{"id":196932,"date":"2025-08-04T16:56:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T06:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=196932"},"modified":"2025-08-04T16:56:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T06:56:08","slug":"up-the-grades-star-bottom-agers-break-through","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/08\/04\/up-the-grades-star-bottom-agers-break-through\/","title":{"rendered":"Up the Grades: Star bottom-agers break through"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A PAIR of promising bottom-agers were among the weekend’s state league debutants, headlined by star 2026 prospect Dougie Cochrane<\/a>. Elsewhere, West Coast blooded another club-tied talent in the WAFL, and a Victorian dasher impressed in his maiden VFL appearance for Richmond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SANFL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

League & Reserves Round 16<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central District bottom-ager Dougie Cochrane<\/a> was the talk of the town after producing a four-goal first half in his SANFL League debut. The freakish 196cm talent helped Centrals conjure a 55-point win over North Adelaide on Saturday, firming his status as a bonafide pick one contender for next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cochrane is the son of Bulldogs premiership player Stuart, who managed a combined 104 AFL games for North Melbourne and Port Adelaide. While not father-son eligible for either club, Cochrane junior is vying to join elder brother Tom at the elite level – potentially via Port’s Indigenous Academy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teammate and state Under 18 captain Dyson Sharp<\/a> was also back near his best in the victory, gathering 22 disposals and 12 marks fresh off his Larke Medal winning campaign. The Roosters were dealt a blow in that match, after Sam Cumming<\/a> went down early in the piece with a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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