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

[JAKLAUGHING]

Peak Cotchin doesn't come close to

My point was unless you watched every single game it's pointless making a call. Hayden Bunton Sr was universally acknowledged as the greatest player of all time. Now he's never even brought up.

Cazaly and Pratt both say hold our beers!

 

[RichLeMonde]

Not a fair comment about 2012. He tended to do a lot of short kicks and handballs back and forth in his early period as captain. This was evident in 2013 after he injured his knee and lost all power in his kicking. It also fits in with what he's recently said about feeling that he had to lead by example and do it all himself. In 2016 the whole team were doing it, even Dusty - notice that Dusty averaged more possessions in 2016 than in his Brownlow year. But Cotchin in 2012 wasn't the captain and he didn't feel the need in that year to achieve a high disposal average. He was in that year the best evasive player I've ever seen, able to weave through traffic and then, invariably hit up a target or kick a goal.

It was actually a very interesting study in human psychology to see Cotchin’s multiple transformations. When he was younger and mentally freer he was an incredibly well balanced, skilled and evasive player. You could then see him tighten up physically and mentally with the pressure of captaincy. And then he found a way to evolve physically and mentally to lead the team to the promised land. Great example of how to respond to adversity by accepting your own limitations

 

[Rayzorwire]

Cotchin was not a stat padder in 2012.

Not a fair comment about 2012. He tended to do a lot of short kicks and handballs back and forth in his early period as captain. This was evident in 2013 after he injured his knee and lost all power in his kicking. It also fits in with what he's recently said about feeling that he had to lead by example and do it all himself. In 2016 the whole team were doing it, even Dusty - notice that Dusty averaged more possessions in 2016 than in his Brownlow year. But Cotchin in 2012 wasn't the captain and he didn't feel the need in that year to achieve a high disposal average. He was in that year the best evasive player I've ever seen, able to weave through traffic and then, invariably hit up a target or kick a goal.

Completely agree, you'll note I said earlier in his career prior to 2017 (meant to refer to various instances, not a continuous period), wasn't referring to 2012.

Also agree on Dusty, Royce, a well made point.

 

[richoplzbreed]

Cotchin was not a stat padder in 2012.

As you say, winning the clearance or getting a linking possession could be a cheapie crab kick or ineffective handball.

BUT, the stat that tells us whether these possessions are actually effective - that is whether they actually lead to chains of possession culminating in scores is ‘score involvements’ (which coincidentally started being recorded in 2012).

In 2012, Cotchin was 14th in the league for SIs, and the only mids he was behind were S Mitchell, drug cheat Jobe, Scott Thompson, Jordan Lewis, Dayne Swan and Dayne Beams (all of whom played for top 4 teams, which makes it easier to get score involvements, while Richmond finished 12th ). Cotchin was ahead of GAJ, Pendlebury, Selwood, and Danger for SI.

For an inside mid in a s**t team to be that high in SIs is unbelievable, and completely puts paid to any seagull/crab/stat padder myth.

You've isolated 2012 as though that was his entire career. He played 16 seasons: using his best season doesn't "puts paid?" to anything. I still remember Lloyd showing footage of Cotchin repeatedly unnecessarily handballing to flat-footed teammates under the pump to demand it back. Then he isolated an instance where Houli never gave it back and Cotchin sooked it.

Later in the game best option Houli was best option. Cotchin blatantly ignored him and got pinged. Cotchin regularly had 30 possie nothing games. He 100% was a selfish player with average disposal who padded stats. Only stopped in the last 1/3 of his career.

 

[richoplzbreed]

I

Cazaly and Pratt both say hold our beers!

I never saw Pratt play. Did see them in the Thunderbirds and Blade runner though.

 

[sante]

You've isolated 2012 as though that was his entire career. He played 16 seasons: using his best season doesn't "puts paid?" to anything. I still remember Lloyd showing footage of Cotchin repeatedly unnecessarily handballing to flat-footed teammates under the pump to demand it back. Then he isolated an instance where Houli never gave it back and Cotchin sooked it.

Later in the game best option Houli was best option. Cotchin blatantly ignored him and got pinged. Cotchin regularly had 30 possie nothing games. He 100% was a selfish player with average disposal who padded stats. Only stopped in the last 1/3 of his career.

Good stuff mate. Keep potting our greatest captain and one of our best players now he’s retired. Classy

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

You've isolated 2012 as though that was his entire career. He played 16 seasons: using his best season doesn't "puts paid?" to anything. I still remember Lloyd showing footage of Cotchin repeatedly unnecessarily handballing to flat-footed teammates under the pump to demand it back. Then he isolated an instance where Houli never gave it back and Cotchin sooked it.

Later in the game best option Houli was best option. Cotchin blatantly ignored him and got pinged. Cotchin regularly had 30 possie nothing games. He 100% was a selfish player with average disposal who padded stats. Only stopped in the last 1/3 of his career.

Cotchin played the game in a surge / gain ground at pace mentality for his whole career with the exception of forward of centre . It’s a trait the majority of the games greatest players have always possessed .
The perception he changed the way he played also coincided a dramatic change in the way the club played which led to premierships as well as led to the recent decline . Particularly early 2023 .
Your examples and the use of commentary from Lloyd is somewhat ironic .
Lloyd was booted out of Essendon because he felt the game style at Essendon should revolve around him and then undermined the coach who arseholed him . Coincidentally a ex richmond captain ( knights )
Source : a large amount of his ex teammates when upon the booze at the time
It also needs to be noted Houli came from Essendon, the same club who Lloyd had infected and hasn’t recovered . He arrived having played majority of the previous season playing in Bendigo for the now defunct Bendigo Bombers ending the season struggling to keep his place such was the style they were playing . He arrived at Richmond and hardly started setting the world on fire before the club altered game style and he became as important player as anyone in our GF’s and unlucky not to have a norm smith .

 

[SunshineBoy]

Good stuff mate. Keep potting our greatest captain and one of our best players now he’s retired. Classy

Royce Hart says hold my beer

 

[RichLeMonde]

You've isolated 2012 as though that was his entire career.

All my posts in this thread have been about his Brownlow season - I haven’t said anything about his whole career.
He played 16 seasons: using his best season doesn't "puts paid?" to anything.

Thesaurus results for PUTS PAID TO

Synonyms for PUTS PAID TO: ends, concludes, finishes, winds up, wraps up, rounds (off or out), completes, closes; Antonyms of PUTS PAID TO: begins, opens, starts, commences, inaugurates

www.merriam-webster.com

Don’t need to put it in “ “ marks. It’s a widely used expression, even if you’ve never heard of it.

 

[barracoutta]

can we add author to his list of achievements now?

 

[Drunken Wookie]

I
I never saw Pratt play. Did see them in the Thunderbirds and Blade runner though.

View attachment 1848018

wonder what she looked like prior to being gene-spliced with a mushroom.

 

[Vassp]

It was actually a very interesting study in human psychology to see Cotchin’s multiple transformations. When he was younger and mentally freer he was an incredibly well balanced, skilled and evasive player. You could then see him tighten up physically and mentally with the pressure of captaincy. And then he found a way to evolve physically and mentally to lead the team to the promised land. Great example of how to respond to adversity by accepting your own limitations

Great post.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

It was actually a very interesting study in human psychology to see Cotchin’s multiple transformations. When he was younger and mentally freer he was an incredibly well balanced, skilled and evasive player. You could then see him tighten up physically and mentally with the pressure of captaincy. And then he found a way to evolve physically and mentally to lead the team to the promised land. Great example of how to respond to adversity by accepting your own limitations

 

[TigerImposter]

There's probably only been a handful of captains greater than Cotchin since I've been watching the game from mid 1972.
Cotchin winning the Brownlow in 2012 was a remarkable achievement considering the team we had being either with young jets still yet to reach their peak and a lot of list cloggers. Cotchin's game was forced to be short chip and run bc of our game plan which involved a lot of holding onto the ball and carrying it slowly up the ground. It was mainly due to the Coaching team lacking faith in our DE , so assumed these tactics bc of less margin for a turnover. Every player improved under a new game plan and with more experience and talent injected in the side and players given free reigns to play their natural game. Cotchin was no Voss or Selwood, but by God did he sacrifice his body and possession game for the team. To me he's the greatest captain the clubs ever produced and by a long stretch and bc of this if i had to pick between him and Dusty he would be my choice as Dusty is not a leader to me. It's not a slight on Dusty as he's just a brilliant match winner , but Cotchin lifts players or the team by courage , sacrifice and leadership. Quality leadership is so hard to find in most captains and that's why the greats stand out and are involved in successful teams.

 

[Downtown06]

Cotchin admitting the AFL is corrupt made me laugh cause we all know it's true

 

[RoaringTiger]

Cotchin admitting the AFL is corrupt made me laugh cause we all know it's true

Yeah he knows it. Everyone knows it. I wish he had gone harder on it.

 

[DickieKnee]

Cotch has stuffed any chance at a future job with the CFL.

 

[RobsJourney]

Cotchin admitting the AFL is corrupt made me laugh cause we all know it's true

Where was this?

 

[Downtown06]

Where was this?

His book, just finished it, great read.

 

[Groupie_]

Cotchin admitting the AFL is corrupt made me laugh cause we all know it's true

what he say

 

[Downtown06]

what he say

That he said the AFL was against us winning the flag with all the shit we caused in the hub and that when him and Dimma held the cup, u could see the disappointment on Gills face.

He also mentioned the media wanted Geeeeelong to win due to the fact they thought they 'deserved' it, Cotchin was like "**** that"

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

That he said the AFL was against us winning the flag with all the s**t we caused in the hub and that when him and Dimma held the cup, u could see the disappointment on Gills face.

He also mentioned the media wanted Geeeeelong to win due to the fact they thought they 'deserved' it, Cotchin was like "* that"

That's what I say too!

 

[Ultima]

Cochin, like Gary Ablett Jr, was elite at padding his stats with unnecessary cheap 1-2's regularly handballing pointlessly to flat-footed teammates then demanding it back, same as some of his dinky sideways kicks that were never going to be paid a mark because they barely went 10m. Cochin was a good player but not even close to Dusty.

For a time this was so true.

 

[Groupie_]

That he said the AFL was against us winning the flag with all the s**t we caused in the hub and that when him and Dimma held the cup, u could see the disappointment on Gills face.

He also mentioned the media wanted Geeeeelong to win due to the fact they thought they 'deserved' it, Cotchin was like "* that"

and then shocking changed the rules so geelol can win a fake asterisk flag with their old timers

 

[Downtown06]

and then shocking changed the rules so geelol can win a fake asterisk flag with their old timers

Funny the rule changes were never mentioned but it is a good read.

Also didn't realise the little rivalry him and Lids had as well.