Stuart Cochrane's family tree is finally complete with reputedly the most talented of his three football sons, 17-year-old Dougie, now able to play for one of his dad's two former teams while also joining his elder brother at the same club via its Next Generation Academy.

It comes nearly 18 months since Cochrane, a 54-game journeyman for Port Adelaide following 50 appearances at North Melbourne from 1998 until 2005, first applied for his maternal Indigenous lineage to be recognised be recognised by the AFL system.

The split in the number of matches across the two clubs appeared to ensure his sons, Tom, Dougie and James, were unable to be drafted as traditional father/son selections for playing 100 games at either club.

However, that changed following a recent discovery and verification of Cochrane's Aboriginal branch of his family tree, allowing the 47-year-old's two younger sons to be ruled eligible for the Power's own academy.

Cochrane was able to present legal documents, including a confirmation of Aboriginal descent certificate, before the AFL finally ticked off the eligibility, though the process has been slowed down due to his own personal health challenges.

He had been appointed as Port Adelaide's head of its Next Generation Academy last year when his health started to suffer.

The club released a statement which indicated a sense of relief that the ordeal of its one-time former player and football club staffer has ended for the benefit of his sons in the pursuit of his family's Indigenous legacy.

"A significant factor in Cochrane's move into the NGA (Next Generation Academy) role was the opportunity to identify and work with young players, who might add to the famous history of Aboriginal footballers who have represented Port Adelaide," the statement read.

"Only a few months after being appointed, Cochrane was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

"The diagnosis was challenging for the family, but his wife and their boys demonstrated great resilience throughout the ordeal, emerging stronger from the experience.

"In recent times, Cochrane's health has improved, and he has been able to look further into his family heritage and cultural background."

Cochrane's Indigenous background can be traced to his Ngunnawal ancestors who traditionally laid down their roots in the Canberra region.

It was previously suspected the Cochranes had been linked to nearby Wiradjuri people before unknowingly disconnecting from their culture several generations ago.

Throughout the drawn-out process, the AFL has worked with the club on steps towards the final approval, allowing Dougie to instead be included in programs with the AFL's Indigenous youth academy squad while his NGA application was pending.

The AFL faced a similar probe amid the process of now-Western Bulldogs' talent Ryley Sanders identifying as a First Nations person, which took several months to conclude before being added to North Melbourne's Next Generation Academy in his draft through his Tasmanian residence.

Tom Cochrane, who has appeared three times for the Power this year, arrived at Port Adelaide after the club agreed to name the 19-year-old on its list with pick No.13 in the 2024 rookie draft.

To secure the middle of the Cochrane siblings in the draft on November 19 without having the Indigenous criteria to be included in its NGA, the Power would have had to hope the top South Australian junior representative would last until their No.49 selection.

He was once touted as a possible prized No.1 pick by AFL club recruiting scouts, with Port Adelaide set to match a rival club's bid expected during the first round of this year's draft.

However, the club only has a meagre 86 value index points in hand from its earliest pick - the No.1 selection alone is worth 3000 points - and it will be forced to go into draft debt up to 1723 points for the future seasons.

The athletic 196cm prospect can play across the ground, including as a key position player but also in the midfield.

He starred in the forward line during his remarkable senior SANFL debut this season, amassing four goals in just the opening half alone, as a third-generation Cochrane in the pioneering footsteps of his grandfather, Richard, to run out for Central District.

The latest Power prodigy missed South Australia's 2025 under-18 carnival as a bottom-aged player, courtesy of a hamstring injury, but was good enough to be adjudged the top performer at the 2024 national under-16 championships.