The last player added to the GIANTS’ list ahead of the 2022 season will make his AFL debut against the Crows on Saturday in Adelaide.
Co-captain Josh Kelly jokingly called it “one for the good guys”, which show you the impact the 18-year-old has had in his short time at the club.
The Bendigo product joined the GIANTS with the 13th pick in the rookie draft but made an immediate impact at the club, smashing the GIANTS’ 2km time trial record in his first week.
Despite being one of the form players in the GIANTS’ VFL side, Hamilton was shocked when coach Leon Cameron announced he’d be playing his first game in round seven.
“It was surprise, straight away,” he said.
“There were a fair few people in the meeting but I was like, I don’t think I’ll be playing at all.
“To be honest, I can’t remember too much, After that we did a bit of review and my head was still spinning, I’m going to have to catch up and go over that because I can’t remember too much, it was crazy.”
Hamilton is a small defender who spent the pre-season matched up against superstar forward Toby Greene.
“I got a pretty quick introduction in the intra-clubs playing on Toby and that put me back into line,” he laughed.
“I’m a hybrid between a lock-down defender and a running defender so like to beat my opponent first and then try to run off them.”
Like most 18-year-olds, the country kid also came into the club with a Tik Tok profile, becoming renowned for his “lawn mower” goal celebration.
“It was lockdown at school, the third lockdown, and we saw some mates do a celebration video and we tried to one-up them,” he said.
The news on Wednesday prompted phone calls across the Hamilton family - to twin brother Hugh (who responded “tag me”) and older brothers Josh and Wil.
Mum Annette missed the calls while on a flight but was emotional at hearing the news. While Dad Tait was distracted by a broken down tractor.
But the entire family will make the trip to Adelaide to see Cooper debut.
"I think Dad’s having a pretty bad day, he didn’t give me too much, the tractor has broken down,” he said.
“They’re ecstatic for me and had some choice words that had to get bleeped out in the video but they’re over the moon for me and they’ll be happy with a trip to Adelaide, especially the brothers.”
Hamilton will have his family in tow and will also come up against former Caulfield Grammar schoolmate and close friend Josh Rachele, who’s made an immediate impact for the Crows, on Saturday at the iconic Adelaide Oval.
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be amazing, it’s going to be something special.”
The GIANTS take on the Crows at Adelaide Oval at 2:10pm in round seven. The match will be broadcast live on Channel 7 in NSW and the ACT as well as Fox Sports 3 and Kayo nationally.
