AFL Cairns: Brownlow Medalist signs with Port Douglas Crocs in potential grand final preview

He helped orchestrate the ending of a 37-year premiership drought for the Richmond Tigers, now he will front up for the Port Douglas Crocs in one of the biggest matches on AFL Cairns calendar. Here’s how the deal came to fruition.

He helped orchestrate the ending of a 37-year premiership drought for the Richmond Tigers, now he will front up for the Port Douglas Crocs in one of the biggest matches on AFL Cairns calendar.

Former Tigers three-time premiership captain Trent Cotchin will head to the Croc pit for July 13 and booster the clubs midfield when they take on premiership contenders South Cairns Cutters.

The 2012 Brownlow Medalist, who retired last season, is another big name to add to the long list of AFL royalty Cairns has had play over the past few seasons.

Crocs president Barry Lea said he was ecstatic to welcome Cotchin into the side for the sole game.

Richmond Tigers captain Trent Cotchin (right) helped end the clubs 37-year premiership drought in 2017 when the they defeated the Adelaide Crows in the 2017 AFL Grand Final. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/AFL Media/Getty Images)

“It promises to be bigger than Ben-Hur, it feels like three Christmases altogether,” Lea said.

“To have a recently retired AFL champion, three-time premiership captain in our backyard is a wonderful opportunity to get involved with our great game of AFL footy.

“We’ve got two former AFL players in our squad (former Crow Jared Petrenko and former Power forward Nick Salter), to add a third one for the game against Cutters will be unbelievable.”

It has been 11 years since Cotchin has played in Cairns, last featuring for the Tigers 9-point win over the Gold Coast Suns in 2013.

The 306-gamer won’t play on the hallowed turf of Cazalys Stadium again where his record sits 1-2, instead he will drive up the beautiful Captain Cook Highway to play in front of what is expected to be a huge crowd at Port Douglas Sporting Complex.

On the backdrop of AFL icon and two-time Brownlow Medalist Gary Ablett Jr. joining the CTB Bulldogs for a sellout game against Tigers in May last season.

Crocs were looking to replicate the same community buzz with the signing of a recently retired AFL icon.

“We admired the work done by Sam Blease and the Bulldogs last year and how it promoted AFL football (in the Far North),” he said.

“It was a sellout and we’re hoping to utilise Trent’s magnificent skills to do something similar here in Port Douglas.

Trent Cotchin of the Tigers during the AFL grand final between the Adelaide Crows and Richmond Tigers at the MCG in Melbourne, Saturday, September 30, 2017. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

“The deal came about from Crocs board member Craig Reynold’s connection with a long-term employee of the Richmond Football Club’s football department.”

Cotchin, 34, will be in the Far North for six days hosting a variety of after-school clinics with an opportunity for young footballers to meet the star in person.

He has previously played in the Far North three times against Gold Coast Suns at Cazalys Stadium in 2011, 2012 and 2013, most notably in Karmichael Hunt’s after the siren matchwinner in 2012.

Crocs Football Manager Brad Cooper said it will be great for the development of the young players at the club.

With rising stars Zayne Moore, Brae Agrums, Kai Karamatic, and Cayden Stabenow all making their mark on seniors, a chance to train with Cotchin will be a bonus for their development.

The occasion will also celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Crocs’ 2014 premiership side, which secured a three-peat that year, as well as the 2004 reserves premiership with the annual ‘5K Croc Draw’ taking place on July 14.

Current Crocs Josh Lea and Brett McKeown are the only remaining players from the 2014 premiership, while Ethan McCullough and Daniel Davidson were juniors at the club.

Originally published as AFL Cairns: Brownlow Medalist signs with Port Douglas Crocs in potential grand final preview