Richmond captain Trent Cotchin quietly carving out career year despite Tigers struggling on the fieldJON RALPH
Herald Sun
June 13, 2016 7:00pmTRENT Cotchin began to feel crook on Tuesday afternoon, only four days after Richmond’s most recent humiliating loss.
By that night he was being monitored for a kidney infection in hospital, a fact Richmond was able to keep away from the baying press.
On Sunday night Cotchin delivered another 2016 masterclass, even if his heroics were overshadowed by Dustin Martin.
His last quarter alone against the Suns saw him haul in a dozen disposals, three clearances and 44 Champion Data rankings points.
Richmond still might be very much a middle-of-the-road side, but nothing has been middle-of-the-road about Cotchin this year.
Despite rampant criticism of his leadership and style, he has peeled off his best year since 2012.
That season might still see him awarded a Brownlow Medal at year’s end, but this season he is averaging 111 rankings points compared to 116 that year.
Statistics are far from everything, but he has career-highs in disposals (30), contested possessions (13.5), clearances (6.7) and uncontested possessions (16.2).
And since you asked, after criticism he chips and goes sideways and doesn’t surge the ball forward, his 454 metres gained per game are up 112 metres on last year.
They are remarkable statistics given he won only 19 disposals in Round 6 against Port Adelaide after cracking his cheekbone in the opening seconds.
Then returned without surgery after only a fortnight to play on despite the likelihood of re-injuring his face.
The difference in the four wins over the past five weeks is that he has had willing midfield accomplices in Brett Deledio and Martin and Anthony Miles.
If we kick players when they are down, it is absolutely necessary to praise them for addressing their issues of concern.
Asked if Cotchin was ever a chance not to play, Hardwick replied: “Not according to Trent.”
Cotchin might not be the perfect captain, but right now he is the best Richmond has got.
And if some teammates inside Richmond had doubts about that leadership, surely it has ebbed away as the year progressed.
Cotchin has weaknesses like every AFL player, admitting he doesn’t booze on or socialise with teammates like the leaders of past decades.
But if leadership is built by brave performances against the odds, it is hard to see how he hasn’t passed on that score this year.
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