Mature-aged Sydney draftee Billy Cootee is expected to not only fit into the Swans' strong culture, but also add to it.
The 22-year-old was recruited to the New South Wales side last Thursday as the 42nd overall pick in the 2025 AFL Draft, landing in the red and white after two seasons in the SANFL.
Cootee's breakout season in the navy blue and red came as a product of the Redlegs' early-season struggles in midfield, with the loss of Magarey Medal-winning ruckman Harry Boyd, coupled with the absence of a number of their top-line ball winners, seeing coach Jade Sheedy call upon the former Essendon VFL talent.
Often utilised at half-forward given his innate ability to impact the scoreboard in big moments, Cootee was given a larger role in Sheedy's engine room as Norwood were without star onballer Baynen Lowe for the first six rounds.
Mitch O'Neil's season was over at that juncture as he dealt with Langerhans cell histiocytosis and an ankle injury, forcing Sheedy to shift the magnets around once more.
From Round 8 onwards, Cootee was positioned as a key piece in the middle of the field alongside reigning Sandover Medal winner Nik Rokahr and former Geelong midfielder Jacob Kennerley, amassing 20 or more disposals in 13 of his last 14 appearances.
By the second half of the season, Cootee was one of the competition's most damaging onballers, averaging over 25 disposals and close to two goals per game in his final eight appearances - three of which were finals.
Speaking to Zero Hanger, Sheedy was glowing about Cootee's development across the campaign, lauding his ability to adapt to new tests and roles throughout.
"At times early in the year, we were getting touched up around the ball. We knew Billy could hit the scoreboard, so we played Billy as a high half-forward who came up in the stoppage a bit earlier. But we had to try and create a few more numbers around stoppage and to get the ball going our way a little bit more," the Norwood coach said.
"Once we put him into the midfield, the rest was history. We got going a bit, and we got a few players back, and the team started to settle throughout the year.
"He was one of the mids that, with his running capabilities and his scoreboard impact, could get up and down the ground. In hindsight, it was a tough role for him to play, because the opposition wouldn't drop off him given the reputation he has.
"Billy was one of our main onballers, and playing on the footy, he's got the ability to go forward and hit the scoreboard as well. He kicked some big goals, he's really proactive at stoppage, has fast feet and good lateral movement and can get inside to outside very well. He's a diligent trainer and a ripping teammate.
"He'll be a good fit for what Sydney is with their very strong culture, and he'll fit that and add to it as well.
While Cootee's on-field exploits caught attention externally, his lively presence as a fond teammate within the four walls of Norwood Oval was well known by those around him.
Between setting standards at training to connecting with each and every player, Sheedy said Cootee's energy and talent led him to be seen as a role model at the club.
"He's got very good confidence in himself in the best possible way," Sheedy laughed. "He is not a cocky individual. He's a fantastic teammate and a person that connects the whole group.
"He's got a unique ability to be able to do that, but he also has the ability when it's his turn to kick a goal or to step up in a big moment, to nail it.
Billy Cootee with the Redlegs first 💪 pic.twitter.com/HiXEqd5cdv
— SANFL (@SANFL) September 14, 2025
"I think that comes down to how diligent he is and how hard he trains. At every meeting, he comes in with a notebook. This has been a dream of his for a very, very long time.
"Obviously, he's got talent, but he's got there through a lot of hard work and being very diligent with everything he does."
The roles Cootee played on and off the field this year eased the toll on Sheedy's shoulders amid his first season as coach of the Redlegs.
It left the former Woodville-West Torrens coach with mixed emotions when Cootee's name was called on draft night last week, with a sense of pride the most prominent.
"He's one that I definitely gravitated to as a new coach. He has a unique ability to bring people together," Sheedy added.
"I don't think there would be a person inside our footy club that would have a single bad word to say about him.
"He has a really good balance of having fun at the right time and bringing people together and making everyone feel welcome. He comes from an amazing family.
"I was very, very sad but very happy (on draft might), because the selfish part of me... he's a big part of the footy club, and a character like him is hard to replace.
"He's a very unique individual, and you've probably got to meet him to understand that."
