Trent Cotchin says kicking with the wind wouldn’t have helped Richmond against Port Adelaide

RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin believes the Tigers could have kicked with the aid of tornado and still lost against Port Adelaide.

Tigers training Trent Cotchin Picture:Wayne Ludbey

RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin believes the Tigers could have kicked with the aid of tornado against Port Adelaide and still lost their elimination final last year.

The Tigers today tackle the Power with memories of that demolition fresh in their minds.

While Cotchin said the players have “bottled up” their anger, but he didn’t believe deciding to kick into a first-quarter wind was a decisive factor in the contest.

He said the Tigers made too many mistakes under pressure.

“When you watch the first 10 minutes, you see so many basic skill errors,’’ he said.

Trent Cotchin gets a kick away under pressure. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“Everyone keeps going on about kicking against the wind and so forth but, even if it was a 10-goal breeze with Port Adelaide kicking into it, the reality is we didn’t turn up to play.

“That was the biggest lesson. As much as you think you are switched on, unless you execute accordingly it won’t work.

“The guys reflected on it individually but collectively we bottled it up. It was a really disappointing result, but every step we have taken this pre-season is working towards being a successful team.”

Port Adelaide kicked 7.1 to 0.0 in the first 17 minutes of the final and never looked back.

Cotchin will not play today after suffering minor hamstring soreness, but had already enjoyed a massive pre-season.

He said the midfield would surprise some people, especially critics who wondered why the Tigers did not recruit more heavily in the trade period.

“We brought in Milesy (Anthony Miles) who finished up in the top few players in the comp on average clearances (last year) and we feel as though Reece Conca can have a good year, Brandon Ellis had a massive year last year, Nick Vlastuin can play midfield and half-back and then Kane Lambert is showing good signs and there are guys like Kamdyn McIntosh and Matt Arnott and Ricky Petterd who have had great pre-seasons.”

Acting captain Brett Deledio gets his first outing of the summer today after battling a nagging Achilles tendon.

“He has just had more of a managed phase of training. He was OK early in the pre-season and then there was a hint of soreness. But when he’s out there and training his intensity is right up and he is leading the way for our younger players. There will be no question marks or concerns around Lids,” Cotchin said.