Love, loss and family is driving Castlemaine’s next big thing, Tiahna Cochrane

THERE’S a draft prospect from Castlemaine who is a ball winner and hard at it - AFLW draft prospect Tiahna Cochrane is ready to follow Dustin Martin.

THERE’S a draft prospect from Castlemaine who is a ball winner and hard at it.

Quiet off the field, but powerful on it, the player can also switch forward and snag crucial goals.

Her name is Tiahna Cochrane, and just a month after fellow Castlemaine export Dustin Martin etched his name into AFL folklore, the 19-year-old hopes to create history of her own by joining an AFLW club.

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She is being driven by love. For the game and her family, after losing her mum Darlene to cancer in August last year.

“I have had a tough past few years,” Cochrane, who also studied Year 12 last year, said.

“It was very draining, emotionally and physically. We’d spend a lot of time at the hospital.

Castlemaine export Tiahna Cochrane hopes to join Dustin Martin in the AFL ranks. Picture: Jason Edwards

“I don’t think many people understand what you go through. God knows what mum would have gone through. She was very stubborn. She didn’t complain.

“She came to all of my games. I’m doing this for her.”

The loss of Darlene only enhanced Cochrane’s relationship with her four siblings; twin brother Jordan, 18-year-old brother Tyson, 14-year-old sister Ella and nine-year-old sister Hannah.

Cochrane needed a break this year and instead of taking up a place in an exercise science course in Geelong she started working full-time for her grandmother Margaret’s real estate agency.

She’s all about family and football runs deep.

Her great uncle is Carlton Team of the Century member Trevor Keogh while her uncle Rod Keogh played for St Kilda and Melbourne.

Tiahna Cochrane from Bendigo Thunder takes part in the Agility Test during the AFLW Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

“It’s pretty special,” Cochrane said of the family connection.

“It’s always something that gets brought up in conversation. I feel that link (to the Blues).

“Trevor would be so proud and so happy if I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to play. He said he would come to every game if I made it.”

This season Cochrane won a premiership with Bendigo Thunder, shared the club’s best-and-fairest award and was also named the Northern Football League women’s coaches player of the year.

Tiahna Cochrane's great uncle is Carlton team of the century members Trevor Keogh, pictured having his shorts pulled down by Ricky Barham

She was invited to this week’s AFLW draft combine testing and Thunder coach Cherie O’Neill said Cochrane was ready to take her game to the next level.

“She’s an in and under player. She tackles hard, she’s got really good defensive pressure. She’s always there,” O’Neill said.

“Her consistency is what makes her shine. I think she will go far. It’s something she’s ready for.”

But don’t expect any Dusty-like don’t argues.

“I hadn’t really followed him in the past, but this year especially, considering he’s from Castlemaine too, it is pretty special, being from the same town,” she said.