Trent Cotchin says Tigers are hungry and ready to show fight
Jon Pierik
The Age
April 8, 2014 - 12:41PMRichmond captain Trent Cotchin says the Tigers remain hurt by last year’s elimination-final loss to Carlton and is insistent he is getting enough on-field help despite his team’s inconsistent start to the season.
With internal club expectations of the Tigers at least winning a final this season, they have slipped to 12th spot with just the one win after three rounds, and now face Collingwood on Friday night having not beaten the Magpies in their past six clashes.
The last win was in August 2007 – when Terry Wallace was coach and Brett Deledio booted five goals.
Cotchin has been in superb touch this season, and is ranked No. 1 at Punt Road for disposals, contested and uncontested possessions, goal assists and inside 50s.
He had 28 disposals, including 19 contested possessions, 11 clearances and five inside 50s in the two-point loss to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday. But this has prompted questions about whether he is getting enough help in terms of on-field leadership and inspiration, with the likes of veterans Chris Newman and Jake King, midfielder Dan Jackson and key forwards Ty Vickery and Jack Riewoldt critiqued.
As he fronted the media on Tuesday, Cotchin insisted he had not been left one out.
‘‘I know there has been a lot of press about that over the last couple of days, especially,’’ Cotchin said.
‘‘We expect every one of our players who are playing on the day to play their role. That’s as important as any form of leadership, I think. If we do adhere to our structures and the way we want to play, then we should get the result most of the times.
‘‘I think we saw a number of our players step up on the weekend. Jack had a massive second half. Granted, he would be the first to admit he didn’t play exactly as he wanted to in the first half.
‘‘There are a number of guys who are putting their hand up and playing a role for the team, whether it’s tagging, whether it’s blocking at stoppages, Jack kicking goals up forward. A lot of our senior players are still playing a role within the team. It’s just making sure it’s on a consistent basis.’’
The Tigers will need to find that consistency soon as they prepare for a potentially rugged month, playing power clubs Hawthorn and Geelong.
The return of a fit Deledio will obviously help, while Riewoldt must also maintain the groove he discovered with four second-half goals against the Bulldogs.
AFL legend Wayne Carey insists Riewoldt must be traded or left to play at full forward, rather than further up the ground as the Tigers have done in recent times, allowing Vickery to be the key marking target. Riewoldt, however, was positioned deep on Saturday and came alive in the second half.
Cotchin, though, wants the attacking 50 to have flexibility.
‘‘We saw Ty Vickery have a big game [against Carlton]. When Shaun Hampson was going down forward, he was good,’’ he said.
‘‘Jack has obviously played a role in a number of games. The good thing about our forward structure now is they can all play different roles. I think that’s important – it can’t be too obvious for the opposition.’’
While there have been claims outside the club that the Tigers were content with last year’s finish, Cotchin said the players were desperate for success.
‘‘I think we are hungry enough. Last year hurt us. We thought we were better than what we showed in the finals series,’’ he said.
‘‘We are not saying we are not disappointed with the way the results have fallen and our performances over the last couple of weeks, but we will be doing everything we can to come out and show a real sign of fight.’’
Ruckman Ivan Maric, yet to play this season because of an ankle injury, has re-signed until the end of 2016.
Read more:
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/trent-cotchin-says-tigers-are-hungry-and-ready-to-show-fight-20140408-zqs38.html#ixzz2yGTmflgv
