AFL Daily: Trent Cotchin backs Richmond to perform in 'big games'
RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin says the Tigers trust in each other in perform "in the big games" ahead of a blockbuster qualifying final against Hawthorn. Re-cap all the days breaking news here, including Collingwood team news, St Kilda's new president and more.
RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin says he has trust his team can perform “in the big games”, brushing off shaky late-season form as the Tigers eye next Thursday’s qualifying final against Hawthorn.
The reigning premiers survived a late scare to overcome a Western Bulldogs side which finished 13th by just three points last week but are confident they can step it up in September as they did last year.
“People have taken away from the form the Bulldogs have been in as well,” Cotchin said.
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The reigning premiers survived a late scare to overcome a Western Bulldogs side which finished 13th by just three points last week but are confident they can step it up in September as they did last year.
“People have taken away from the form the Bulldogs have been in as well,” Cotchin said.
Premiership heroes Kane Lambert and Dan Butler, who have both been sidelined with ankle injuries, will train today as they continue to push their cases to return against the Hawks.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said both were “tracking in the right direction”, with Butler set to feature for the club’s VFL side in its qualifying final at Punt Rd Oval on Saturday night.
“We can train him and then he’ll play limited game,” Hardwick said of Butler.
“He’s an important player to the way we want to play the game so we’ll give him every chance to put his hand up to play. He’s missed seven weeks I think so there’s a little bit of risk there but we completely back in our medical team to do their very best to get our players to that level.”
Richmond has won 21 consecutive games at the MCG but Hardwick said his side was not getting ahead of itself, despite some commentators suggesting the Tigers already have one hand on the premiership cup.
“We certainly can be beaten. We acknowledge that and we accept that,” he said.
“We’ve never said we’re unbeatable. Every side is and we’re one of those eight that are.”
Originally published as AFL Daily: Trent Cotchin backs Richmond to perform in 'big games'