"It's the best game I've seen him play in over 12 months." - Matthew Lloyd
The Andrew McQualter move that helped Trent Cotchin get back to his best for his 300th – and the man who enjoyed the milestone more than anyone else...
Click on pic/link to watch:[/img]https://twitter.com/FootyonNine/status/1670224553233219584--------------------------------------
HOW INTERIM COACH MCQUALTER HAS REVITALISED 300-GAMER COTCHINLachlan Geleit
SEN
18 June 2023Richmond great Trent Cotchin starred in his 300th game on Saturday night helping the Tigers to a 90-70 win over the Saints at the MCG.
In his best statistical outing this year, Cotchin collected 29 disposals, kicked two goals and had five clearances.
After starting the year as a half forward, the 33-year-old has moved back on-ball under interim coach Andrew McQualter which has seen him recapture some of his best footy.
Having attended zero centre bounces against Essendon in Round 10 and Port Adelaide in Round 11, Damien Barrett highlighted a stat that shows Cotchin has attended an average of 18.6 centre bounces across the last three weeks.
He discussed Cotchin’s uptick in form and changed role with Matthew Lloyd on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
Lloyd: “It’s the best game I’ve seen him play in over 12 months.
“Damo you wanted to highlight a statistic?”
Barrett: “I do because that Essendon game was the last one Damien Hardwick coached.
“Then you’ve got the Port Adelaide game which was the first of Andrew McQualter’s reign and he continued what was happening there.
“But for the past three matches, which have resulted in Richmond wins, he has been back to doing what he does best in the middle.”
Lloyd: “That’s what coaches do, make the mistake of taking players away (from their preferred role).
“I can understand Damien Hardwick doing what he was doing, maybe he thought the game has gone past Trent and needing to develop others like (Tim) Taranto and (Jacob) Hopper.
“But maybe Hopper’s injury has allowed him (Cotchin) to go back in there (the midfield).
“He looks right at home.”
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/06/18/how-interim-coach-mcqualter-has-revitalised-300-gamer-cotchin/