Jamie Cooper

Recruited from Surrey Hills in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, Cooper arrived at Fitzroy in 1984 attempting to break into a side boasting stars like Bernie Quinlan and Garry Wilson. He served as a depth player for the Lions, managing 26 senior games over four seasons but struggling to cement a permanent spot in the starting 22. While his on-field contributions were modest, yielding just a single career goal, Cooper’s true legacy emerged post-retirement as the game’s premier historical artist. Known for his hyper-realistic 'Dream Scene' and Team of the Century paintings, he has immortalised the sport's greatest legends on canvas, achieving a status in the football world through his brush that eluded him with his boot.