Port Adelaide will unveil a new face in the club's Round 3 clash with Essendon as rookie selection Tom Cochrane will don the black and teal for the first time.
Cochrane joined the Power during last year's intake of youngsters, taken with Pick 13 in the Rookie Draft.
The son of former Port Adelaide player Stuart, who played 54 games for the club between 2003 and 2005, Tom will help fill the void in the forward line left by a host of injured stars.
Tom time? Yep, Tom time.
He's in! ๐ pic.twitter.com/AQRTUArcwa
โ Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) March 25, 2025
After drafting Cochrane, Port Adelaide recruiting manager Geoff Parker was impressed with his skillset, which should complement the club's forward line in the future.
"Tom is a competitive and combative mid/forward. He can win his own ball in the contest and has power to break from traffic and the kicking skills to finish his work inside 50," Parker said.
Long-term injuries to Jack Lukosius (knee) and Todd Marshall (Achilles) have left a gaping hole in Ken Hinkley's forward line, which has been shouldered by youngster Mitch Georgiades.
Jeremy Finlayson has previously been earmarked for the second tall option in the front half, but due to unavailability on the defensive end, he was deployed alongside Aliir Aliir before being dropped against Richmond.
Esava Ratugolea will come into selection consideration after missing the opening two weeks with injury.
Cochrane will follow in the footsteps of fellow draftee Christian Moraes, who debuted last week against the Tigers, as well as Joe Berry in Round 1.
Recruit Rory Atkins could also come into the mix as ruckman Ivan Soldo presses his case.
On Thursday, Cochrane will also become the first AFL player to have been diagnosed with the medical condition Tourette's syndrome.
"I am so proud of him," Hinkley said of Cochrane's winning the battle with his personal challenges.
"And I am proud of his family. He has taken on his challenges and fitted into an AFL environment in a short period of time. Now he is going to play his first AFL game ... it is such a good story.
"He has kicked seven (goals) (in two SANFL trial games) ... and they do show you every time that young people that they can bring great energy to the team.
