Cotchin considered leaving hub for home: HardwickBy Jon Pierik
The Age
September 1, 2020 — 3.10pmRichmond coach Damien Hardwick has confirmed Trent Cotchin considered quitting the Tigers' Brisbane hub but has praised his leadership and declared his captain is playing his best football since he retrospectively claimed the 2012 Brownlow Medal.
The Tigers have regularly been in the headlines - some bizarre - through this compressed AFL season but have managed to remained focused on the field to the point they are now outright favourites with the bookies to win back-to-back premierships.
Cotchin, wife Brooke and their three young children had struggled to adjust to life in their Queensland hub at one stage, with the skipper even considering returning to Melbourne with his family. Hardwick and chief executive Brendon Gale, the latter having returned to Brisbane on Tuesday, were in on the discussion and insist Cotchin never delivered an ultimatum.
"There was a conversation at one stage. Trent, as a family man, will always do what is best for his family. I think as a club we are very much aligned to those values," Hardwick said on Tuesday.
"We won't ask a person to put themselves above their family. Trent had some decisions to make and he was very supportive of his family as we are supportive of Trent.
"The reality is, you sort of look at the conditions we are in, we are very fortunate to be in better conditions than most of Victoria, but probably 90 per cent of the people up here at some stage have gone: 'Look, it's hard'. I probably think about going home. But the reality is, Trent stuck fat, his family stuck fat, he has been incredible up here and we are incredibly supportive of both of them."
Brooke had been the subject of vile social media posts for an AFL COVID-19 breach in July, having been caught after she posted an image of her visit to a day spa on the Gold Coast. This resulted in a $45,000 fine for the Tigers, with $25,000 suspended. The Cotchins have offered to pay the fine.
There has been more drama since, including Brooke's father, former Footscray defender Rick Kennedy, taking aim at the club and the AFL for the way they had handled the controversy in not allowing Brooke to "go public and take responsibility". The AFL and Tigers deny this.
Trent has also been the subject of "nasty" online attacks but through this has been in stellar on-field touch, particularly since returning from a hamstring injury. He is averaging 19.5 touches per game, and had 26 against premiership fancy West Coast last week, earning nine of a possible 10 votes in the AFL Coaches' Association player of the year award.
Jobe Watson won the Brownlow in 2012 but had it stripped in 2016 as a result of the supplements saga. It was handed to joint runners-up Cotchin and Sam Mitchell.
Cotchin plays a different role to what he did eight years ago and is averaging eight less touches per game but his ability to influence contests is as great, if not greater.
"I think he has had his best year since his Brownlow year. Every good game he has played, he has just been incredible for us," Hardwick said.
"We have changed his role a little but what we have seen is him at his very best. He is such a damaging player. He leads by example. He is a wonderful leader on and off the field. He is an inspiration to our footy club. He has done it tough up at here at stages but I look at the way he has led this football club. I get a little bit emotional talking about this guy because of what him and his family bring to us.
"There is no doubt he is a big reason to where we are now. His leadership on and the off the field has been incredible."
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/afl/cotchin-considered-leaving-hub-for-home-hardwick-20200901-p55r99.html
