Damien Hardwick says Trent Cotchin’s effort to lead Richmond to premiership has been undersold

DUSTIN Martin earned every major award as the Tigers swept to premiership glory, and coach Damien Hardwick says one man’s role might have been undersold.

Hardwick and Cotchin with the premiership cup. Picture: Getty Images

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says Trent Cotchin‘s efforts in leading the Tigers to premiership glory have been underplayed.

In a year that superstar midfielder Dustin Martin earned every major individual gong, Hardwick made special mention of the captain’s heroics in the club’s barnstorming run through September.

Earlier this year Cotchin wrote of the pressures he felt at leading his club, with some questioning if he was the right man to lead the Tigers to success.

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Fast forward to the end of the season and with the 2017 premiership cup at Punt Road, Hardwick said the captain was largely responsible for the club’s fabled run, his ability to drive the game plan to his playing group a feature while his own performances in three finals inspired.

Trent Cotchin booted a memorable goal in the Tigers’ qualifying final win over the Cats. Pic: Michael Klein

“He was enormous, his finals series as such — (and) it’s probably been a little bit understated by the media — but really from a football club we looked at it (closely),” Hardwick said in a wideranging interview on The Hen House podcast.

“You know his effort, his intent, his physicality at the contest throughout the finals series was as good as I’ve seen.

“I’ve been around footy a hell of a long time, seen some wonderful players play but his finals series was as good as I’ve seen from a captain.”

Martin was the star attraction at the Tigers on his way to sweeping footy’s awards season which included the Brownlow Medal, best and fairest, coaches award and AFLPA MVP.

Not surprisingly, Hardwick was all praise for his superstar who continued to perform each week amid ongoing speculation he might take up a lucrative free agency offer at a rival.

Dustin Martin is “a really intriguing character”, says Damien Hardwick. Picture. Phil Hillyard

The coach admitted to a nervous period when it dawned on him Martin could in fact leave the Tigers, and gave credit to the explosive ballwinner for staying loyal.

“It was a nerve-racking period towards the end, especially when Dustin flew to New Zealand to speak to his Dad,” Hardwick said.

“That was probably the first time I thought ‘geez, this is it, he could go’, and to Dustin’s credit he turned down a life-changing amount of money to stay at our footy club.

“Don’t get me wrong, he’s getting paid very well but he’s worth every cent ... but he stayed loyal to our footy club.

“It’s funny, you put yourself in the same situation and it’s easy to say you’d stay but if we’re talking about a life-changing amount of money ... he chose the love of his teammates and the love of his club over the endorsement of money.”