Author Topic: Cotchin's captaincy [merged]  (Read 42598 times)

Offline WilliamPowell

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I'm one of hodge biggest fans... But its not like he kicks many goals

Sits in the back pocket and sweeps

He does kick goals, might not be many but when he has a shot he nails it

That's the difference

Reckon it's too soft to pot shot our captain who does done so much right for 1 facet of the game he needs to improve.

What do people suggest happen with Cotchin because he isn't a dead eye in front of goal? Delisting him? Get a grip.

Focus on bigger issues why we lost, Martin 0.4 and rest of squad awful kicking at goal, selection of Lloyd and an injured Hampson, the fact none of our A Grade players played well, Houli's brain fade.

Martin missed 4, Jack missed a couple of sitters and our Captain missed 2. Did all those misses cost us the game, you betcha they did. Half of the posters are goals and it's a solid 3 goal win.

But the Cotchin one in the last was incredibly crucial in the overall comtext of the game. What made It worse was the fact he missed everything, not just a goal but didn't even reigster a behind.

Whether you want to acknowledge it or not in those clutch momemts your captain, the bloke who needs to set the example, who is leading you needs to kick it. It makes a statement, it drags the others along.

And yesterday he didn't and it was costly. He let us down and just as telling he let himself and team down

Never said to trade him, not even suggesting it

But when articles like the one this thread is about makes sweeping statements our Captain is on par to the best captain in the comp then yesterday proved that he isn't, not yet anyway
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Offline Diocletian

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Wish people would stop using that stupid Seppo term "clutch" for big moments....almost as gay as when people describe hbf's and rebounding defenders as "quarterbacks".
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Offline Stalin

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Stick to we wogball terms

Sweeping

Deep lying playmaker

False ,9
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Offline Diocletian

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No pee them off too.....

.....and go back to calling mids ruck rovers, rovers centremen & wingers.

Reclaim Australian Rules!
"Much of the social history of the Western world, over the past three decades, has been a history of replacing what worked with what sounded good...."

- Thomas Sowell


FJ is the only one that makes sense.

Offline Stalin

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No pee them off too.....

.....and go back to calling mids ruck rovers, rovers centremen & wingers.

Reclaim Australian Rules!

Lol u fool

Its not Aussie rules when there 18/defenders and no one within 200 yards of the goals
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Offline Penelope

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too late. most people refer to it as AFL, which is just a corporate trademark.

The AFL have kidnapped the game and rape it at will.
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Offline Stalin

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Swoosh sss
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Offline one-eyed

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Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin reveals the challenges of becoming captain

   Emma Quayle
     The Age
    August 15, 2015




Things have changed since Trent Cotchin became Richmond's captain almost four years ago, not understanding exactly what he was in for but knowing it was what he wanted. He got married, to Brooke. They're about to start renovating their house; at least they think they are, after a two-year wait and a lot of reworked plans. Their baby daughter Harper is on the move, pushing a trolley around the lounge room on legs that have just started walking (in a wobbly kind of way). Cotchin has always looked forward to life after football but last year he signed the first long-term contract of his career, comfortable about what is coming and what he is immersed in.

"When you have a family, things feel a little bit different," he said. "I feel settled and happy, and you get to a point where you know where your head's at and things like security and feeling settled become more important than being on the edge. I can see the club's in a good place, and I feel like I'm a part of what's going on there."

He has never really felt anything but, and the Tigers have been his home since he was 17. But it was only after becoming a 22-year-old captain that Cotchin began to realise all the things he didn't know and to work out the best the way to get to know them was to be what he knows better than anything else: himself. He wouldn't exactly say he's happy with his season so far, because "it always feels like there's ways to keep improving and do more and play with a little bit more impact. I haven't had a heap of four-quarter performances. And a few more goals would be nice." But in other ways, he has never felt better balanced.

The way he wants to lead is by being consistent, level and steady. Realistic but not reactive, whether the team is winning or losing. He wants to know something about all the people he is working with, so that he can help them do the things he knows they can all do. In the beginning Cotchin found himself thinking a lot about work after he got home - what he could or should be doing even better - and it felt as though his football wasn't as good as it could be, because of it. Then he looked around, and something sunk in. Luke Hodge is a different sort of leader to Matthew Pavlich, and Scott Pendlebury, and Joel Selwood. And they're all very good at what they do.

"I think your focus shifts from trying to be what you think is the best leader, to learning more about your strengths, the way you can influence the group, and focusing on that. As a younger leader you try to be this perfect leader to everyone, but then you start to find your niche and what works for you," Cotchin said.

"I have never been and I'm still not a massive speaker, but one of the keys for me has been to work with people as individuals and to be balanced. I think that's probably one of my strengths, that no matter what the result is on the weekend or what's going on during the week, I can be consistent, level and not ride the rollercoaster as much as you do when you're a young player, but flatten it out as much as you can.

"Relationships are massive, and I've never been the type of person who's wanted to go for beers and things like that. But someone told me when I was younger that even though you don't need to be best mates with all the guys on the list, you need to have an understanding of how people tick, whether it's the youngest bloke at the club or someone who's been there a long time, otherwise you won't be able to have any real influence on the group.

"That's something that's been really important for me and that's grown in the last couple of years, I think. You work out that there are different ways to connect with different people. Maybe I got the job when I wasn't quite old enough or mature enough to take on such a responsibility, but looking back on it now I'm thankful it happened early rather than later.

"Unless you're in it and doing it you can't learn as quickly or learn as much, and I've benefited from that and from having the people around me that I've had. As a leadership group and as a whole group we've matured a lot and we blend well together. That's been a big help for me."

So have the changes in his own life. Cotchin has wanted to start his own family for a long time, but having his energetic, happy 11-month-old daughter around has been better than he could have imagined and given him an even stronger sense of what matters most. He is not alone: about a third of the Tigers' starting 22 have become fathers in the past year or two.

"People say when you get home your dog doesn't know whether you've had a bad day at work or not. Kids are about 50 times that," Cotchin said. "I suppose what happens is your focus turns straight to her the second you get home and even before that, because the decisions you make have her in mind and your family in mind.

"We're pretty organised people, but when you're planning things around a child it forces you to be more structured and it also makes you a bit more flexible, I think. You go with the flow a bit more, your priorities change and you're probably not as accessible, but you also realise that life isn't meant to be too structured.

"I guess she helps keep me focused, and also gives me that release from footy whether I like it or not, and I definitely like it. It's been challenging, but it's been fun. She's made both our lives a bit better and we love having her around."

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/richmond-tigers/richmond-skipper-trent-cotchin-reveals-the-challenges-of-becoming-captain-20150814-gizkhy.html

Offline one-eyed

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Richmond should consider replacing Trent Cotchin as captain for next-level improvement

Mark Robinson
Herald Sun
October 30, 2015 8:00pm



TO improve its chances of winning a final, let alone a premiership, Richmond went hunting externally.

During the trade period, the Tigers recruited Chris Yarran to be a release player off halfback and targeted an Anthony Miles replica in Jacob Townsend to add depth and vigour to the midfield.

The cuts came quickly. Matt Thomas retired and Matt Dea and Nathan Gordon were delisted in phase two of the list reshaping.

Phase one saw four retire — Chris Newman, Nathan Foley, Chris Knights and Ricky Petterd — while Matt McDonough and Matt Arnot were delisted.

Nine changes were made. Yarran, Townsend and delisted Port Adelaide midfielder Andrew Moore, who is likely to end up at Punt Rd, will fill three of the spots, meaning the Tigers have six spots to find new talent.

Externally, they also went after Daniel Hannebery, Harley Bennell and Adam Treloar. They couldn’t get Hannebery, they didn’t want Bennell after Bennell spat in their face and they couldn’t get Treloar despite the bold offering of two first-round selections to the Giants.
 
On that front, the Tigers are becoming the “almost-got-you club”, for they keep missing out.

So, externally, Yarran was the only big-ticket item when, after three consecutive elimination finals, the Tigers desperately needed more than Yarran.

It means internally is where the Tigers must strive for the next-level improvement.

It’s why the must consider replacing Trent Cotchin as captain.

Cotchin is the club’s best player, but he might not be the best captain or the right captain for the Tigers through what has emerged as a mentally challenging period for Richmond, a challenge that Cotchin hasn’t been able to conquer individually or lead collectively.

There’s not an automatic captain-in-waiting like there was at Hawthorn when Sam Mitchell was given the kyber for Luke Hodge, but there is a man called Jack Riewoldt.

Riewoldt has grown to be a man among men in the past 18 months and is the clear replacement if, in fact, the Tigers believe pulling the trigger on Cotchin for Riewoldt could improve the dynamics which could improve mentality which could improve performance

Three finals losses tell us something has to give, other than delisting fringe players and recruiting a player who could be a plus if he gets his mind right.

No, the Tigers must be bold internally because if they keep doing the same thing, keep floundering in the face of finals pressure, they will keep getting the same result.

Mitchell captained the Hawks to the 2008 premiership and was replaced by Hodge at the end of 2010, when Hodge had grown to be a man among men.

Sound familiar?

Riewoldt is no Hodge in terms of out-and-out inspiration, yet Riewoldt has his own attitude, his own character, which he has imposed on his team and on the game.

Mitchell was 27 when he lost the captaincy.

Cotchin is 26 next April.

Mitchell won a flag and wasn’t the best option at Hawthorn.

Cotchin has lost three finals in his three years as captain.

Clearly, if a move was made it would be seen as a sleight on Cotchin. It shouldn’t be. Every decision is made to better the team and who’s to say releasing Cotchin from the extra responsibility won’t improve his football and thus the team?

In 2011, he won his first best and fairest. In 2012, he won back-to-back B&Fs, the coaches award, was All-Australian and was equal second in the Brownlow Medal with Mitchell.

He finished fifth in the club award in 2013, won his third B&F in 2014 and was fifth again this year.

Notwithstanding his 2014 win, Cotchin hasn’t been the same dominant player as he was in 2012, when he was considered to be the next superstar midfielder.

Such a prolific team player, perhaps Cotchin could best serve the Tigers by concentrating more on his game and not on everyone else’s game.

In essence, Cotchin should play with a more selfish attitude which is arguably what is required from a team’s best player. Make the play instead of protecting the play. Run through the holes at stoppages instead of ensuring the defensive holes are filled. Play like it’s 2012 and not 2015.

Dare we say it, play like Mitchell because he has the capability to.

He is an enormous player, Cotchin, which is why when you look at this year’s and last year’s elimination final losses, you have to ask the sort of questions which are being asked today

Is he the right man to lead the Tigers?

Has he the mental balance/capability to be a great captain and a great player?

Has he the aura, presence and inspiration?

The same questions would be asked of Riewoldt, of course, and arguably he straightaway ticks the boxes labelled aura, presence and inspiration. The other two are the risk. But what is football without risk?

The Tigers will probably flat-out reject today’s observations, that’s if they even consider them.

They’ll say Cotchin’s growing as a captain, has a massive level-headed presence during the week and is a player whose professionalism is unsurpassed.

We would never disagree.

But we would also be naive to think that internal leadership wasn’t on the agenda when the season was reviewed.

How could it not be? The Tigers stumbled — yet again — when finals pressure spooked them and leadership had to be the go-to question.

Remember, this is not a popularity contest or a walk-around-on-eggshells scenario. Every decision made has to be for what is best for the team.

Remember, too, that leadership off the field is only one aspect of leadership. Standing up in finals is what is truly remembered and respected and Cotchin’s past two finals have been poor. He knows that and they would haunt him.

Cotchin is a very good player and not so long ago was a great player.

Maybe the captaincy is not for him. Maybe his greatness is being subdued because of the captaincy.

If you agree with former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas, then Cotchin will be a leader anyway and that someone else — Jack Riewoldt — would benefit from gaining the leadership, which just might benefit the team.

God knows, as does Damien Hardwick, something’s not quite clicking at the Tigers.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-should-consider-replacing-trent-cotchin-as-captain-for-nextlevel-improvement/news-story/3e22073e7b063fdce6f71f8c5aea8171

Offline WA Tiger

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Agree, but the club, players and Hardwick don't have the balls to do it.
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“We are really excited about what we have brought in. We have got great depth of players that can take us where we need to go. We are just putting some cream on the top at the moment,” he said.

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Shaun Hampson is the No.1 man"

Offline Stalin

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  Captain doesn't mean Shyte IMO ...
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Offline Penelope

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of which the same could possibly be said?
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways my ways,” says the Lord.
 
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are my ways higher than your ways,
And my thoughts than your thoughts."

Yahweh? or the great Clawski?

yaw rehto eht dellorcs ti fi daer ot reisae eb dluow tI

Offline Smokey

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Agree, but the club, players and Hardwick don't have the balls to do it.
x 2

Offline Eat_em_Alive

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Yep agree
And Stalin it might not make a difference to us but reckon it would have an impact on cotch
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Offline WilliamPowell

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Interesting read

Agree, but the club, players and Hardwick don't have the balls to do it.
x 2

x 3
"Oh yes I am a dreamer, I still see us flying high!"

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