Port Adelaide draftee Tom Cochrane still can’t quite believe he’s on an AFL list. 

The powerful mid/forward arrived at Alberton on Friday by way of the Telstra AFL Rookie Draft, with the Power selecting him at pick 13. 

The 18-year-old excitedly recalls the moment he became an AFL player. 

“I was with a couple of my mates at my place,” Cochrane said. 

“It was a surreal moment, because I didn't know I might get drafted until about a week and a half beforehand. And it was crazy to just hear the news, because I didn't expect it.  

“It was just crazy. Everyone was messaging me. It was pretty wild.” 

Son of former AFL player Stuart (50 games for North Melbourne and 54 for Port Adelaide), Cochrane gives credit to his dad for where he is now. 

“He's pretty proud,” he said. 

“I mean, he's been pushing me my whole life just to be the best I could be, so he was pretty proud.” 

Despite already being Adelaide based, Cochrane and fellow South Australian recruit Benny Barrett moved in with Port Adelaide’s interstate draftees for the first few days of pre-season training.  

The five new players (Cochrane, Barrett, Joe Berry, Jack Whitlock and Christian Moraes) were given the opportunity to bond early under the same roof, under the care of National Recruiting Manager Geoff Parker. 

Parker was impressed by Cochrane’s year for Central District’s under 18 side. 

“Tom is a competitive and combative player,” Parker said. 

“He can win his own ball in the contest and has power to break from traffic. His kicking skills are also solid, and he can finish his work inside 50.” 

Cochrane sees himself as a natural footballer, who loves the tough stuff.  

“I like to play on instinct and do my own thing,” he said. 

“I’m also very competitive. And I like to kick goals and get clearances and get the hard ball.” 

Cochrane had a breakout year with Centrals, and was one of the best afield in the side’s narrow grand final loss, with 22 disposals and a goal.  

“Every coach was important at Centrals along my journey,” he said. 

“They were all teaching me and helping me out, and helping me through some challenges. And, it was good fun to be there for five years.” 

Port Adelaide’s five-plus year players return to Alberton on Monday, with Cochrane excited for two meetings in particular. 

“Ollie Wines and Travis Boak, they’ve been my heroes since I was young, and I just can't wait to meet them,” he said. 

“Just how organised they are and how professional they are, and the way they just go about it is just pretty extraordinary, how they’ve done it for so long.  

“And I'm trying to be someone like that.”