Jon Ralph: Bandwagoners jump off Richmond as Trent Cotchin speaks on coach’s split

A Tiger Train that was once overflowing with passengers now seems to have overstayed its welcome. But that doesn’t bother Richmond one bit, writes Jon Ralph.

Trent Cotchin says the Tigers are well-placed to keep their dynasty alive. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Richmond president Gary March always aspired to a day when the football world turned against the Tigers.

“We will know we are good when they hate us again,” he used to say to staff members as the Tigers started the long climb back towards respectability.

Take it as read that mission is finally accomplished, after a summer in which most footy fans are prepared to think the worst of the club given Damien Hardwick’s marriage break-up.

A team that, for a time, was everyone’s second-favourite team, with the Tiger Train spilling over with passengers, has seemingly overstayed its welcome.

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Trent Cotchin has spoken out after a turbulent summer. Picture: Tim Carrafa

After three flags in four seasons, it seems everyone but their fans are sick of the Tigers.

Yesterday the final member of the big three — coach, chief executive and captain — finally spoke as Trent Cotchin detailed a turbulent summer.

The Tigers will now hope they can move on having sufficiently addressed the ramifications of Hardwick’s decision.

And yet as was noted by many of the assembled media at Punt Road, the Tigers wouldn’t want to be 1-3 this year.

Cotchin, whose wife Brooke’s instagram post detailing a Christmas morning spent with Danielle Hardwick flared talk of a player-coach split, is aware of that pervading view that everyone has had their fill of the Tigers.

“Yeah, I think so, I think that’s natural,” he said.

Yet he was adamant he won’t have to play favourites between his beloved football coach and his close family friend in Danielle Hardwick.

“There is definitely no side-taking. Dimma spoke last week saying he highly encourages everyone to support Danielle,” he said.

“I think what Dimma and I have worked through over a number of years now is really unique and special and like anything we will support both he and Danielle and the kids through this.

“No one likes seeing a family break down in any sort of way so it’s been a challenging time for all but it’s a private matter I would love to leave alone.”

Cotchin say Hardwick has told the players to support Danielle. Picture: Sarah Reed

Richmond continues to be aggrieved by the continued focus on the fallout from Hardwick’s break-up — incandescent with rage is a more accurate description.

And yet in an era when throwing shade on social media is re rigour, it was easy to see Brooke Cotchin’s instagram post as something more than an expression of support for her friend.

Especially in the aftermath of Brooke Cotchin and Jane Gale’s strong public disagreement about the level of support the captain’s family received in hub-life.

“Like everyone she will support her friends,” said Cotchin of his wife Brooke.

“It’s not about taking sides. It’s just about supporting anyone who is impacted by this in different ways.”

As Richmond’s hub life problems stacked up last year, it seemed the walls were caving in on them.

The COVID breaches kept flowing, the pressure kept building and as Tom Lynch’s on-field infractions grew he was painted as the evil enemy.

Then the Tigers won those fans back through three stunning finals wins and moments such as Lynch’s humanity comforting a distraught Port Adelaide fan and Dustin Martin’s Norm Smith Medal-winning brilliance on the AFL’s big stage.

Richmond’s big names have all sung from the same hymn book about the club’s unity and sense of purpose.

Now only the club’s conduct and ability to minimise the distractions that plagued them so regularly last year will convince the sceptics fatigued with Richmond’s winning ways.