Port Adelaide acknowledges the AFL's decision to approve Dougie Cochrane as a member of the club's Next Generation Academy (NGA).
Dougie, the son of Port Adelaide past player Stuart Cochrane and brother of current Port Adelaide player Tom Cochrane, has had his NGA application pending while details of his family history were verified.
The extensive process required the family to provide a Confirmation of Aboriginal Descent certificate to the AFL.
Stuart Cochrane has noted the process was lengthy, compounded by his own health challenges. While aware of the family's Aboriginal history, the process of proving their heritage took longer than expected after he became unwell.
At the end of the 2017 season, after a decade of coaching and administration roles in Port Adelaide's football department, Cochrane approached former GM of Football Chris Davies about taking on the new role as Head of NGA & Academies.
A significant factor in Cochrane's move into the NGA role was the opportunity to identify and work with young players who might add to the famous history of Aboriginal footballers who have represented Port Adelaide.
Only a few months after being appointed, Cochrane was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. The diagnosis was challenging for the family, but his wife and their boys demonstrated great resilience throughout the ordeal, emerging stronger from the experience.
In recent years, Cochrane's health has improved and he has been able to look further into his family heritage and cultural background.
The Cochrane family's Aboriginal heritage can be traced back to the Ngunawal people. For a number of reasons, the family over the generations had been disconnected from their cultural background, but they are now able to learn more about their origins and are proud of their family's history.
