I want to captain: CotchinBy Jennifer Witham
Wed 26 Sep, 2012RICHMOND midfielder Trent Cotchin has put his hand up to succeed Chris Newman as club captain as early as next season.
The 22-year-old, who placed equal second with Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell in Monday night's Brownlow medal count behind winner Jobe Watson, is in the Tigers' leadership group.
With Newman stepping down as skipper ahead of the Tigers' final game in round 23, Cotchin is a chance to replace him along with fellow group members Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt and Daniel Jackson.
The vice-captain said he was keen on donning the No.17 guernsey - worn by Richmond's captain in honour of club legend Jack Dyer - in 2013; his sixth AFL season.
"I would love to be the captain of the Richmond Football Club," Cotchin said on Tuesday night, after claiming the AFL Coaches Association's Player of the Year Award at Crown.
"It's such a proud club, we've come a long way in the last four or five years, and we're going places as a group and obviously the challenge is to perform against those better sides in the competition.
"If I can be leading the troops out every week, it's something I'd love to do at some stage in my career; whether it's next year or in five years' time or never, that's how it will be.
"I am looking forward to an interesting pre-season. I'll obviously put my best foot forward as a leader within the group and there's going to be other guys that are as worthy as I am, and it will be interesting player vote."
Cotchin is off on to Bali on Wednesday, which he said he was "hanging for".
He joked not winning Monday night's accolade was actually a blessing in disguise.
"In one way I'm almost pretty glad I didn't win the Brownlow because I can actually get away now."
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/148545/default.aspxhttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/tigers-star-trent-cotchin-says-hed-love-to-be-next-tigers-skipper/story-e6frf9io-1226481575184
