Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 21, 2026

Billy Cootee

Billy Cootee is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Last revised
Jul 21, 2026
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≈ 3 min
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Billy Cootee
Personal information
Born (2002-12-18) 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 19, 2026.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Billy Cootee (born 18 December 2002) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life and Pre-AFL career

Cootee 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

After 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

Updated to the end of round 19, 2026.17

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2026 Sydney 25 4 2 2 16 17 33 8 15 0.5 0.5 4.0 4.3 8.3 2.0 3.8
Career 4 2 2 16 17 33 8 15 0.5 0.5 4.0 4.3 8.3 2.0 3.8 0
References

References

  1. "Billy Cootee". bravotalentmgmt.com. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  2. "Sport & PE". newsletters.naavi.com. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  3. "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.
  4. "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.
  5. "Get to know Billy Cootee". norwoodfc.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  6. "Davis, Cootee and El Achkar drafted". northern.starweekly.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  7. Murray, Tara. "Davis and Cootee drafted". wyndham.starweekly.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  8. "Billy Cootee". central.rookieme.com. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  9. "Under-17 National Championships Squads Released". cricketvictoria.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  10. "Billy Cootee". vfl.aflmstats.com. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  11. "VFL: Cootee named Captain". essendonfc.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  12. "Welcome to Norwood Billy Cootee". norwoodfc.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  13. Sciberras, Jaiden. "Sydney draftee's resilient journey to the AFL". sen.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  14. "Billy Cootee wins first Michael Taylor Medal". norwoodfc.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  15. "2025 Telstra AFL Draft: Pick 42, Billy Cootee". sydneyswans.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  16. "Edwards and Cootee to debut for Swans". sydneyswans.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  17. "Billy Cootee". AFL Tables. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
External links