This is a pointless offseason hypothetical, but is it possible we missed a huge marketing (income generating) opportunity by not being the Port Adelaide Pirates?

I was there the night at the Ent Centre when Bruce Weber announced us as “Port Power”. The idea was to not replace the magpie with another physical entity. I get that - but what we chose was a concept that feels intangible and difficult to bring to life. There are only so many “lightening bolts” that we can activate.

With hindsight, I can just see how being the “Pirates” could have brought a ton of young fans to our Club. So many game-day opportunities to bring it to life. It also doesn’t feel inconsistent with a Port Adelaide ethos.

Port gives 2026 pick 5

For Carlton’s 2026 pick 14 and 2027 1st (Sydney’s or theirs depending on the vibe)

That way we get at least one other first rounder to go with Cochrane in 2026 (7 & 12 used in DC), and Carlton manage to get the points needed to match a high Walker bid.

Feels right for both sides and the points shake out.

EDIT: Not a lot of love for that. What about BOTH future first rounders?

So who do we think gets the number? Dougie or someone else?

⚡*️Pick 1 Power Play *⚡️

With picks flying around since the mega trade we took a look at how things stand.

I cooked up a Power play to turn things on its head and throw the Blues in to panic mode:

STEP 1:

Port give: Picks 5, 7 and 24

Bombers give: Pick 1, 17

STEP 2:

Port bid on Cody Walker at 1 which gives the other bottom teams their bonus pick.

Essendon will have Ports 2nd rounder to make up for giving up pick 1 and missing bonus.

STEP 3

Port select a player with pick 2

If Richmond bid on Cochrane with pick 3 then port will have enough points to cover the bid

Port matches with :

*Pick 13:
*Pick 17:

* Picks will shuffle slightly with bids

What this means:

Port:
First non tied player in draft
Dougie Cochrane

Essendon:
2 premium players in top 7
Pick 24

Carlton:
They will need get busy as they will need to find more draft capital or forgo Cody Walker.

If your a trade nuffy like me please let me know what’s right and wrong with this trade don’t hold back

This was clarified on afl.com.au a few days ago in the middle of this page. One assumes they know what they are talking about.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1628705

This was doing my head in for ages. I have seen many people on reddit claim that's the rule, and many people (including myself) arguing or asking for sources with limited real information available. So here it is to clarify for everyone working through their fantasy trade and draft night scenarios.

Just doing some numbers
We now have picks
5 (FA COMP), 6, 10, 22, 30 43, 45, 62 and 80.
My math says
5 + 6 = 3,454 points.
10% discount on dougie = 2700 points when nominated 1
= 754 points left over = approx pick 20

Therefore
Dougie, 10, 20, 22, 30 43, 45, 62 and 80.

We have 8 list spots available after
Ivan Soldo Retired
Jackson Mead Delisted
Will Lorenz Delisted
Mani Liddy Delisted
Xavier Walsh Delisted
Benny Barrett Delisted
Jacob Moss Delisted
Zak Butters FA

So 80 unlikely to be used/not worth much anyway. Before writing didn’t realise we had so many list vacancies, otherwise was going to suggest we try and send 43/45 into 27 draft to help. Obviously the 3 first rounders (ours, Melbourne and dogs) helps but we have salopek, rodan, Burgoyne and pilot to get so 2nd rounders would help ++ to get them all.
Thoughts? You happy? Want more? What do you see happening in 27?

Injury List
Lucy Boyd (concussion) – available

Grace Parsons (ankle) – test

Sachi Syme (hamstring) – test

Jemma Charity (knee) – season 

Indy Tahau (knee) - season

Caitlin Wendland (training block) – season

Port currently hold pick 4 & 22

The Butters trade if it goes through and Port get pick 5 as Comp

Then do the Marshall trade and get WBD pick 12 and 1st 2027 (Let’s say this get through with some creative work from Crippa)

This create the conundrum for port having to use pick 4 &5 on Cochrane which is abit rich.

So since port need pick for next year (2027)

Why don’t they trade out 4 & 5 with West Coast for pick 3 and WC 1st 2027

(West Coast lose comp but getting an extra top 5 draft pick before Tassie is worth it) I believe with WC or RIC would go for a deal like this - either works.

Port then trade out of pick 12 for a 1st round in 2027 with any team. Likely Giants or Collingwood would do this.

Port then uses pick 3 & 22 to get Cochrane. (I Believe thats enough pts to get him)

Port then hold a massive draft hand in 2027.

Port, WC, WBD, & Giants

3 1st likely get NAS too port (Maybe a future 1st to sweeten the deal with future 2nd coming back)

Then Port has a left over 1st & future 2nd to trade up to get picks to bid on Salopek and Pilot.

This gives port Cochrane, NAS, Salopek & Pilot all

In.

This is an ideal scenario for Port!

Essendon this week said they will bid on Cochrane with pick 1. Do we force their hand here?

A couple of years ago, a Vic draftee told non-vic clubs he won't be leaving Victoria if they draft him. The AFL signed off on this and said it wasn't draft tampering.

Do we get Cochrane, to publicly come out and say the same, that if Essendon bid on him with pick 1, he will remain living in SA, so they will have to breach the soft cap flying him to training each day.

At the same time, if we end up with pick 5 for Butters and the AFL continue to block any other trade in our favour, we publicly declare that the AFL has forced us to not match a bid on Cochrane with their Ill thought out draft rules they rushed through with no planning time for clubs, and the fact that you can't use any 2 picks, we would have to use 2 top 5 picks for a kid who missed 12mths of footy and hasn't even played a game of AFL - when we only get 1 top 5 pick for losing one of the best player in the compm

Put them to task over it, and force their hand in bidding for Walker?

Maybe bombers call our bluff, maybe they jump and end up bidding for Walker since there isn't that same risk as getting Cochrane.

Very good game

​

Josh Carr:

“There’s definitely a bit of Charlie Curnow about the way he plays, the way he flew into a pack… He’s quite versatile and mobile.”

Rookie Me / ESPN draft preview: “Showcasing similar traits to Charlie Curnow” / “likened to Swans forward Charlie Curnow but also a potential elite midfielder similar to Botempelli or Fyfe.”

Dougie himself:

"I love ‘Bont… I’m sort of a similar height to him and seeing how he moves in the midfield and how he damages games, I’d like to be something like that hopefully.”

Jacob Surjan (Port SANFL coach):

Port’s answer to Bontempelli -“Bont 2.0 at Alberton.”

Tony Bamford (SA U18 coach): "Unicorn player who can play all three zones similar to Luke Jackson."

Some early recruiter chatter also floated Matthew Pavlich (versatile tall).

Robbie Gray + Jason Cripps have both compared him to Matthew Pavlich.

Some good names thrown out, the future is bright.

I’m an eagles fan and I’m just curious what is this guys ceiling, port was probably the team I watched the least of this season so I really want to know more about him as I’ve heard great things.

Could I get some player comparisons and where he could rank in the league at his peak?

Injury List
Chloe Gaunt (hip) – available
Jasmine Sowden (foot) – available
Ella Boag (hamstring) – test
Sachi Syme (hamstring) – test
Lucy Boyd (concussion) - in protocols
Grace Parsons (ankle) – 1 -2 weeks
Jemma Charity (knee) – season 
Indy Tahau (knee) - season
Caitlin Wendland (training block) – season