Stunned Tigers need a new leader, says David KingJon Pierik
The Age
April 3, 2016Former Richmond assistant coach David King has urged the Tigers to revamp their leadership, with the captaincy of Trent Cotchin under the microscope.
Cotchin had 38 disposals against the Magpies on Friday night but was unable to will his team to victory. The Tigers conceded four of the last five goals — including Brodie Grundy's match-winner with four seconds left — and lost by a point.
Where they could have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season, the Tigers now head into a potentially bruising fortnight against Adelaide (Etihad Stadium) and the West Coast Eagles (Domain Stadium) questioning themselves.
They almost certainly will be without defender Dylan Grimes, who hurt his hamstring against the Pies, and the already injured Brett Deledio, who still feels soreness in his quad when kicking. However, Ivan Maric and Shane Edwards will be given a chance to prove their fitness.
Coach Damien Hardwick said his team had "played some really unintelligent footy towards the end", while Cotchin said "silly mistakes" had been made.
King on Saturday said there needed to be shake-up in leadership once the season was over.
"I honestly reckon if a Luke Hodge, and forget him as a player and what he does on the field, if a Luke Hodge played for Richmond they'd win three or four more games a year," he said.
"This is not about stats. Nick Maxwell was not a high possession player but he put players in the right spots."
Hawthorn's Hodge has been the benchmark in terms of how a captain should lead on the field, while Maxwell, the former Magpie, was highly regarded for his ability to organise a defensive set-up when the game was in the balance.
It's this type of leader many believe the Tigers need if they are to become a top-four force, having lost three-straight elimination finals. Cotchin has been skipper since 2013.
King said Alex Rance's questionable decision to switch play and kick across goal in the final term, which ultimately resulted in a Magpies' goal, highlighted he was not the right man to lead.
"To see that kick last night again just highlights the lack of leadership," King said on SEN.
"It was only a week ago we were throwing him up and nominating is he the next captain, or Jack Riewoldt who's not even in the leadership group. Are they a chance to take over the captaincy because I tell you what something has to change at Richmond.
"This has been a constant source of frustration, they need a leader who can organise, not do it, just organise. They don't need an inspirational leader, they need an organiser and until they get that it will not change.
"It doesn't have to be a great player, it doesn't have to be a superstar they just need to find one at another club, pay him overs, get him there and teach these guys how to lead."
Rance, Deledio, Maric and Edwards sit alongside Cotchin in the leadership group.
Ty Vickery's decision to look for a short pass rather than soak up time and convert a long shot late in the final term added to the Tigers' frustration, as they let slip an 11-point lead with two minutes remaining.
"Shaun Grigg, with a minute and a half to go, has a long shot from outside 50 and we play on from a situation like that … we never do that," Hardwick said.
"You can be in front for a period of time, but when you beat yourself with smarts it's probably really disappointing.
"I thought we played some really unintelligent footy towards the end … it's easy to individualise but we should never have been in that situation."
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-should-sack-trent-cotchin-as-captain-claims-david-king-20160402-gnwpn4.html
