Why Richmond should not make Trent Cotchin captain in 2013 (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Why Richmond should not make Trent Cotchin captain in 2013

    Michael Warner
    From: Herald Sun
    September 03, 2012 10:00PM

RICHMOND should resist the urge to name Trent Cotchin as captain.

Chris Newman's surprise decision to stand down as skipper has opened the door for Cotchin, 22, to take over the job.

But for the sake of the club and one of the game's rising stars, the Tigers should think twice.

With captaincy comes the burden of responsibility -- the last thing Richmond should be saddling onto the back of their best young talent before he has grown.

Everyone you speak to at Tigerland will tell you Cotchin is up to the job, and no doubt he is.

It's the reason he was named as Richmond's vice-captain at the start of this season on the club's Arizona training camp at age 21.

On Sunday at the MCG against Port Adelaide it was Cotchin rallying the troops at three-quarter time.

But Newman, 30, one of the AFL's least heralded captains, has his handed in his badge much sooner than expected.

He leaves a leadership group field of Cotchin (86 games), Brett Deledio (172), Jack Riewoldt (112) and Dan Jackson (123) to choose from.

Slim pickings some might say, but Deledio looks ready to lead.

There was talk three years ago that Joel Selwood at just 21 should take over from Tom Harley at Geelong, until Cameron Ling was given the job.

Wisely, the Cats waited until this season to name Selwood as captain -- after 114 games and three premierships.

Of course, baby captaincy can be done.

The great Wayne Carey took the reigns at North Melbourne at just 21, as did Michael Voss at the Brisbane Lions.

Both went on to become premiership legends.

But the experience at Melbourne in 2012 should serve as a cautionary tale.

Jack Trengove was a shadow of himself this season after being named as the game's youngest captain (shared with Jack Grimes) in VFL/AFL history at 20.

In Cotchin, Richmond has been handed a once-in-a-generation gift.

Damien Hardwick should let him run free for at least one more year and give Deledio the badge.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/expert-opinion/why-richmond-should-not-make-trent-cotchin-captain/story-fncqi9j8-1226464145731

[TigerTimeII]

Spot on

[peggles]

it may be true in theory  but deledio is only 25 himself and one of our best players also, it's very difficult to name him captain for 2013 and in a year's time say it's time to hand it over to cotch.

[eliminator]

What do people think of a co-captaincy?

[YellowandBlackBlood]

What do people think of a co-captaincy?

Always thought that may be the way the club goes.
Give Cotch the number 1 and Lids the number 7!

[Smokey]

What do people think of a co-captaincy?

Not a fan personally.  If your leadership group is strong and influential then there is no need and if they're not then you need to turn them over to find a group that are.  Club captaincy is a role best done by an individual, and most successfully by an individual who leads by example (in all areas on and off field).  Just my opinion.

[Penelope]

it may be true in theory  but deledio is only 25 himself and one of our best players also, it's very difficult to name him captain for 2013 and in a year's time say it's time to hand it over to cotch.

yep. whover gets the captaincy should be getting it with the view it is theirs as long as they want/warrant it. Not as a stop gap measure.

If they see cotch as the long term option, then it has to be given to him now.

Unlike others, i would have liked to newman to hold onto it for another year before handing over to cotchin, but what is done, is done.
It will be interesting to see how cotch handles the pressure of being captain and reigning brownlow medalist.

Im also with smokey on the dual captaincy idea.
Captaincy is a job for one one man, and the whole leadership group should be helping to ease the load

[Francois Jackson]

rubbish article

Cotch is a born leader. You would have to be blind not to see that

Dual captaincy. yay lets follow the dees. Rubbish suggestion

[WilliamPowell]

Not a fan on co-captainancy

Not fussed if they give it to Lids or Cotch

But reckon they will go with Cotchin

Big difference between the Melb scenario with Trengove and Cotch. Cotch has been in the leadership group at Richmond for a few years now. Wasn't last year (2011) Trengove's first year? Also Cotch appears by his actions at least to want to lead. Trengove doesn't show that.

[eliminator]

"Dual captaincy.   yay lets follow the dees. Rubbish suggestion" I was not suggesting co captaincy just asking what people thought of the idea.

[Big Papa Bear]

This article does not really present any compelling reasons for not giving the Captaincy to Cotchin.

Cothin is a more balanced and better player/person that those at other clubs that have failed (Trengrove etc) - and will be ranked amongst those who have succeeded in the role very soon (Carey / Voss).

Cotchin sets the standards for behaviour and play - and no one currently matches this at the club ( Morris & Tuck are close with regards to hardness)

[JVT]

LMAO at comparing Trengove with Cotchin 

[wayne]

I think Cotch could handle it, one from left-field though.... Ivan Maric.

[tigs2011]

Lol comparing Cotchin to Trengove. 

[Stripes]

Completely agree with the article. I would love to see Lids get the gig for a couple of years before Cotch takes over a bit like what happened at Hawthorn with Mitchell and Hodge. The problems with this though is whether Lids' pride would take a battering with having to hand the captaincy over  Cotch is ready for the role but it will have an effect on his game I have no doubt, at least initially as he comes to terms wit the added responsibilities and expectations.

I just hope he doesn't push himself too hard trying to lead by example and injuries himself but I guess he doesn't know any other way