Player Watch Dougie Cochrane APPROVED to be in Port's NGA, signs for Port Magpies for 2026

[Rigs]

For anyone panicking about his body, just remember the kid is 196cm, has a freakish vertical leap, and has a burst of speed out of stoppages that lets him play as a genuine tall midfielder. He literally won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player in the country at the U16s and kicked 4 goals in a half on senior SANFL League debut as a 17-year-old bottom-ager. His frame is just generating too much explosive power for his tendons right now. Once Port’s medical team ticks off this conditioning phase, he is going to be absolutely unstoppable.

And other clubs are aware of this and it might be why we’re stuck with number one.

We are counting on Cody big-time in the championships.

Goddamn
Imagine knowing you’re going to be a freak footballer

 

[Lefti93]

James Sellar

James Sellar

Age

37

Ht

196cm

Wt

97kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.2

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

4.9

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

7.0

2star

K

2.6

1star

HB

4.4

4star

M

1.0

1star

T

0.8

3star

2.0. He stinks.

 

[Holden Hillbilly]

James Sellar 2.0. He stinks.

showing your age there lefti: try tyler welsh

 

[Ford Fairlane]

For anyone panicking about his body, just remember the kid is 196cm, has a freakish vertical leap, and has a burst of speed out of stoppages that lets him play as a genuine tall midfielder. He literally won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player in the country at the U16s and kicked 4 goals in a half on senior SANFL League debut as a 17-year-old bottom-ager. His frame is just generating too much explosive power for his tendons right now. Once Port’s medical team ticks off this conditioning phase, he is going to be absolutely unstoppable.

And other clubs are aware of this and it might be why we’re stuck with number one.

We are counting on Cody big-time in the championships.

 

[TazD]

showing your age there lefti: try tyler welsh

Actually funny because I forgot he existed.

 

[Tibbs]

For anyone panicking about his body, just remember the kid is 196cm, has a freakish vertical leap, and has a burst of speed out of stoppages that lets him play as a genuine tall midfielder. He literally won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player in the country at the U16s and kicked 4 goals in a half on senior SANFL League debut as a 17-year-old bottom-ager. His frame is just generating too much explosive power for his tendons right now. Once Port’s medical team ticks off this conditioning phase, he is going to be absolutely unstoppable.

And other clubs are aware of this and it might be why we’re stuck with number one.

We are counting on Cody big-time in the championships.

This post deserves a perma ban!

 

[davesnothere]

Annoying thing with Dougie is those SANFL performances last year are going to be massively overweighted. See it time and again, scouts and reporters get blown away by SA talent's performance against grown men in the 'second best league in the country'.

Little do they know that the SANFL is a joke and not well equipped to fully test out gun prospects compared to the cut-throat junior Vic leagues. Toumpas, Lukosious, even Lachie Jones get pumped up as can't miss supertalents and then their deficiencies get found out in the big pond. Could even argue that JHF was probably overvalued as #1 in one of the most talent-rich drafts in recent history because of his exploits in the SANFL.

Not saying that Dougie isn't a clear standout at this stage, but it would be nice to also see him at the U18 championships rather than just have his mythical SANFL performances underwrite his draft position.

No. Won’t happen.

Rushing Dougie back for the state 18s would be incredibly short-sighted. He’s already got a history of tendon issues, having torn his hamstring last year and undergoing knee surgery just two months ago.
His frame is growing so fast, and he’s put on so much bulk in the gym recently, that rushing his tendons to handle that extra load is a recipe for a long-term disaster. He's training lightly at Alberton and isn't moving freely yet because they are executing a highly conservative program. His draft stock as a potential Pick 1 is something beyond our control—he has absolutely nothing to prove at a junior national carnival. Let Port’s medical team do their job and get him bulletproof for the long term.

 

[philthy05]

I don't think any club views Dougie as 'injured' as such—he’s just being managed. Patellar tendinitis is very common among long-limbed, powerful athletes. The massive joint torque generated by his levers translates into serious tensile stress on the tendon. His tendons simply haven't caught up to his explosive athletic ability yet. Port are just using this conservative rehab program to condition the tendon to handle that extra mechanical load.


If any club thought there was a serious chance they could get hold of Dougie the only thing their medical staff would be concerned about is sending flowers to Port Adelaide for taking care of him.

“not injured as such”

He literally just had knee surgery

And then in 2025 Davies had this to say in an afl.com article

 

[davesnothere]

“not injured as such”

He literally just had knee surgery

And then in 2025 Davies had this to say in an afl.com article

View attachment 2610929

All of Dougies issues are related to his body having to catch up with his athletic ability.

Nobody’s losing sleep over that.

He doesn’t have a dodgy knee, back issues or anything like that. Everything is related to outstanding athletic ability that hasn’t had the proper foundation laid for it, which is exactly what Port are doing.

 

[philthy05]

All of Dougies issues are related to his body having to catch up with his athletic ability.

Nobody’s losing sleep over that.

He doesn’t have a dodgy knee, back issues or anything like that. Everything is related to outstanding athletic ability that hasn’t had the proper foundation laid for it, which is exactly what Port are doing.

You’re arguing he “isn’t really injured as such”’

About a guy whose had at knee tendinitis, knee surgery and 3 hamstrings at the very least (that was what I found in a 30sec online search)

 

[El_Scorcho]

All of Dougies issues are related to his body having to catch up with his athletic ability.

I assure you that it's a degenerative hamstring issue that will leave him unable to walk unassisted by his early 20s.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

For anyone panicking about his body, just remember the kid is 196cm, has a freakish vertical leap, and has a burst of speed out of stoppages that lets him play as a genuine tall midfielder. He literally won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player in the country at the U16s and kicked 4 goals in a half on senior SANFL League debut as a 17-year-old bottom-ager. His frame is just generating too much explosive power for his tendons right now. Once Port’s medical team ticks off this conditioning phase, he is going to be absolutely unstoppable.

And other clubs are aware of this and it might be why we’re stuck with number one.

We are counting on Cody big-time in the championships.

You forgot that his hands are super soft in the marking contest and can mark with body contact and has a great kick on him. Apart from that he sucks.

 

[davesnothere]

You’re arguing he “isn’t really injured as such”’

About a guy whose had at knee tendinitis, knee surgery and 3 hamstrings at the very least (that was what I found in a 30sec online search)

Its not 'injury proneness,' it's basic physics.

His junior grounding treated him like a standard midfielder because he has the freakish skills and agility of one. But he is now 196cm. The longer the lever, the greater the force. When a small midfielder bursts out of a stoppage, their short hamstrings and patellar tendons can cope easily. When a near-200cm kid does it with that same explosive power, the sheer torque and tensile load pull heavily on his tendons.

His hamstring issue last year and patella surgery this year are classic growing pains of a massive frame trying to produce elite midfield power. It takes a completely different, highly conservative strength and conditioning program to bulletproof a body of his size. That's why Port have him at Alberton right now doing heavy gym work to thicken those tendons—you can't just throw him into a standard running block and expect a 196cm frame to hold up like a small mid

 

[Lefti93]

I assure you that it's a degenerative hamstring issue that will leave him unable to walk unassisted by his early 20s.

I think you're understating it, it's much worse.

 

[Lefti93]

You forgot that his hands are super soft in the marking contest and can mark with body contact and has a great kick on him. Apart from that he sucks.

The guy has bricks for hands and a trampoline chest.

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

Can Doug dodge the draft system this year and be taken in the mid season draft next year???

No but with that Cat B Indigenous slot opening up next year, I want us to ensure we’ve done everything to check if he’s eligible for it

 

[PortAdelFC1997]

No but with that Cat B Indigenous slot opening up next year, I want us to ensure we’ve done everything to check if he’s eligible for it

Can Port use the race card if the AFL tries to reject this?

 

[240volt]

Can Port use the race card if the AFL tries to reject this?

You want to shop at Coles but pay Aldi prices.

 

[KanesBurner]

I assure you that it's a degenerative hamstring issue that will leave him unable to walk unassisted by his early 20s.

You think he’s gonna last that long? I’ve heard rumours of retirement in the coming weeks. Shame really, soo much promise.

 

[philthy05]

Its not 'injury proneness,' it's basic physics.

Ah yes

That’s why the afl has an injury list and the “it’s just physics” list

 

[davesnothere]

Ah yes

That’s why the afl has an injury list and the “it’s just physics” list

Dougie is on what list?

 

[philthy05]

Dougie is on what list?

I’m avin a larf at your hes not injured claim and the following mental gymnastics Dave.

Kids had knee surgery and 3 hamstring injuries.

I’m not sure what else someone has to do to be injured in your books.

 

[davesnothere]

I’m avin a larf at your hes not injured claim and the following mental gymnastics Dave.

Kids had knee surgery and 3 hamstring injuries.

I’m not sure what else someone has to do to be injured in your books.

Injury prone sounds like it’s on Dougie.

Mismanaged is a better description.

 

[Jojay]

Oh boy, are we gonna pay..

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Injury prone sounds like it’s on Dougie.

Mismanaged is a better description.

So you're saying it's Blackwing's fault?

I can accept that.