Cotchin rated 'super talent'
Tony Sheahan | June 08, 2008 12:00am
FORMER Adelaide Crows captain Chris McDermott rated Trent Cotchin's first half yesterday as up there among the best two quarters played by a young player.
McDermott, a champion midfielder in his own right, was clearly impressed by Cotchin's skill level in only his fourth appearance for the Tigers.
"That's as good a first half as I've seen from a kid in a long time," he said.
"He gets the ball in good spots, he's got ripper vision and wants the footy which is a great sense for a kid to have.
"He's got a cool head and he's probably a little bit unselfish at the moment.
"He could probably do a little bit more . . . but gee, he is a super talent.
"That's as good an effort as I've seen from a four-game player."
Cotchin has had a limited pre-season due to a severe ankle injury, and did fade out of the game in the second half.
"His engine's probably let him down," McDermott said.
"He couldn't fire a shot in the second half and we know that's a problem because he didn't have a pre-season but, gee when he gets fit.
"There aren't too many weaknesses in his game."
Cotchin was the game's standout player in the first quarter and kicked an early goal as Richmond grabbed the ascendancy.
The Crows were on the ropes with nowhere to hide.
After finding the ball in heavy traffic on the MCC wing, Cotchin weaved and evaded like a 200-gamer.
He was forced on to his left foot to set up the Tigers' fourth goal.
"It was a case of I can do this and no one can catch me," McDermott said.
"I like the fact he's got a little bit of cockiness about him."
Three minutes later Cotchin came off the ground as part of a midfield rotation.
The Richmond faithful stood and applauded the teenager as if there was 14 minutes remaining in the match, not the first quarter.
At such an early point in the game, Melbourne legend Garry Lyon lauded him as,"The best of the current crop of kids."
Cotchin is a very confident kid. He was chosen by the Tigers at No.2 in the 2007 national draft behind Matthew Kruezer, and is a readymade addition to the Tigers' midfield.
Cotchin filled the hole left by his captain Kane Johnson who is sidelined due to injury.
"I just got to the right spots and the boys have faith in me and gave it to me," Cotchin said after the game.
Asked whether he was surprised to be playing a pivotal role in the midfield so soon, Cotchin replied: "Yeah a little bit, I was led to believe I would play a little more forward but, now that I'm in the midfield I'm loving it."
The young Tiger said he was still coming to terms with the lift in tempo from the VFL.
"The pace is a lot different, it's really quick and fitness becomes very important," he said.
"I feel like I'm getting better every game, so I've just got to keep improving."
Cotchin's foray into the big league has been slower than Richmond would have liked but he now feels he is starting to belong.
"I didn't get much of a pre-season so it's been tough on the body," Cotchin said.
"Against every side you have an opponent but you don't really think of their names, otherwise you're in trouble.
"I was overawed in my first game but now I just take it as it comes."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23828690-19742,00.html
