Billy Cootee (born 18 December 2002) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL).
| Billy Cootee | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Born |
18 December 2002 Mount Beauty, Victoria | ||
| Original teams |
Dederang-Mt Beauty (TDFL) Essendon Doutta Stars (EDFL) Western Jets (Talent League) Essendon (VFL) Norwood (SANFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 42, 2025 AFL draft | ||
| Debut | Round 7, 2026, Sydney vs. Western Bulldogs, at Docklands Stadium | ||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Sydney | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2026– | Sydney | 4 (2) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 14, 2026. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Early life and Pre-AFL career
editCootee grew up in Mount Beauty, Victoria.[1] He attended Mount Beauty Primary School,[2] and played junior football for the Dederang-Mt Beauty Football Club in the Tallangatta & District Football League.[3] Cootee also played Cricket growing up, playing for the Wodonga Raiders Cricket Club.[4]
Cootee made the move to Melbourne for school,[5] where he attended the Maribyrnong Sports Academy.[6] Following his move to Melbourne, he joined local side the Essendon Doutta Stars Football Club in the Essendon District Football League.[7]
Cootee played for the Western Jets in the Talent League in 2019 and 2021.[8] In 2019, Cootee also featured in the Victorian Metro U17 State Squad for the Under-17 National Championships in cricket.[9]
After going undrafted, Cootee began playing for Essendon in the VFL in 2021.[10] In 2023, at the age of 20, he was named as captain.[11] Following the end of the 2023 VFL season, Cootee moved to South Australia, where he joined Norwood in the SANFL.[12]
AFL career
editAfter averaging 23 disposals, 5 clearances and a goal per game for Norwood,[13] and winning the Michael Taylor Medal in 2025 as the club's best and fairest player,[14] Cootee was selected by the Sydney Swans with pick 42 of the 2025 AFL draft.[15] He was selected to make his debut in round 7 of the 2026 AFL season.[16]
Statistics
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Billy Cootee". bravotalentmgmt.com. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Sport & PE". newsletters.naavi.com. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "A huge congratulations to former DMBFNC junior, Billy Cootee, on being drafted to the Sydney Swans in tonight's AFL draft!". facebook.com. Dederang Mt Beauty Football Netball Club. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Congratulations to former Mount Beauty and Raiders cricketer - Billy Cootee on making his AFL debut for the Sydney Swans!". facebook.com. Wodonga Raiders Cricket Club. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Get to know Billy Cootee". norwoodfc.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Davis, Cootee and El Achkar drafted". northern.starweekly.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ Murray, Tara. "Davis and Cootee drafted". wyndham.starweekly.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Billy Cootee". central.rookieme.com. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Under-17 National Championships Squads Released". cricketvictoria.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Billy Cootee". vfl.aflmstats.com. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "VFL: Cootee named Captain". essendonfc.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Welcome to Norwood Billy Cootee". norwoodfc.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ Sciberras, Jaiden. "Sydney draftee's resilient journey to the AFL". sen.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Billy Cootee wins first Michael Taylor Medal". norwoodfc.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "2025 Telstra AFL Draft: Pick 42, Billy Cootee". sydneyswans.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Edwards and Cootee to debut for Swans". sydneyswans.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Billy Cootee". AFL Tables. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
External links
edit- Billy Cootee's profile on the official website of the Sydney Swans
- Billy Cootee's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Billy Cootee at AustralianFootball.com
