Tigers' Great character test Rod Nicholson
From: Herald Sun
June 11, 2012 12:50PMRICHMOND star midfielder Trent Cotchin considers Saturday’s match against Greater Western Sydney as "a test of character" that will help determine the club's progress towards finals football.
And he is confident the club will be boosted after a minor spate of ailments and suspension depleted the team during last week’s shock 12-point loss to Fremantle.
Cotchin, who has overcome a “dead arm” which restricted him last week, expects gun full-forward Jack Riewoldt to be fit to play after he injured his ankle in the match, with midfielder Nathan Foley also hopeful of returning after a minor leg injury.
Small forward Jake King is also available after a one week suspension for tripping St Kilda forward Stephen Milne.
“Jack was riding a bike this morning and I think he will be OK. Foley is progressing well. How much he gets done (at training this week) will determine his chances of return but we are hopeful,” Cotchin said.
Cotchin considers Saturday’s match a vital step in the Tigers quest to return to finals football.
“We always work towards the last part of the season, but we have to concentrate on this week. We are working on four-week blocks,” the 22 year old vice captain explained.
After starting the season 1-3, they added 2-2 and after beating Hawthorn and St Kilda, the loss to Freo means the Tigers’ latest “quarter” is 2-1, with a chance to make it 3-1.
However they have come off four victories in five weeks - against Port Adelaide, Sydney, Hawthorn and St Kilda - before falling against Fremantle.
They are in 11th position with a 5-6 record and need to defeat the Giants to enhance their hopes of a final-eight berth.
Cotchin said the Tigers failed to attack the ball hard enough against Fremantle.
"We pride ourselves on contested footy, which the most disappointing thing to come out of the game,” he said.
He said the Tigers would not underestimate the Giants. "They're a really good contested team. It's going to be pretty tough. We've got to make sure we're harder at the contest, unlike our performance last week," he said.
Cotchin said his own form was good and that he has overcome the “dead arm” that curtailed his activities against Freo but still didn’t stop him from being the Tigers' best player.
Cotchin received a knock just above his elbow, in the area where a tendon connects the bicep to the forearm, during the second quarter.
"I just went to tackle and somehow collided with [Hayden] Ballantyne's body in a way that made my arm go half-dead," he said.
"It was really painful. I wasn't sure what was wrong with it. I thought it was a cork initially - because I had no strength, I was a bit worried about it.
"But once it settled and I got back into the swing of things it started to come alive again. It felt OK towards the end of the game."
Cotchin ended the game with 30 disposals and nine clearances. The Tigers have a bye next round.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/tigers-great-character-test/story-e6frf9jf-1226391159046
