Australian Football

After working his way through the ranks at Claremont, Lorne Cook made his senior WANFL debut in 1959 en route to a 14-season, 230-game league career. Extremely versatile, he played in most positions on the field during that career, excelling in nearly all of them, but was perhaps at his best across half back. 

Sometimes too courageous for his own good, he sustained numerous injuries, with undoubtedly the most upsetting being that sustained in the 1964 Preliminary Final which ruled him out of the Monts’ Grand Final winning team the following week. A fine overhead mark, he combined considerable pace with smooth ball handling skills, and was a useful kick, particularly with his favoured left foot.

Cook was captain of Claremont in 1967 and 1968 and again in his final season of 1972, and won a fairest and best award in 1968. His 10 interstate appearances for Western Australia included all three matches at the 1961 Brisbane carnival, which the Western Australians won.

Author - John Devaney