The Tigers are desperate to work their way out of a form slump that has left the premiers in 14th spot with a draw against Collingwood and defeats against Hawthorn and St Kilda since the season resumed after the COVID-19 break.
Several reasons have been offered, from a potential lack of hunger after two flags and a preliminary final in the past three years, to a lack of on-field pace and a game plan that has been worked out by rivals. Saints great Nick Riewoldt has even questioned whether their "behaviour" of sharing a joke before and during matches is the right attitude to have when a team is losing.
"They have been a really upbeat team. We have seen jokes in pre-games and at half-time and that is all good when you are winning. I wonder whether it's the sort of behaviour that you need when you are trying to work your way out of a form slump. They will be asking themselves all these questions internally," Riewoldt said on Fox Footy's On the Couch.
Cotchin, however, provided his own insight, and in doing so endorsed what club chief executive Brendon Gale had indicated on Monday, that they were "learning to accept that the environment is different" and were struggling to deal with playing in empty stadiums without the ability to feed off the Tiger Army.
"We are really blessed as the Richmond footy club to have such amazing support. In reality, to a lot of different clubs, we aren't quite used to having no noise at a stadium," he said.
"I don't think that is an excuse or a reason as to why we are not performing quite to the level. But all these things add up. We have got a range of experience within our team. Guys deal with things differently. We are just working through that to ensure come Sunday, hopefully, we are in far better place than we were last Saturday [against the Saints] and a lot better place than we were the Thursday prior [against Hawthorn]."
Cotchin said it was up to the players to "create your own energy".
"I know that on TV and so forth it is a little bit different because there is different sounds to what they can apply to what is going on but being there, it's a totally different environment but we now know what it looks and feels like and can adjust to," he said.
The Tigers have not won a first term since the season resumed. They need more production from several players, including Dustin Martin, who is averaging a modest 20.67 disposals – five less than his career average – and has only the one goal (against the Blues) in his three matches. He had a modest 18 touches against the Saints.
Shai Bolton is the leading goal-kicker with seven while fellow small forward Jason Castagna and key tall Tom Lynch have six apiece. Jack Riewoldt has 4.6.
Despite a loss to the Saints in round four, Cotchin is confident the tide has already started to turn and the team will be back to their best when they face Melbourne.
"Last week's game, albeit St Kilda came and played really well, ... was an improvement on the week before," Cotchin said.
"And these things do take a week or two to come into full effect."
Sources: Age &
AFL websites.
