust our development to bring him along?
Is CDT the right Tiger for this moment?
Sound off in the comments. And remember: The future is unwritten... but maybe, just maybe, it stands 200cm tall and goes by the name Duff-Tytler.