LUCAS COOK
LUCAS Cook will continue his football career with North Ballarat in the VFL.
Melbourne delisted Cook at the end of last season. He did not play an AFL home and away game in his two years with the Demons.
Cook’s move to the Roosters continues their commitment to fostering the ongoing careers of former young North Ballarat Rebels discarded by AFL clubs.
He follows in the footsteps of the likes of Matt Tyler and Matt Austin – both from the Brisbane Lions.
Matt Tyler played in North Ballarat’s 2010 premiership team before returning to his home club Rupanyup last year, while Austin (originally from Stawell) joined the Selkirk Roosters last season.
Cook, 20, said a primary objective was to enjoy his football.
He told The Courier yesterday that he was looking forward to lining up with mates such as Coleman Schache, who like Cook was from Hopetoun.
“I’m not looking too far ahead.
“I’ll take it as it comes.”
Cook said no player liked to be told he was delisted.
“All you can do is roll with the punches and get on with it.”
Cook will continue to live in Melbourne, where he will study sports management at Deakin University in Burwood.
Although North Ballarat head coach Gerard FitzGerald prefers his players to live in Ballarat, he said he was comfortable with Cook being Melbourne-based.
“We know Lucas. We know his character.”
Cook will join the Roosters’ small Melbourne-based group, which includes Myles Sewell and Ollie Tate, which undertakes a rehabilitation in Melbourne early each week, trains in Ballarat on Wednesdays and trains with North Ballarat-aligned North Melbourne players at Arden Street on Fridays.
Melbourne drafted Cook as a 196cm key forward with a first round selection in 2010 after All-Australian under-18 honours that year.
He spent his two years with the Demons playing with Casey Scorpions in the VFL.
david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au
