Opinion Non-Crows AFL 12: It's the confectionery with 1000 uses

[PeterSalt]

Shocking that Port would campaign heavily for something that would immediately benefit them. Not like them at all.

Haha - some their behaviours in relation to Cochrane appear to have the hallmarks of a club trying to scare off any other potential suitors should the AFL not change the zoning

 

[DJ75]

It would be neglectful not to.

Also I believe it's still not 'official' that he would qualify as indigenous? Certainly that was a point of debate a few months ago.

Feels a lot like they are trying to manipulate the system. He’s not been classified or recognised as Indigenous until they have found a way they can get him where he wants to go.
Very cynical of me I’m sure, but feels very convenient

 

[MarcusP2]

Besides, Your whistle is a construct.

My disposal was legal under maritime law!

 

[PeterSalt]

It would be neglectful not to.

Also I believe it's still not 'official' that he would qualify as indigenous? Certainly that was a point of debate a few months ago.

I think that may have changed - I'm sort of guessing, but I think the only hurdle now is the zoning


AFL.com.au revealed last month there had been a significant step in that process after Cochrane had been invited to be in the AFL's National Indigenous Academy.

TOP YOUNGSTER INVITED TO INDIGENOUS ACADEMY​

THE POTENTIAL No.1 pick in 2026, Dougie Cochrane, has been invited to be in the AFL's National Indigenous Academy in a significant step for his Next Generation Academy status.

Giant's latest offer, Jagga's new role, latest on potential 2026 No.1

Check out all the latest trade news from around the League

www.afl.com.au

 

[chazwazza]

Not dodgy. I think in simple terms its something like this

The metro areas in SA (or WA for that matter) aren't currently catchment zones for indigenous players for either of the 2 SA clubs NGA academies. OK - they be a part of the academy but the clubs don't get preferential access to them in the draft.

The AFL is currently reviewing NGA academies and zoning across the league. If the zoning is changed to include metro areas in the catchment in SA, Cochrane would be available to port. Sounds like port have been lobbying pretty hard for the change

As a comparison, NWM would've been available to us in his draft year if the proposed changes come to fruition

Cochrane is projecting as a possible top 5, with many believing he could be a number 1 in next years draft

Cochrane missed the National Champs with a 12 week hamstring injury. I think he had a knee injury in May (don't know what specifically), so wonder if its related

He's doing his rehab at port

Cruel hammy blow for highly rated 2026 draft prospect

Potential 2026 No.1 draft pick Dougie Cochrane will miss this year's national championships

www.afl.com.au

Even Rucci has been saying he shouldn’t be qualified as an NGA

 

[PeterSalt]

Even Rucci has been saying he shouldn’t be qualified as an NGA

Mmm - I hadn't heard about that yet

Any idea what his reasoning was?

 

[chazwazza]

Mmm - I hadn't heard about that yet

Any idea what his reasoning was?

Said it a few times now on SEN, mostly last week.
His argument is that even if he’s considered as indigenous he shouldn’t qualify because he’s not from a remote community, he’s grown up in the city, he’s from an established football community/family so he’s not coming from outside the sport and he’s born in Australia.
He basically just argues that the NGA is designed to bring people into the football community from communities that wouldn’t normally play or get a chance to play footy.

 

[DJ75]

Mmm - I hadn't heard about that yet

Any idea what his reasoning was?

He's probably found out that we would also benefit somehow

 

[MarcusP2]

I think that may have changed - I'm sort of guessing, but I think the only hurdle now is the zoning


AFL.com.au revealed last month there had been a significant step in that process after Cochrane had been invited to be in the AFL's National Indigenous Academy.

TOP YOUNGSTER INVITED TO INDIGENOUS ACADEMY​

THE POTENTIAL No.1 pick in 2026, Dougie Cochrane, has been invited to be in the AFL's National Indigenous Academy in a significant step for his Next Generation Academy status.

Giant's latest offer, Jagga's new role, latest on potential 2026 No.1

Check out all the latest trade news from around the League

www.afl.com.au

Yeah I saw that but it still wasn't 'official'.

If approved by the League, that would open the door for Port to have access to Cochrane if his metropolitan region was included within their region as the AFL's ongoing review into NGA zoning continues.

 

[PeterSalt]

Said if a few times now on SEN, mostly last week.
His argument is that even if he’s considered as indigenous he shouldn’t qualify because he’s not from a remote community, he’s grown up in the city, he’s from an established football community/family so he’s not coming from outside the sport and he’s born in Australia.
He basically just argues that the NGA is designed to bring people into the football community from communities that wouldn’t normally play or get a chance to play footy.

Thanks - reasonable argument

I don't know much about the zoning and how it works in other states beyond WA - which seems to be pretty much the same for the 2 clubs as here

Do the eastern states clubs have access to metro indigenous players?

Though from memory SA and WA have much higher indigenous populations than Victoria in particular

 

[1970crow]

Doesn't matter. If NWM nominates Port, St Kilda will have to accept whatever shit Port dishes up

Not necessarily, Rankine wasn’t prepared to be haggled over and risk the PSD. NWM sounds like he’s in a similar state of mind, happier to go but happy to stay. ‘So if you don’t want to pay up and get it done easily, I’ll just stay put.’

 

[jo172]

Said if a few times now on SEN, mostly last week.
His argument is that even if he’s considered as indigenous he shouldn’t qualify because he’s not from a remote community, he’s grown up in the city, he’s from an established football community/family so he’s not coming from outside the sport and he’s born in Australia.
He basically just argues that the NGA is designed to bring people into the football community from communities that wouldn’t normally play or get a chance to play footy.

He's right. It's as bigger farce as Borlase being NGA.

I think David Rodan and Andrew Walker's kids coming through now are also eligible. Takes the piss out of the whole thing.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

 

[Mostyn]

Cap space ain't the issue. 1st rounders is. This year future 1sts 2 years in advance can be traded, so '26 and '27. However, Port throwing 1st rounders out the window over the past few years means they won't be able to trade both of them. The AFL's 2 picks in 4 years rule. They have taken 1 in the last 3 (Berry 2024, 0 2023, 0 2022) and don't have one this year. No way they get an exemption (again) to trade another 2 years worth.

I think they would consider JHF to be the equivalent of a first round pick, and NWM is a very recent first round draftee as well.

If it's going to be a shitfight, they'll approve it just so that St Kilda can get something approximately value.

 

[GreyCrow]

When you have a pocket named after you in another state - elite

Good luck Dom Sheed

 

[Vader]

I think they would consider JHF to be the equivalent of a first round pick, and NWM is a very recent first round draftee as well.

If it's going to be a shitfight, they'll approve it just so that St Kilda can get something approximately value.

NWM is 22 years old and was drafted 4 years ago. The AFL isn't going to count him as a 1st round draft pick for Port Adelaide.

In contrast, JHF was traded to Port at the end of his 1st AFL season, which is why they are happy to include him in Port's calculations.

 

[kirky]

I've heard from someone who knows someone that works there (yes take it with a grain of salt) that NWM's main problem is loneliness. Apparently he's a very shy introverted type and a bit of a homebody. He lives with some other players that like to go out and party and do all the things you'd expect from young, cashed up footballers and he just doesn't fit in.

Saints players like “to go out and party”. Surely not? That isn’t like Saints players to be like that.

 

[Samcro24]

Saints players like “to go out and party”. Surely not? That isn’t like Saints players to be like that.

They’re saints

 

[MatthewB]

 

[adelaidecrows]

I've heard from someone who knows someone that works there (yes take it with a grain of salt) that NWM's main problem is loneliness. Apparently he's a very shy introverted type and a bit of a homebody. He lives with some other players that like to go out and party and do all the things you'd expect from young, cashed up footballers and he just doesn't fit in.

nek minnut

Kane Cornes next article: The Crows, the party club of clubs in the AFL where the players under Nicks have developed a culture of extreme partying, often staying out all night and rocking up to recovery sessions the next day straight from the clubs, like the boys used to do in the 90s. Which is chalk and cheese to the 9pm bedtime the Port Players have become accustomed too.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Huge loss as arguably their most important player with Day & now they are both missing.

Will it cost Hawks finals?

 

[Peter Doherty]

5 weeks for fisting Butts.

 

[Peter Doherty]

Mmm - I hadn't heard about that yet

Any idea what his reasoning was?

I assume he has uncovered 100 previously unknown home and away games his father played for the Power and they will take him as father son.

 

[kirky]

Let me try and understand this -
Port have a whinge about the ground about their Round 6 game
Sydney then in May play GWS, Carlton and Adelaide - was a word said about the condition of the ground? I don’t recall at all.
Then it raises its head following the weekend game against the Dogs.

Was the ground in the Bermuda Triangle during the month of May?

 

[relapse]

Cap space ain't the issue. 1st rounders is. This year future 1sts 2 years in advance can be traded, so '26 and '27. However, Port throwing 1st rounders out the window over the past few years means they won't be able to trade both of them. The AFL's 2 picks in 4 years rule. They have taken 1 in the last 3 (Berry 2024, 0 2023, 0 2022) and don't have one this year. No way they get an exemption (again) to trade another 2 years worth.

They took Joe Berry last year in the first round with the pick they got for Houston, so they've selected a first round pick and reset the count.

I think the problem for Port is that Saints will want currency now for NWM, they're not going to want picks 12-24 months in the future.

I suspect Bergmann signing might be an early indication that NMW is staying at the Saints.