Brooke Cotchin responds to online trolls after posting photo of her sick daughter

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has revealed Trent Cotchin would be “hurting inside” as he remained with the team to honour the wishes of his wife Brooke and his unwell daughter.

Brooke Cotchin and Trent Cotchin in 2019. Picture: Wayne Taylor

The wife of Trent Cotchin has revealed the Richmond captain remained with the team ahead of this Saturday night’s Dreamtime clash to honour the wishes of his daughter.

Cotchin had been seriously considering flying back from Sydney to Melbourne due to a health issue involving one of his daughters.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said on Thursday morning Cotchin would head to Perth with the Tigers, but he admits that could change.

“At this stage, he will (make the trip to Perth),” Hardwick told reporters.

“Obviously Trent’s spoken to (his wife) Brooke and ‘Kenz’ (daughter Mackenzie) as well and look at the moment, relatively stable. So from that point of view, he’ll stay but that can change.

“Once again, from our point of view as a club, family will always come first and Brooke’s adamant that she wants him to stay (with the team) and Trent’ll make that decision if the condition changes.

“But from our point of view, he’ll be on the plane come tomorrow.

“Knowing Trent as well as I do, he’d be hurting inside — there’s no doubt. No one likes to have a sick child, especially when you feel so far away from home,” Hardwick said.

“But Trent is very, very good at making sure everyone around him is OK. He’s such a selfless person and (it’s) what makes him a great captain and a great leader of our football club.

“Look, he’s doing a little bit tough at the moment but he’s continued to lead the club as we always know he would.

“So he’s very strong in his leadership, very vocal in his communication and we expect that (to) continue until something changes.”

Richmond is due to fly to West Australia in coming days for the Dreamtime clash against Essendon at Perth Stadium.

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Trent and Brooke Cotchin with their three children. Picture: Alex Coppel

Cotchin and his daughter after the 2019 Grand Final. Picture: Michael Klein

Dad and daughter time after the 2019 premiership. Picture: Michael Klein

Cotchin and his two eldest daughters on the MCG. Picture: Mark Stewart

Brooke Cotchin revealed on Wednesday night the couple’s daughter had been the one who had wanted the premiership midfielder to stay with the team and play in the marquee clash on Saturday night.

“Trent’s ill daughter is probably the only reason why he is still there,” Brooke Cotchin posted on Instagram.

“She is the one telling him that she wants him to play on Saturday night.”

Brooke, who was responding to negative feedback on the social media platform, said she had also urged her husband to stay with the team.

“I have begged my husband not to come home not because I don’t need him right now but because I would be scared of the abuse I would have to deal with (from online trolls),” she wrote.

“I want him to do what is best for the Richmond Football Club and his teammates and I know that is not coming home right now.”

Brooke said she had posted to social media about her hospital visit so she would not be accused of breaching lockdown rules if her other children were seen being cared for by family.

“I posted on social media because I was scared that people would see my other 2 children with our family who are caring for them while I am by my very ill daughters (sic) side in hospital,” she wrote.

Brooke Cotchin’s original Instagram post.

Brooke Cotchin’s response to trolls.

“I posted it because I was worried people would accuse me of not living by Covid lockdown rules because my husband is away and it is impossible for me to do it on my own.

“I am doing my very best just like everyone else is right now.”

Brooke originally posted a photo on Instagram of one of their daughters in hospital on Tuesday night with the message: “When it rains, it pours.”

The Tigers flew out of Melbourne last Thursday because of Melbourne’s growing Covid-19 crisis.

Cotchin and his daughter during Tigers training at the AFL’s Gold Coast pandemic hub during the 2020 season. Picture: Michael Klein

Cotchin celebrates the 2020 grand final with his youngest daughter. Picture: Getty

The Cotchins at the Brownlow. Picture: AAP

In Adelaide watching dad play against the Crows. Picture: Getty

A family holiday snap posted to Instagram.

Cotchin, Tigers premiership hero. Picture: Michael Klein

The Tigers confirmed on Wednesday Cotchin “remains a part of the club’s football program in Sydney and is monitoring a personal matter at home in Victoria.”

He is hopeful of taking on the Bombers, but he will closely monitor his daughter’s progress before being a certain starter.

Richmond general manager of football performance Tim Livingstone said the club would continue to support Cotchin and his family in whatever way they can.

“Trent has our full support and as always family comes first,” Livingstone said.

The club said it would be making no further comment.

Cotchin’s wife Brooke posted a photo of one of the couple’s daughters in hospital on Instagram on Tuesday night with the message: “When it rains, it pours.”

Richmond senior club advisor Neil Balme said on Wednesday morning the club had stressed to its players that it understood the difficulties of being away from their family.

“We have said very clearly to all our players that whatever they need us to support them on, we will,” Balme said.

“We love them playing, but there are other things in life that they have to take into account, and whatever they do, we will support them.”

Cotchin, 31, successfully returned to the Tigers’ line-up last week after recovering from a hamstring injury.

The Dreamtime game has been shifted from the MCG to Perth Stadium due to Melbourne’s recent Covid outbreak. The Tigers are scheduled to fly from Sydney to Perth later in the week.