Cotchin, the new Tigers' captainThe Age
November 24, 2012 Gun midfielder Trent Cotchin plans to make some history of his own as Richmond’s new captain.The Tigers opted for generational change with the 40th captain of the AFL club. Cotchin will still be a couple of weeks’ shy of his 23rd birthday when the Tigers face arch-rivals Carlton in the opening round next year.
The two-time best and fairest winner replaces the 31-year-old Chris Newman, who stepped down as captain at the end of the 2012 campaign after four years in the job. Fellow midfield star Brett Deledio was named Cotchin’s deputy after a vote by the player leadership group and members of the football department was approved by the club’s board.
The Tigers decided in 2003 that each captain would wear No.17 in honour of the club’s greatest player, Jack Dyer, and the three captains since have embraced the tradition. However Cotchin will buck the trend and remain in the No.9 guernsey he has worn in his 86-game career.
The 2007 No.2 draft pick said it was a tough decision but felt that No.9 was part of him.
"Obviously, I hold the club’s history and traditions in high regard," Cotchin told a press conference on Friday afternoon.
"Jack Dyer is a massive part of our proud history.
"He’s got the statue outside the club, the stand is named after him and our best-and-fairest (award) is named after him.
"But when I thought about it ... I’ve always been really comfortable with the fact I’ve been No.9 since being here and I was No.9 prior to being here.
"I love seeing little kids with the No.9 on their backs and I think it’s a part of me now.’’He said he hoped supporters would understand.
"I’m sure there’s a lot of supporters out there both for and against the decision, but hopefully they can respect how I feel.’’
Cotchin had a stellar 2012 season when he finished equal second in the Brownlow Medal polling behind Essendon skipper Jobe Watson, claimed a second successive club best and fairest award and earned All Australian honours for the first time.
He filled in as the team’s skipper for the final five rounds of the 2011 season, when Newman was injured.
NEW RICHMOND CAPTAIN TRENT COTCHINBorn: April 7, 1990
Recruited from: PEGS/Northern Knights with pick No.2 in 2007 national draft
Playing honours: 2011 and 2012 Richmond best and fairest winner, 2012 All-Australian, Equal second in 2012 Brownlow Medal
Appointed Richmond captain at the age of 22.
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