Reputations are made (and broken) in AFL finalsWayne Carey
The Age
8 September 2017September is a time when reputations are both made and diminished.
Often, a poor game on the biggest stage can undo an otherwise positive season and it's a harsh reality Trent Cotchin knows only too well.
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It was two years ago Richmond's skipper managed just nine disposals in his side's elimination final loss to North Melbourne. In 2014, he also struggled with 16 touches in the Tigers' finals exit against Port Adelaide.
While Cotchin certainly wasn't the only player to lower his colours on those occasions, he copped more criticism than most. But it's also criticism he's learnt from.
Any player who says they don't think about their past performances is delusional, particularly if those performances weren't great ones. You think about what you did wrong and how you can improve. It's sometimes a challenge to identify those areas of weakness in yourself and it can take great strength of mind to respond.
But that's exactly what Cotchin has done this season. He's grown as a leader, and carried himself in such a way that others at Punt Road are clearly following. He might be averaging fewer disposals – 22.8 per game in 2017, compared to 27.0 per game last year – but his influence has been much greater.
His body language and demeanour have improved, and his leadership is about so much more than kicks, marks and handballs. At times an accumulator in seasons past, Cotchin is now making his every involvement count. Without taking anything away from Dustin Martin, I doubt his season would have been quite as good without the support of Cotchin in the Tigers midfield.
Geelong's combination of Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield gets praised so often, but Cotchin and Martin have arguably become just as damaging as "Dangerwood".
While Cotchin might not have the reputation of Selwood or Luke Hodge when it comes to his captaincy, he's as courageous as they come and every bit as important to his team. Does he not enjoy the same warrior-type image as Selwood and Hodge because of his clean-cut look and perfect hair? Or simply because he doesn't seem to be off with the blood rule quite as much? Maybe. But Friday night's match is another great opportunity for him to prove just how far he's come.
Even though the Cats have earmarked Martin for a possible tag, like they did in their last clash in round 21, don't be surprised if they turn their attention to Cotchin, possibly with Scott Selwood. If that's the case, Cotchin will need to be at his best to have a meaningful impact, but now, with his renewed hunger to win the ball at the coalface, I'm backing him to shine.
He might just prove the gap between Joel Selwood and himself isn't as big a people think. I believe the All-Australian selectors made the wrong call by not at least including him in the squad of 40, simply because of the influence he's been able to have on Richmond's rise to the top four.
Jack Riewoldt is another Tiger who probably hasn't got the recognition he deserves this season. Like his skipper, Riewoldt's numbers haven't been as big as years gone by, albeit with him the focus is on the goals column. But you shouldn't underestimate the role he's played in what has been a much younger and smaller forward-line.
Riewoldt has realised he doesn't have to be the main man who's kicking a big bag every week. By sharing the load, he's made others better.
The evolution of Riewoldt and Cotchin, in particular, has come after what was an extremely tough season for the Tigers last year, when the coach was under pressure and the whole football department was reviewed. The club was seemingly only headed in one direction and it wasn't up. But now Richmond are fighting for a place in a preliminary final in front of a crowd of more than 95,000 at the MCG.
My old coach Denis Pagan would often tell us: "Football doesn't build character, it just eliminates the weak ones." Far from being beaten into submission by the Tigers' challenges, Cotchin has embraced them and stood tall.
His teammates won't care about what he did in a final two years ago. Instead they'll be looking to their captain to set the tone for what should be a cracking contest. Given everything he's already proved this season, Tiger fans should have confidence Cotchin will again elevate his game, this time taking the club deep into September.
And, who knows, that might just enhance his reputation once and for all.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/reputations-are-made-and-broken-in-afl-finals-20170907-gycyzp.html
