LUCAS Cook speaks to melbournefc.com.au about his journey so far in the AFL after being selected at No.12 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft
You had a taste of NAB Cup and now we’re a couple of weeks into the VFL season. How have you found stepping up to senior level?
LC: It’s been good. We played a night match at Casey against Geelong and had a win to start the VFL season off, so that was a good initiation for me. The boys played really well. Last week, we played Port Melbourne and just went down, but I’m still getting used to the physicality of the VFL. The bodies are much bigger than the TAC Cup, so it’ll take me a while to get used to, but I’m really enjoying it.
How much different have you found the tempo of TAC Cup to VFL?
LC: It’s a lot quicker, so it’ll take a while to adjust to as well, so along with building my body, it’s all a bit of a work in progress.
Have you felt overawed moving into senior football?
LC: Playing with the likes of Mick Newton and Ricky Petterd, it’s been really helpful for me. They’ve been really good and they’re trying to help me play consistent footy. It’s made the transition a lot easier. They’ve also given me a lot of advice about playing on VFL players.
What’s been the main message from the coaches regarding your first season at the club?
LC: We haven’t really set any long-term goals. I’m just trying to get used to the speed of the VFL and go from there. I’m trying to improve every game and improve every session, so I can get the best opportunity to play at the AFL level one day.
Since you’ve arrived at the club, has someone in particular taken you under their wings?
LC: All of the boys have been really good, especially the forward line boys like Lynden Dunn and Mick Newton. They’ve been really helpful and they’ve helped my development.
How have you found life in the AFL so far, since arriving last November?
LC: It’s flown by and I’ve loved every minute of it. I’m glad we’re now into the season and playing games. It’s been really good and I can’t wait to keep playing more games this season.
You were Melbourne’s first pick at No.12 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft. Do you feel any greater expectation, because of that tag?
LC: No, it’s no worries at all. When I came to the club, it was just a number that I was drafted at. All of the boys are considered equal and the young boys are a tight-knit group, so the numbers don’t matter.
Have you been in touch with many of the draftees now at other AFL clubs that you played with at junior level?
LC: I like to watch a few of the boys play when I can, who I played Vic Country and was in the AIS Academy with. It’s great to see them develop. I was good mates with Shaun Atley and Dyson Heppell, who were drafted to North Melbourne and Essendon respectively. It’s been good to see them play well and progress.
Having watched the likes of Atley and Heppell play already, does it spur you on to make your AFL debut this year or do you think you’ll need a full season of development in the VFL?
LC: I’ve gone into this year with a development mindset, so I just want to try and improve every week. If I could play a game, it’d be a bit of a bonus, but I haven’t really set any goals to play any games. But hopefully I can string together a few consistent games in the VFL and we’ll just see what happens.
Of the other Melbourne draftees from last year, who have you formed close bonds with?
LC: We’re a pretty tight-knit group, so that’s been really good. I’m living with Tommy McDonald at the moment, so that’s good. We tend to do most things together now. Tommy is definitely the cleaner one. I’ve got the big pile of clothes in my room. You can’t find the carpet sometimes, so I’m probably the harder one to live with I reckon. He’s usually pretty neat and tidy. But all of the boys are really good, so it’s been great.
LC: It’s been good. We played a night match at Casey against Geelong and had a win to start the VFL season off, so that was a good initiation for me. The boys played really well. Last week, we played Port Melbourne and just went down, but I’m still getting used to the physicality of the VFL. The bodies are much bigger than the TAC Cup, so it’ll take me a while to get used to, but I’m really enjoying it.
How much different have you found the tempo of TAC Cup to VFL?
LC: It’s a lot quicker, so it’ll take a while to adjust to as well, so along with building my body, it’s all a bit of a work in progress.
Have you felt overawed moving into senior football?
LC: Playing with the likes of Mick Newton and Ricky Petterd, it’s been really helpful for me. They’ve been really good and they’re trying to help me play consistent footy. It’s made the transition a lot easier. They’ve also given me a lot of advice about playing on VFL players.
What’s been the main message from the coaches regarding your first season at the club?
LC: We haven’t really set any long-term goals. I’m just trying to get used to the speed of the VFL and go from there. I’m trying to improve every game and improve every session, so I can get the best opportunity to play at the AFL level one day.
Since you’ve arrived at the club, has someone in particular taken you under their wings?
LC: All of the boys have been really good, especially the forward line boys like Lynden Dunn and Mick Newton. They’ve been really helpful and they’ve helped my development.
How have you found life in the AFL so far, since arriving last November?
LC: It’s flown by and I’ve loved every minute of it. I’m glad we’re now into the season and playing games. It’s been really good and I can’t wait to keep playing more games this season.
You were Melbourne’s first pick at No.12 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft. Do you feel any greater expectation, because of that tag?
LC: No, it’s no worries at all. When I came to the club, it was just a number that I was drafted at. All of the boys are considered equal and the young boys are a tight-knit group, so the numbers don’t matter.
Have you been in touch with many of the draftees now at other AFL clubs that you played with at junior level?
LC: I like to watch a few of the boys play when I can, who I played Vic Country and was in the AIS Academy with. It’s great to see them develop. I was good mates with Shaun Atley and Dyson Heppell, who were drafted to North Melbourne and Essendon respectively. It’s been good to see them play well and progress.
Having watched the likes of Atley and Heppell play already, does it spur you on to make your AFL debut this year or do you think you’ll need a full season of development in the VFL?
LC: I’ve gone into this year with a development mindset, so I just want to try and improve every week. If I could play a game, it’d be a bit of a bonus, but I haven’t really set any goals to play any games. But hopefully I can string together a few consistent games in the VFL and we’ll just see what happens.
Of the other Melbourne draftees from last year, who have you formed close bonds with?
LC: We’re a pretty tight-knit group, so that’s been really good. I’m living with Tommy McDonald at the moment, so that’s good. We tend to do most things together now. Tommy is definitely the cleaner one. I’ve got the big pile of clothes in my room. You can’t find the carpet sometimes, so I’m probably the harder one to live with I reckon. He’s usually pretty neat and tidy. But all of the boys are really good, so it’s been great.
