Trent Cotchin stands alongside Luke Hodge as the two best captains in the AFL this seasonJonathan Brown
Herald-Sun
July 25, 2015 TRENT Cotchin stands alongside Luke Hodge as the two best captains this season.
Cotchin’s ability to deliver in the big moments like Hodge has set the Richmond skipper apart from the rest of the pack this year.
He’s sensing the moment and doing special things to lift his team in its hour of need.
Hodge is famous for it and Cotchin is heading in that direction too.
Cotchin’s third quarter against Sydney was “Leadership 101” and his last term against the Giants when the Tigers were again in trouble was another eye-catching effort.
His ability to drag his side to victory has been the most impressive aspect of his leadership. He’s not the most vocal of skippers, but that’s not a problem, he’s an action man and it’s working.
Cotchin’s resilience has stood out.
He’s still a young man, only 25, and he copped a lot of flak for kicking against the wind in last year’s elimination final against Port Adelaide.
He was also bagged by some for not being offensive enough with the footy in the early part of the season when the Tigers were struggling.
It takes a tremendous amount of strength when you take a beating as a leader, when you are questioned, and you respond positively.
Criticism as a leader is a heavy burden. Every player cops criticism for their form at some stage, but negative feedback regarding your leadership cuts deeper.
Not all leaders are able to sense the big moment in a game and do something about it. And as a young captain, Cotchin is delivering superbly on that front.
His concentration appears to be better than most and he has a fierce desire to make a difference at critical times in games.
When you start turning results your team’s way with critical plays, goals, and dominant quarters of football like Cotchin has done this season, it does wonders for your confidence and you go ahead in leaps and bounds as a leader.
All of sudden you relish those moments, you go looking for them.
It’s why Hodge, quite rightly, is lauded throughout the game. He embraces those moments and delivers time after time.
There’s plenty to like about Richmond this season and a place in the top four is there to be grabbed if it is good enough.
Let’s not forget the Tigers were 13th after Round 6 with just two wins. The critics were jumping out from everywhere. It’s a credit to Cotchin, coach Damien Hardwick and the rest of the club’s leaders that the situation was turned around to such an extent that it has won eight of its past nine.
I’m not saying Richmond is going to win the premiership this year, but it can definitely make top four. Anything can happen from there.
Sydney’s place is the position the Tigers are surely eyeing with just one win and 5.6 per cent separating the two.
The Tigers finish the home-and-away rounds with games against Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), Gold Coast (MCG), Collingwood (MCG), Essendon (MCG) and North Melbourne (Etihad).
It’s far from a dream run, but all are below them on the ladder.
But it’s the next two games that should give us the clearest indication of Richmond’s capabilities.
Win one or both against Fremantle on Saturday then Hawthorn, then hear the Tiger Army roar.
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