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

[sante]

COTCHIN NEEDS 300! JACK NEEDS 800! WHO'S ON FIRST? COTCHIN NEEDS 300!!!!!

This is the mental image I get of all the OCD nutjobs obsessed with Cotchin participating to 300. Had to backtrack about saying playing to the 300 cos besides MRJ and the mascots running through the banner he's basically stifling kids development. Cotchin and MRJ stay in and Sonsie out and no Bauer. Fu@k it think I'll go out instead and tape the game.
300 such a sexy, all-important, all-encompassing number.

This sums up if Cotch is cooked or not!!! Where are all those peanuts in this thread last year who kept banging on about "they're champions of the club they can play on as long as they like, another 3 years if they want". Play him another 8 games straight, make a poster/ tshirt whatever. Why drop him get it over and done with.

You make it sound like Cotch is telling the club to play him til he gets there. Cotch probably doesn’t give a shit about game 300.

 

[Muddiemoose]

You make it sound like Cotch is telling the club to play him til he gets there. Cotch probably doesn’t give a s**t about game 300.

I love the fact people seem to think he will get to 300 and afterwards won’t get a game anymore or he will pull the pin like Cornes did

Going to be some serious melts when he keeps getting games after the milestone

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

‘Fluff and field good’ absolutely doesn’t win games or premierships. Culture does. You can have all the talent on the park, but what gets you over the line is your in-built culture.

Part of culture - especially in todays sport (not limiting this to AFL) - is the way you treat your players. This is especially true of your greats. Take the recruitment of Taranto and Hopper; Lynch before them. They have all consistently pointed to the feel of the club and how the treat each other as a reason they selected the club in the first instance. I believe all three (and others) could have made more money elsewhere (as could the likes of Baker and Bolton from other clubs) but chose Richmond for the underlying culture.

What does your culture say about you if you toss one of your greatest club captains, leader and club champion aside ‘ruthlessly’? I seriously doubt the recruiting efforts or player retention successes we’ve had would be the same.

I think it’s also worth getting some facts straight in this discussion. Both Riewoldt and Cotchin were offered one year deals by the club for this season. It obviously wanted them back - for a variety of reasons - but one (and Riewoldt mentioned this on AFL360) the club mentioned is that its preference for staggering retirements. It’s the downside of trying to collate a list with a grouping of the same age in an attempt to win a premiership. Most will retire within a few seasons of each other (Hawthorn certainly, think we will see this from Geelong over the next two seasons). We had already lost Lambert, Houli and Edwards. Cotchin and Riewoldt this season. Grimes likely next. Then Lynch and Prestia would be close to calling time. As would Nankervis, Vlastuin, Pickett and KMac.

As it’s been reported, they were both offered new deals, told that there role this season was likely to be a transition one, and that the club would prefer if they stayed so they could manage retirements of experienced players (as well as list management as a whole after trading out of the 2022 draft) in a certain manner. It was up to Cotchin and Riewoldt if they wanted to come back and they obviously did.

We’ve already seen Cotchin being involved in the sub the last two games; and in both instances enabled a next generation player to play. It’s a bit of both worlds in that regard (managing Cotchin and playing youth). So I think - whilst not perfect - him getting in the way of a developing player is a bit overblown.

Lastly, I think his performance is in part a consequence of Taranto and Hopper. This may be somewhat obvious, but the flow on effect has been Cotchin trialed as half forward, and not so much in the midfield. This takes away from his strengths and a position he has played since day one of his AFL career. I think that if you look at the players underperforming to start this season, most are impacted by Taranto and Hopper coming into the club (Nank and Prestia with new midfield players and have to gel/ understand each other, Dusty, Cotchin and Bolton playing more forward and not necessarily to their strengths).

Not saying Cotchin would be back to his best if he was in the midfield, far from it. That Cotchin is long gone. But he may be more impactful if he was playing in a position more in-line with his strengths.

Ultimately, I’m a firm believe that what is best for the club overrides all. What is best for the club however is ensuring the culture is as best as it could possibly be. That means treating your veterans and club legends respectfully and dutifully which I think the club is doing.

THIS!!!!!

 

[Wooden Robot]

I love the fact people seem to think he will get to 300 and afterwards won’t get a game anymore or he will pull the pin like Cornes did

Going to be some serious melts when he keeps getting games after the milestone

No .. he'll end up like his mate Edwards.
Play a minimal role in his big milestone game and end up dropped the next few weeks.
Sadly, we are not honouring our champions one bit, Moose (who I agree with a lot).
If a player ends up at 292 or 191 or even 99 games, I'll live with it.

 

[Rioli2Rioli]

I have no issue with getting our champions to the milestones
Shedda 300
Cotch 300
Jack 300
Dusty 300
Pickett 100

This dynasty Era is off the back of these players and they earned that right to get there

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

No .. he'll end up like his mate Edwards.
Play a minimal role in his big milestone game and end up dropped the next few weeks.
Sadly, we are not honouring our champions one bit, Moose (who I agree with a lot).
If a player ends up at 292 or 191 or even 99 games, I'll live with it.

Cotchin perceived form slump is due to role change and wanting to introduce hopper and Taranto into our midfield , not in a decline in his own ability.
Like it or not The club has clearly taken the mindset that Hopper and Taranto are to be the key components to our midfields future and are doing everything to fast track that process including at the expense of Cotchin’s role , which I’d suspect Cotchin knew of when agreeing to play this season .
If the club pulls the trigger and puts future on hold for immediate wins Cotchin will soon enough be back into the role he is accustom and replicating last years form .

 

[Sol23]

Cotchin perceived form slump is due to role change and wanting to introduce hopper and Taranto into our midfield , not in a decline in his own ability.
Like it or not The club has clearly taken the mindset that Hopper and Taranto are to be the key components to our midfields future and are doing everything to fast track that process including at the expense of Cotchin’s role , which I’d suspect Cotchin knew of when agreeing to play this season .
If the club pulls the trigger and puts future on hold for immediate wins Cotchin will soon enough be back into the role he is accustom and replicating last years form .

Completely wrong.
Cotchin is cooked end of. He won’t see the season out.
He been rested, started as a sub and subbed out. Say no more

 

[Joker91]

The Cotch hate is wild. Is still best 22, that will probably change when we get half a dozen players back from injuries.

Round 1 - 18 disposals, 11 contested, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s - played his role , decent game
Round 2 - 17 disposals, 11 contested, kicked important goal late , 7 score involvements (second highest player for us) - good game
Round 3 - 23 disposals, 9 contested, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s - in our best 5-6 players
Round 4 - Started as sub, came on in second quarter and struggled to have an impact.
Round 5 - struggled, still think we should of subbed out one of the small forwards instead

 

[Wooden Robot]

Cotchin perceived form slump is due to role change and wanting to introduce hopper and Taranto into our midfield , not in a decline in his own ability.
Like it or not The club has clearly taken the mindset that Hopper and Taranto are to be the key components to our midfields future and are doing everything to fast track that process including at the expense of Cotchin’s role , which I’d suspect Cotchin knew of when agreeing to play this season .
If the club pulls the trigger and puts future on hold for immediate wins Cotchin will soon enough be back into the role he is accustom and replicating last years form .

Respectfully disagree.
Cotchin, who was never quick, has slowed unbelievably (and it happens quick in your 30s).
He's a shadow of what he was last year and it is personally very sad players cantering away from him and leaving them in his wake. It happened several times v Sydney - he just couldn't keep up.
It's clear he is being nursed to 300 and will play eight more half or quarter games to do it and then like Edwards before him, he will be dropped the very next week - albeit to appease fans - he will be 'rested' or 'managed'.
The part that is true is that Hopper and Taranto are the midfield future and better options than Cotch right now and will e every day of the week from here on.

 

[Muddiemoose]

No .. he'll end up like his mate Edwards.
Play a minimal role in his big milestone game and end up dropped the next few weeks.
Sadly, we are not honouring our champions one bit, Moose (who I agree with a lot).
If a player ends up at 292 or 191 or even 99 games, I'll live with it.

Oh I agree 100% more just an observation on what will happen

Much like you although I do see the romance of the milestone I also don’t think it should be a goal within itself

Right now as in this week I understand why he’s in the side especially with us caring a lot of younger players and an old head on field is something we will need especially in a big game and sub also makes this strategy not overly risky as well

Hopefully once we start to get our injury list under more control we see a little more selection purely based on form

 

[Wooden Robot]

Oh I agree 100% more just an observation on what will happen

Much like you although I do see the romance of the milestone I also don’t think it should be a goal within itself

Right now as in this week I understand why he’s in the side especially with us caring a lot of younger players and an old head on field is something we will need especially in a big game and sub also makes this strategy not overly risky as well

Hopefully once we start to get our injury list under more control we see a little more selection purely based on form

Wayne Campbell ended up on 297 .. 25 possessions and one goal off half back in his last game at Kardinia Park.
Could easily have played on and deservedly so.
When it comes to milestones, I guess they are what they are.
Agree, they should not be the goal alone.
We'll see what happens when the side - hopefully - settles.
Just hoping for a competitive effort tonight!

 

[Muddiemoose]

Wayne Campbell ended up on 297 .. 25 possessions and one goal off half back in his last game at Kardinia Park.
Could easily have played on and deservedly so.
When it comes to milestones, I guess they are what they are.
Agree, they should not be the goal alone.
We'll see what happens when the side - hopefully - settles.
Just hoping for a competitive effort tonight!

Same here
Honestly a win tonight is doubtful

So personally my KPI’s I am looking for is to win or at least break even in the midfield contest

Ability to shutdown Melbourne going on a run of scoring shots

No injuries

Increased discipline and just our younger players continuing to improve

 

[sante]

Wayne Campbell ended up on 297 .. 25 possessions and one goal off half back in his last game at Kardinia Park.
Could easily have played on and deservedly so.
When it comes to milestones, I guess they are what they are.
Agree, they should not be the goal alone.
We'll see what happens when the side - hopefully - settles.
Just hoping for a competitive effort tonight!

The whole narrative of the club getting Cotch to 300 has been made up on here.

 

[Wooden Robot]

Increased discipline and just our younger players continuing to improve

Would it be too hard for our coaching staff to make an example of undisciplined 50m etc. by actually dragging the player.
Same old offenders, week in, week out - no ramifications.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Would it be too hard for our coaching staff to make an example of undisciplined 50m etc. by actually dragging the player.
Same old offenders, week in, week out - no ramifications.

Don’t even get me started
Bolton must have some of the thinnest skin in the comp and oppo players know it

 

[Rioli2Rioli]

Wayne Campbell ended up on 297 .. 25 possessions and one goal off half back in his last game at Kardinia Park.
Could easily have played on and deservedly so.
When it comes to milestones, I guess they are what they are.
Agree, they should not be the goal alone.
We'll see what happens when the side - hopefully - settles.
Just hoping for a competitive effort tonight!

I have listened to an interview with him and that was mentioned and he basically said that he just couldnt put himself through another preseason and he had an opportunity to start another role which i he wanted to move onto and its just what circumstances presented at the time

 

[watiger09]

Very long time lurker, first time poster. Been a lurker on this board for many many years, I remember the days of Wang and Groupie. Hung on with tenterhooks to every doozy rumoured by tiger71. Listen to the bigfooty podcast most weeks.

Have finally jumped on board to post (and post only once so don’t expect any replies) - because the attitude and comments from some so called tiger “supporters” on this board has reached levels that are totally disgraceful and it needs to be called out. The comments today criticising Trent cotchin

9

Trent Cotchin

Age

34

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.4

5star

K

13.8

5star

HB

9.5

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

3.9

5star

CL

5.2

5star

D

19.0

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

9.5

5star

M

2.7

3star

T

4.3

5star

CL

3.5

4star

D

16.6

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

8.6

5star

M

4.6

5star

T

1.0

3star

, calling for him to be retired and even having the audacity to say he’s only being played til his 300th game and shouldn’t be pulling on the jumper (not the exact wording but the gist of it) have totally crossed a line. This bloke is a Brownlow medallist, 3 time premiership captain and the heart and soul of the club - watch any of the premiership documentaries (one night in Brisbane, redemption, the fighting fury) and see how every person at that club speaks about him. Not just him either, the criticism of legends of this club like riewoldt, vlastuin, grimes - the list goes on - is totally pathetic. Some of these blokes will be AFL hall of famers, possibly even legends, and are above the type of pathetic vitriol being levelled at them. Hardwick cops a similar criticism - people saying he should be replaced, game has gone past him etc. The man helped deliver 3 premiership cups to punt rd, most of you have probably never even played footy let alone coached it (I’m counting myself in that bucket too btw)

This club has delivered 3 flags in 4 years, most supporters would kill for that and yet it seems to have made this board worse. Keep in mind some of the players friends, their partners, possibly even their kids would see this crap that people post on here. Just because they play footy doesn’t give you the right to sit behind a keyboard and think they can be the subject of such comments, especially given all they have achieved. Imagine if people were online in a forum commenting on your job performance in a way this board does? And you saw it? Or your kids? Heck some of the players probably read this too, George alluded to the online criticism in his retirement speech. Think about it when you say “ralphsmith is a dud, delist” or “mansell can’t kick”. These kids are 18-20 years old and playing football at the highest level, imagine the impact some of your comments because you’re pissed off about a loss could impact on these blokes. The talking tigers crew have indirectly referenced bigfooty before so don’t think your comments from the anonymity of a keyboard don’t actually get noticed by people at the club, and this includes the players and their friends/families.

Maybe this is the by product of success breeding unrealistic expectations, maybe we’ve become spoilt, maybe it’s just what happens when you give people of a room temperature IQ the ability to comment, maybe it’s because some of you are kids and aren’t mature enough to realize what you’re doing. Whatever the reasons this board and the comments towards absolute legends of this club has become pathetic - while there’s obviously some exceptions (e.g the bigfooty tiger cast folks), a lot of you should be ashamed of yourselves.

And before someone says it no I don’t work at the club, no I’m not a player, no I don’t know anyone at Richmond, no I’m not Brooke cotchin defending Trent. I’m just a fan who has read this board for years and think it’s gotten to a level where people need to step back and think about what they’re saying in here. This rant has been a long time building.

Was gonna single out some people but that would be inline with the behaviour I’m trying to discourage in this post. There are some good people here (e.g bigfooty podcast crew) but a lot of you need to take a look at yourselves.

End rant, will go back to lurking. Pull your heads in.

 

[juss]

I have no issue with getting our champions to the milestones
Shedda 300
Cotch 300
Jack 300
Dusty 300
Pickett 100

This dynasty Era is off the back of these players and they earned that right to get there

Pickett is not in the same breath as the above 4.

 

[Rioli2Rioli]

Very long time lurker, first time poster. Been a lurker on this board for many many years, I remember the days of Wang and Groupie. Hung on with tenterhooks to every doozy rumoured by tiger71. Listen to the bigfooty podcast most weeks.

Have finally jumped on board to post (and post only once so don’t expect any replies) - because the attitude and comments from some so called tiger “supporters” on this board has reached levels that are totally disgraceful and it needs to be called out. The comments today criticising Trent cotchin, calling for him to be retired and even having the audacity to say he’s only being played til his 300th game and shouldn’t be pulling on the jumper (not the exact wording but the gist of it) have totally crossed a line. This bloke is a Brownlow medallist, 3 time premiership captain and the heart and soul of the club - watch any of the premiership documentaries (one night in Brisbane, redemption, the fighting fury) and see how every person at that club speaks about him. Not just him either, the criticism of legends of this club like riewoldt, vlastuin, grimes - the list goes on - is totally pathetic. Some of these blokes will be AFL hall of famers, possibly even legends, and are above the type of pathetic vitriol being levelled at them. Hardwick cops a similar criticism - people saying he should be replaced, game has gone past him etc. The man helped deliver 3 premiership cups to punt rd, most of you have probably never even played footy let alone coached it (I’m counting myself in that bucket too btw)

This club has delivered 3 flags in 4 years, most supporters would kill for that and yet it seems to have made this board worse. Keep in mind some of the players friends, their partners, possibly even their kids would see this crap that people post on here. Just because they play footy doesn’t give you the right to sit behind a keyboard and think they can be the subject of such comments, especially given all they have achieved. Imagine if people were online in a forum commenting on your job performance in a way this board does? And you saw it? Or your kids? Heck some of the players probably read this too, George alluded to the online criticism in his retirement speech. Think about it when you say “ralphsmith is a dud, delist” or “mansell can’t kick”. These kids are 18-20 years old and playing football at the highest level, imagine the impact some of your comments because you’re pissed off about a loss could impact on these blokes. The talking tigers crew have indirectly referenced bigfooty before so don’t think your comments from the anonymity of a keyboard don’t actually get noticed by people at the club, and this includes the players and their friends/families.

Maybe this is the by product of success breeding unrealistic expectations, maybe we’ve become spoilt, maybe it’s just what happens when you give people of a room temperature IQ the ability to comment, maybe it’s because some of you are kids and aren’t mature enough to realize what you’re doing. Whatever the reasons this board and the comments towards absolute legends of this club has become pathetic - while there’s obviously some exceptions (e.g the bigfooty tiger cast folks), a lot of you should be ashamed of yourselves.

And before someone says it no I don’t work at the club, no I’m not a player, no I don’t know anyone at Richmond, no I’m not Brooke cotchin defending Trent. I’m just a fan who has read this board for years and think it’s gotten to a level where people need to step back and think about what they’re saying in here. This rant has been a long time building.

Was gonna single out some people but that would be inline with the behaviour I’m trying to discourage in this post. There are some good people here (e.g bigfooty podcast crew) but a lot of you need to take a look at yourselves.

End rant, will go back to lurking. Pull your heads in.

Well said and i applaud you for a brilliantly written post.

The quality of posters on this board and really dropped to pathetic levels and its a shame as it once was a good read
these days its become a trolls paradise

 

[Rioli2Rioli]

Pickett is not in the same breath as the above 4.

Was about getting players to milestones
100 games is a milestone that Pickett would only have dream t of when he started

 

[Meteoric Rise]

At the moment we are playing 8-9 seriously unseasoned AFL players. It is costing us compared to having 4-5 more solid 100 odd gamers like Broad or Graham in the team. Ideally you only want 4-5 of those less seasoned players in the team at once, maximum. Geelong won a flag last year with 2 players under 23 in their team and only a few more under 25, and a lot of players over 30.

Cotchin's presence right now won't be what is hurting us. I thought he played fine in his role tonight without smashing the back out of it. But for a player on probably $350k he was fine.

Bolton has entered his prime and is on the big money now and we could certainly expect a bit more out of him.

Taranto and Hopper are on good contracts and after some teething issues were terrific tonight.

Balta is entering his prime and despite some poor errors has mainly been very good.

Dusty is still on the big coin and seems to be working into the season well after a long period of being hampered by things outside his own control.

Prestia is on a good contract and he like Bolton seems a bit below what we should expect at the moment.

D Rioli, Baker, Short, Vlastuin all on good deals and mainly producing ok as a collective.

The other prime aged guys on the money will be Nankervis and Lynch obviously both badly missed at the moment, cannot be helped.

The 2 veteran champs Cotchin and Riewoldt are not short changing us and there is no way we are going to be better off without them right now.

 

[BF Tiger]

Pickett is not in the same breath as the above 4.

One of his four(?) kids might be though.

 

[tiger_tough]

Thought he had a good game.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

Thought he had a good game.

His ability to make smart decision at times when others weren’t was very good . Should have went into the middle midway through the 3rd and controlled things there when everything started to go pear shape.

 

[richard parker]

Took a ripper mark and his reaction time is still top shelf. I loved his game.