“Mr Magic” is returning to where it all began.
Three-time Morrison Medal-winning footballer Gary Cooper will be in the stands at Tatura Park this Saturday when the Bulldogs host Mooroopna in round five of Goulburn Valley League.
The mercurial rover touched rare air at both clubs during his playing days, so much so that every meeting between the two sides now has a sprinkling of Cooper stardust attached.
He’ll bestow the second Gary Cooper Medal to the player named best-on-ground during the senior football game, following the honour’s inaugural launch in round 11 of the 2023 GVL season.
This time, the match returns to Tatura Park for the first time since August 10, 2019, and it’s a nostalgic feeling for the 322-game GVL icon.
“I first started my football here in 1973 when I came here and played in the thirds and my grandson (Billy Cooper) played here last year,” Cooper said.
“It always feels good when you come back to the club, seeing a lot of the old faces and some of the new faces are really good players. The old players are still here supporting the club which is terrific.
“It’s an honour to me that the two clubs would think of me in that sort of way, that they would put that special honour on me.”
Mooroopna lays claim to the award after Isaac Dowling secured best-afield rights during the Cats’ 42-point victory over Tatura last season.
This time around, the 3-1 Cats are firm favourites over a 1-3 Tatura side and there could be another Gary Cooper Medal draped around a white-and-navy-clad neck in the wash-up of Saturday’s game.
One man who knows all too well of silverware is Mooroopna dual premiership winner Leo Darveniza, who shared the field — and spoils — with Cooper during the Cats’ 1985-86 flags.
“I played with Gary; he came across from Shepp United and it was great to have him there,” he said.
“He played in both the premierships; he was a very exciting footballer and a great teammate.”
While Cooper reaped ultimate team success at Mooroopna, Tatura was where he broke ground as an unmissable individual talent.
He secured his first Morrison Medal in 1976 as a Bulldog before being pipped at the post in the two years after, making Cooper one of five Tatura players to win the league’s most coveted individual prize.
“Gary’s a bit of a legend of the GV, but a legendary figure of our club as well,” Tatura president Quinton Langlands said.
“We’ve got the honour board upstairs and there’s not too many that have made it to legend status at our club, but also for the league.
“It’s fantastic; it feels like we haven’t played Mooroopna at home for about five years in between different COVID things.
“We’re really excited to get the guys here and contest the Gary Cooper Medal again.”
So, when push comes to shove on Saturday, who will the man himself support?
“I won’t be barracking for one or the other — I just hope it’s a good game,” Cooper said with a smile.