Port Adelaide welcome Tom Cochrane and NGA speedster Benny Barrett to club

Port Adelaide welcomed two new additions to the club on Friday. MATT TURNER has more details on the recruits, including one whose father has a long history with the Power.

After overlooking four father-son prospects, Port Adelaide has rookie-listed a player whose dad has a long history with the club.

The Power chose Central District midfielder/forward Tom Cochrane – the son of ex-wingman Stuart Cochrane – with its sole selection in Friday’s rookie draft.

Port Adelaide passed on the chance to nominate Rome Burgoyne (son of Peter), Louie Montgomery (Brett), Oliver Francou (Josh) and Ky Burgoyne (Shaun) as father-son players ahead of the national draft.

Stuart Cochrane played 54 matches for the Power from 2003-05, before becoming a development coach and academies director at Port.

Tom Cochrane. Picture: Getty Images

The 46-year-old also featured in 50 games for North Melbourne from 1998-2002.

Both teams could not nominate Tom as a father-son because Stuart fell short of the AFL’s 100-game qualification.

Power national recruiting manager Geoff Parker said Tom was a combative player.

“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.

Tom is the older brother of Dougie Cochrane, the best player at this year’s national under-16 championships.

The Power also added Next Generation Academy speedster Benny Barrett as a category B rookie on Friday after other clubs overlooked him during the national draft.

A livewire forward of Papua New Guinean heritage, Barrett played seven reserves and 10 under-18 games for South Adelaide this past season, as well as two for South Australia.

The 176cm academy product impressed at the state draft combine, running the 20m sprint in a blistering 2.91secs.

“This season he has shown an ability to consistently impact the scoreboard when forward with his speed, agility and ground level skills,” Parker said.

Benny Barrett. Picture: Getty Images

Cochrane and Barrett follow national draft picks Murray Bushrangers ward Joe Berry, Bushrangers spearhead Jack Whitlock and Eastern Ranges midfielder/forward Christian Moraes in joining the Power.

Moraes, who was chosen at No. 38 on Thursday night, told the club’s website he started getting worried as clubs overlooked him so was really happy when Port pounced.

“I’m so stoked, I can’t even explain it with words,” Moraes said.

“I want to get cracking in.

“I think I fly out on Sunday so I’m counting down the days.”

The Power has kept a list spot free and will give North Melbourne VFL captain Jack Watkins a chance to get signed during the supplemental selection period.

Watkins, a 23-year-old midfielder, won the Kangaroos’ best-and-fairest for a second consecutive season.

Port is assessing other potential train-on players and is yet to invite anyone else.