Cook played at North Hobart while still a teenager and was recruited by Carlton with the second pick of the 1990 AFL Draft, which they had gained by trading Warren McKenzie to Sydney.
He had to wait three seasons to make his debut and in just his fourth league game kicked six goals in a win over Sydney at Optus Oval to earn an AFL Rising Star nomination, and better the five goals which he booted against Hawthorn two weeks earlier.