- Port Adelaide rookie is following in dad’s footsteps
- Debutant has battled medical condition his whole life
Port Adelaide forward Tom Cochrane will step out onto the AFL stage on Thursday night as he fulfills his childhood dream of becoming the first player in the league’s history to debut with Tourette syndrome.
Cochrane, 19, will line up against the Bombers at Marvel Stadium, living a childhood dream that at times seemed out of reach due to his embarrassing medical condition.
Diagnosed with the neurological disorder at the age of nine, Cochrane has battled uncontrollable physical and vocal symptoms that have made it hard to concentrate on footy.
People who have Tourette syndrome suffer from involuntary and unwanted physical movements and/or vocal sounds known as tics – with Cochrane revealing ‘every tic I have is basically a swear word’.
‘I’ve had it my whole life, but it wasn’t as significant early on,’ Cochrane told AFL.com.au.
‘When I was nine I started having vocal tics and screaming out words and was really confused.
Tom Cochrane (pictured) is set to make his AFL debut against Essendon on Thursday after battling Tourette syndrome since childhood
The Port Adelaide player was swamped by his teammates (pictured) when the team announced he’d be following in his dad’s footsteps by pulling on the guernsey
‘It was really hard because I didn’t know what it was. I was in year three and was always walking around doing tics and weird movements with my head. I didn’t know what I was doing.
‘I was at school once and an older student was saying I had Tourette’s and I was like, “What’s Tourette’s?” They filled me in on it and I realised that’s probably what I had.’
The condition, which affects approximately 1 in 160 children, made school assemblies tough for Cochrane, who would blurt out words involuntarily.
‘They’d be like, “What’s going on with that guy?”‘ he recalled.
Medication has helped the talented teenager control his symptoms, but he says he still got bullied.
‘The first couple of years it was hard because I got a lot of stuff for it, people making fun of it and trying to bring me down.
‘Once I got older everyone got used to it and acknowledged it and nobody really cares anymore.’
Cochrane’s situation was complicated when his father Stuart, who also payed for Port Adelaide, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Cochrane (pictured) was just nine years old when he promised his mum he’d become the first AFL player with Tourette’s
‘I am lucky to be here myself,’ Stuart told Nine.
‘Growing up with your dad being super crook and not knowing if he’s going to be around the place, and also having Tourette’s, has been a battle for (Tom).
‘But he’s done really well, and we are proud of him.’
Shortly after being selected by Port Adelaide last year, Cochrane spoke to the team about his condition – and was warmly received by his teammates.
Fortunately, he doesn’t experience the symptoms of his condition as often when he’s playing footy.
‘That’s probably the best thing about it – that I don’t get it when I’m playing. It kind of goes away because I enjoy playing, and when I’m enjoying something, it goes away,’ he said.
The teenager is now just a day away from making good on a vow he made to his mum when he was just nine.
‘She was a bit down and wasn’t feeling too good when I was diagnosed,’ he said.
‘But she always says to me that the first thing I said to her was, “I want to be the first AFL player with Tourette’s”.
‘My mentality has always been to stay positive.’
