Local product Cooper Stephens has been selected with Geelong’s first pick in this year’s NAB AFL National Draft.



The 188cm inside midfielder was taken with pick 16 and joins the Cats having played with the Geelong Falcons in the 2019 NAB League.



Stephens was named co-captain of the Falcons and averaged 25 disposals in his first two games before he suffered a leg fracture in round three.



The injury ruled the contested ball winner out of the side for the remainder of the season.



The 18-year-old is now back to full fitness and performed well at the recent draft combine, specifically in the endurance testing where he came equal first in the Yo-Yo test.



"It is great to pick a local fella that can play as a strong running midfielder," Recruiting and List Manager Stephen Wells said.



"Cooper is an outstanding character and he coped very well with the adversity of breaking his leg in a draft year, did a great to get himself right to perform well at the combine, but regardless of that I think he was going to get drafted anyway."