AFL star Trent Cotchin at centre of sock stoush at St Therese’s School in Essendon

Parents at an Essendon school are fuming over a uniform requirement involving Tiger Trent Cotchin’s company.

Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin is at the centre of a uniform war. Picture: Michael Klein

Triple AFL Premiership winning captain Trent Cotchin is at the centre of a school uniform war after parents were forced to order socks only from his company.

Parents’ eyebrows were raised after the edict was announced at St Therese’s School in Essendon.

Trent and his wife Brooke founded Posisocks, which designs socks with positive messages on them like “I am enough”.

But parents are questioning who approached who to make the deal and why they were being asked to support the business of a multi-millionaire footballer.

Some parents are questioning why they have to pay for expensive socks made by Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin’s business. Picture: Michael Klein

All other uniform items – which is strictly imposed by the catholic primary school – are bought from a single supplier with anything bought from Kmart or Big W strictly prohibited.

A mother said: “It would be good to know who suggested this deal to who – is the school making any money from the partnership or are parents just being asked to support a millionaire footballer and his side project?”

Posisocks have positive messages on them like ‘it’s cool to be kind’. Picture: Posisocks website

“The school is very strict on uniforms, nothing can be from any other shop, which makes this all the more bizarre,” she said.

“The messaging on the socks are also mainly on the top of the foot, so no one else sees the words anyway. It’s all just very odd that it’s a demand, not an option.”

The socks costs $9.50 per pair, with parents also being slugged additional shipping costs if they don’t spend more than $60.

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin, wife Brooke and their three children Harper, 5, Mackenzie, 3 and Parker 10 months wearing the socks. Picture: Tim Carrafa

St Therese's Primary School Essendon has a strict uniform policy that prohibits items from Kmart or Big W.

A father, whose children attend the school, said a lot of parents felt it was an “odd requirement” being told they had to buy socks from a separate company to the one that provides the school uniform.

“The socks have all these motivational sayings on them, which is a bit much. It all feels a bit woke,” he said

“It doesn’t feel right being forced to order these special socks from this specific company.”

St Therese’s Principal Michael Di Nuzzo said they had carried out consultation when developing the school’s uniform policy – and anyone with concerns should approach him.

“The policy takes into account price point, quality, and providing uniformity across the school,” Mr Di Nuzzo said.

“We also have processes in place to support any family who may be facing financial difficulties.

“We aim to work in partnership with families and are always open to feedback.

“I encourage any concerns with the uniform policy to be raised with me or through the school advisory council.”

Mr Di Nuzzo said the school socks include a “positive message, developed by the students, and connected to the school’s core values, aimed at providing a reminder for the students each morning”.

St Therese’s School in Essendon’s uniform policy states that students can only wear school socks purchased via the Posisocks website.

“Our school socks are purchased via Posisocks,” it says.

“This is a part of an ongoing mindfulness initiative between St Therese’s and Posisocks.

“These socks are to be worn with both the normal uniform and the PE uniform. You can purchase your school socks for home delivery via their website:”

Everything else is supplied by another company, Noone Imagewear.

“Uniform items must be purchased from Noone. This is to ensure that there is consistency across the school in terms of matching uniform and the presence of school logos on clothing – ie, blue shirts, trackpants, shorts, etc. purchased from Target, Kmart, Big W etc. are not accepted as school uniform.”

Posisocks was contacted for comment but didn’t respond by deadline.

Originally published as AFL star Trent Cotchin at centre of sock stoush at St Therese’s School in Essendon