Player Watch #9: Trent Cotchin is an obscenely good 3 x Premiership Captain, Victorian Captain & Brownlow Medalist

[tigs2010]

The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from round 21 of the 2022 AFL season​

In a week Mick Malthouse put a line through his name, Tigers’ great Trent Cotchin responded with his best game of the season. He’s on track for 300 games, Mark Robinson writes.

Mick should retire more players​

Don’t ever tell us a) players don’t read the newspapers and b) they are not stung by criticism. Trent Cotchin is an iconic Tiger and for him to be told that he should retire by Mick Malthouse was a slap to the face that probably/maybe jolted the former skipper ahead of Saturday night. This line from Malthouse was most pointed: “He has slowed up considerably, and is easily frustrated and undisciplined.’’ Cotchin responded with his best game of the season, turning back the clock to gather 29 disposals. He was in the thick of everything against Port and proved, if he even had to, that season No.16 and 300 games will welcome him with open arms. The Tigers have to stagger their retirements and father time hasn’t got Cotchin just yet.

Ageing Tigers’ great Trent Cotchin turned it on against the Power. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Senile Mick telling people therir time is up is gold lmao

Remember when he went to the Blooze. campaigner wouldn't have even remembered any of their names he was so fried lol

 

[NaturalDisaster]

Senile Mick telling people therir time is up is gold lmao

Remember when he went to the Blooze. campaigner wouldn't have even remembered any of their names he was so fried lol

“I can’t see us losing a game this year”

Blues win spoon

 

[tigs2010]

“I can’t see us losing a game this year”

Blues win spoon

Think he’s a Richmond fan though. Maybe he meant us?

 

[YeOldTiger]

Like fine wine this bloke...

Plenty of good footy in TC yet...

 

[Roachy8]

I always find this sort of dialogue fascinating...
Depending on which side of the fence one sits on:

- old player is "holding up the development of a youngster" - suggests that even though the older dude might still perform better in the AFL than the youngster, he should 'make-way' to accelerate the youngsters development, possibly at the expense of game-day results... (brings on tanking topic)

versus

- playing youngsters before they are ready and have not yet "earned" a promotion, which might negatively impact on game-day results (brings on the often stated "player X needs to go back to the VFL to develop his game" topic)

and then there is this one

- "player X has been pretty good at VFL, we should promote him to see what he can produce at AFL level" - which smacks of flirting with possible results to "see what might happen"

Probably depends on the status of the team - are they dead-set contending (top 4 or close) - are they vying for a top 8/finals finish - or are they genuinely in re-build mode and so results don't matter.

Anyway, as we are firmly in the "let's make the 8 and then give it our best" scenario and I reckon next year we will be in the same category, then at the moment we need to play our best 22, every week and ride the wave.

Re. Trent - none of our VFL youngsters are close to have passed him yet so if he wants to play on and the match committee want him to play on then IMO he plays on.

The 300 games IMO is irrelivent....

 

[Roachy8]

Oh - and Malthouse is senile...

 

[tigs2010]

I always find this sort of dialogue fascinating...
Depending on which side of the fence one sits on:

- old player is "holding up the development of a youngster" - suggests that even though the older dude might still perform better in the AFL than the youngster, he should 'make-way' to accelerate the youngsters development, possibly at the expense of game-day results... (brings on tanking topic)

versus

- playing youngsters before they are ready and have not yet "earned" a promotion, which might negatively impact on game-day results (brings on the often stated "player X needs to go back to the VFL to develop his game" topic)

and then there is this one

- "player X has been pretty good at VFL, we should promote him to see what he can produce at AFL level" - which smacks of flirting with possible results to "see what might happen"

Probably depends on the status of the team - are they dead-set contending (top 4 or close) - are they vying for a top 8/finals finish - or are they genuinely in re-build mode and so results don't matter.

Anyway, as we are firmly in the "let's make the 8 and then give it our best" scenario and I reckon next year we will be in the same category, then at the moment we need to play our best 22, every week and ride the wave.

Re. Trent - none of our VFL youngsters are close to have passed him yet so if he wants to play on and the match committee want him to play on then IMO he plays on.

The 300 games IMO is irrelivent....

Our mid stocks are pretty rooted even if we wanted to rebuild. He’s going to hit 300 comfortably on merit.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Gotta go, he's stopping RCD from being gifted games.. not fair

 

[Noidnadroj]

It amazes me that the narrative of the media during recent Richmond games has all been "will they go on, or won't they", when referring to Cotch and Jack at 32 and 33 respectively. Yet there's none of the same gobshyte during Geelong games about Selwood and Hawkins, despite the fact they're both 34 and in at least. I'm tipping Cotchin will be far higher placed in his B&F than Selwood for starters.

I think it’s natural as Cats are flag favourites and Richmond are seen to be about to embark on a necessary rebuild …. gonna be pretty deflating when Jack and Cotch both play in a flag in 2023 in the first year of our new dynasty


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[Noidnadroj]

Oh - and Malthouse is senile...

Malthouse was calling for Jack’s retirement towards the end of 2020 …. he has since kicked about 100 more goals in 40 games.

I don’t understand how or why Cotchin isn’t held in the same regard by the media and wider football community as Hodge or Selwood!?!? Selwood hasn’t even captained a flag, let alone 3… so I wonder why Selwood is universally admired and/or seen as a superior captain to Cotchin?! And Selwood’s performances in finals have often been found wanting, whilst it’s quite the opposite for the impact in finals Cotchin has had.

Selwood and Hodge also BOTH took over as captain of outstanding Premiership teams full of superstars. Cotchin took over a team that hadn’t even made finals for 12-years and hadn’t made a GF for 30-years.

Cotchin is every bit as hard and tough as Selwood and Hodge, so it can only be perhaps his perfect hair and seeming indifference to being some sort of ‘boys club’ stereotypical player/captain.

Or maybe it’s just a ‘hate everything Richmond related’ sort of narrative.

Don’t mistake this as a ‘who is the better player’ … over the journey I think Selwood is better than both Hodge and Cotchin. But who is the best captain? It’s take your pick between Cotchin & Hodge with Selwood a clear third. A first flag for Selwood as captain this season would close the gap.


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[SumTingWong]

He is in cracking form atm.

 

[Tomnat Tigers]

Has spent a bit of time forward the last couple of weeks.

Easily got another year in him and more on current form.

 

[BF Tiger]

Nothing from the haters today?

 

[French Tiger]

Geez he is in some nice form ! Great to see


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[tunksy]

sign an extension just before finals?

 

[richoatthedisco]

Malthouse was calling for Jack’s retirement towards the end of 2020 …. he has since kicked about 100 more goals in 40 games.

I don’t understand how or why Cotchin isn’t held in the same regard by the media and wider football community as Hodge or Selwood!?!? Selwood hasn’t even captained a flag, let alone 3… so I wonder why Selwood is universally admired and/or seen as a superior captain to Cotchin?! And Selwood’s performances in finals have often been found wanting, whilst it’s quite the opposite for the impact in finals Cotchin has had.

Selwood and Hodge also BOTH took over as captain of outstanding Premiership teams full of superstars. Cotchin took over a team that hadn’t even made finals for 12-years and hadn’t made a GF for 30-years.

Cotchin is every bit as hard and tough as Selwood and Hodge, so it can only be perhaps his perfect hair and seeming indifference to being some sort of ‘boys club’ stereotypical player/captain.

Or maybe it’s just a ‘hate everything Richmond related’ sort of narrative.

Don’t mistake this as a ‘who is the better player’ … over the journey I think Selwood is better than both Hodge and Cotchin. But who is the best captain? It’s take your pick between Cotchin & Hodge with Selwood a clear third. A first flag for Selwood as captain this season would close the gap.


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Agree with everything but the last bit. Chimp Kazoo has been a better player than Duckwood. Reps are made in finals. Duckwood has a better H&A record, like Diverfraud, like Geelong. Has more All Home and Away Supercoach Points jackets, like Diverfraud, like Geelong. He can use them all to soak up his tears after Trent ragdolls him off the MCG again this September.

In conclusion, **** Geelong. Hillbilly hick cheat ground whingers.

 

[A Tiger 4 lyf]

Rest him against the bombers


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[Rioli2Rioli]

Why Malthouse thinks Essendon can win the premiership​

Delusional old fool.


Cotchin will need 10-12 games to get to 300 and in 2023 will be a great off filed mentor to all the next generation tigers and must be kept on to play and hopefully further after he retires

 

[tiger_tough]

Rest him against the bombers


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Nah, just have him on managed minutes. 2 weeks off with the week off before finals is too long. He needs to keep the momentum going.

 

[theyellowsash]

this year is the equal most games hes played in a year since 2017, and will beat that this week.

highest disposal average and clearance average since 2017, inside 50 count is a little down but its his highest ever assist average so he's being more damaging. all those stats are also sitting above his career averages.

hes only had 4 sub 20 possession games this year, 3 of those were the first 4 rounds. that number was 11 in 2018, 6 in 2019, in 2020 he only had 4 games over 20 possessions, and 7 in 2021.

both in statistics and impact, he's having his most consistent and impactful year since 2017. based on his last few years i thought he was done, but he's had a bit of a selwood/hawkins old age revival. he deserves at least another year and maybe one after that.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Rest him against the bombers

Yep. And Meatball, Nank, Taz and maybe Lynchy. They're just too important to risk in a nothing match. It'll probably be an 18 day break, but I'd risk them losing a little of match conditioning to have them all available in Week 1. That's when you get hurt in matches - when you're trying not to.

Another benefit too is that Ross/Stack, Mansell, Soldo and maybe Ryan are given a chance to show how much they want it.

 

[Hank Heavenly]

Yep. And Meatball, Nank, Taz and maybe Lynchy. They're just too important to risk in a nothing match. It'll probably be an 18 day break, but I'd risk them losing a little of match conditioning to have them all available in Week 1. That's when you get hurt in matches - when you're trying not to.

Another benefit too is that Ross/Stack, Mansell, Soldo and maybe Ryan are given a chance to show how much they want it.

worst thing you can do when there is the pre-finals bye...

The best thing a team needs in form and consistency heading into finals

 

[BF Tiger]

Did I read a headline yesterday that he has been offered a contract for 2023?

 

[TigFan1966]

Did I read a headline yesterday that he has been offered a contract for 2023?

Yep, it's been reported that they offered him $300k to play on same as Jack. A pay drop but they need the money to attract new players.

 

[peternorth]

Will play Round 1