AFL 2022: Trent Cotchin responds to armchair critics calling for his head

Aware of the commentary around whether he should hang up the boots or play on into a 16th season, Richmond’s Trent Cotchin has responded to the speculation.

Lauren Wood

@LaurenHeraldSun

9 min read

9:13PMAugust 01, 2022.

Updated 6:21AMAugust 02, 2022

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Three-time Richmond premiership captain Trent Cotchin believes he is still delivering performances worthy of playing on into a 16th AFL season next year.

The 32-year-old — who is out of contract — was among the Tigers’ best players in their table-turning seven-point win over Brisbane on Sunday.

Cotchin’s 283rd game saw him deliver 24 disposals, eight tackles, four clearances and invaluable run and contest work as the Tigers kept their finals hopes alive with a huge seven-goal turnaround on flag contender Brisbane. And while it has been suggested by some commentators that the game has passed Cotchin and that he has — as Herald Sun analyst and former coach Mick Malthouse put it on Sunday — “slowed up considerably, and is easily frustrated and undisciplined”.

Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Trent Cotchin says he is aware of the commentary around him to retire.

And while the former skipper has conceded “reality” needs to be considered in any decision, he firmly believes his output remains an asset to the finals hopefuls.

“I think for me, it’s about what I can contribute to the team,” Cotchin told the Herald Sun.

“Between the club and myself and talking the reality really, (it’s about) whether I can still continue to contribute at a relatively reasonable level … I know that I can’t do what I used to do five, six or seven years ago, but I still feel like I’m contributing to what the team needs.”

The father-of-three said he had become used to being the subject of such commentary.

“The lessons and the journey that I’ve been on, for me wearing this jumper is almost my persona,” he said.

“And I know that at a deeper level, that I am a person and I’m proud of the person that I am and mostly that’s being the best father and husband I can possibly. There’ll always be someone who will criticise or provide feedback, and that’s how I treat it.

“Water off a duck’s back. It’s more so the people around you that (matter).”

Cotchin has played 283 games and is enjoying a solid back end to the season.

Teammate and friend Dustin Martin remains sidelined by a hamstring injury that coach Damien Hardwick said has taken longer to rehabilitate than had initially been considered, with the coach unable to be definitive on when the superstar will return — and if it will be before finals.

Cotchin said Martin is “battling along” with the complaint as speculation surrounding his playing future continues to swirl.

“(The injury) is not ideal. Throw in the challenge of losing one of your most loved people (Martin’s father Shane) along with the mental challenges that he’s obviously faced throughout this year and then being injured, as well, it’s not the ideal combo,” Cotchin said.

“He knows that we’re all here for him, and we just hope he continues to work on himself and get better. Most importantly, mentally, but also physically — we’d love to have him out here on game day.

“I think he knows how valuable he is to us. It’s not even about his footy — it’s about the human that he is and the energy that he brings to our environment.

“I don’t think there’s any worry (about him leaving), but you never know.”

Cotchin missed the wedding of long-time friend Ash Barty due to playing commitments.

Rabid Tigers fan and friend of Cotchin Ash Barty was recently married in Queensland in a secret ceremony where the Tiger said “phones were banned”.

He was unable to attend due to playing commitments but said he couldn’t be happier for the grand slam champion as she takes the next step in her life.

“Unfortunately I couldn’t get to go up there, but from all reports it was an amazing day for two wonderful people tying the knot,” he said.

“It’s obviously been a dream of Ash’s — every little girl dreams of her wedding day, and she finally got to do that.”

There’s been three Richmond premierships and two grand slam victories — including a memorable Wimbledon championship in 2021 — in recent years, but as to which would be the standout for Barty, Corchin said “I think I know the answer”.

“Certainly her wedding day would be the most enjoyable celebration she’s had,” he smiled.

Fears for Tiger as injury sours epic comeback

Richmond co-captain Dylan Grimes faces an anxious wait on scans on what is feared to be a “bad” hamstring injury on the eve of finals.

As the Tigers kept their September hopes alive with a blistering seven-goal turnaround victory over Brisbane on Sunday, the 31-year-old was subbed out in the third quarter and appeared immediately aware of the potential severity of his injury.

Clearly emotional on the bench in the aftermath, Grimes was limping in the rooms post-game and coach Damien Hardwick said the outcome was “not great at the moment”.

“It’s a little bit challenging at the moment and emotional for all of us, because he’s such an important player to the fabric of our footy club,” he said.

Dylan Grimes was emotional after being subbed out with injury. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“We hope he’s not too severe, but we’ve got our fingers crossed at this stage.”

Grimes has an extensive history of hamstring issues, having travelled to Germany in 2012 to seek treatment from a world-renown specialist in the field.

Hardwick said the lengthy experiences were a factor for the co-skipper.

“That’s what we don’t know yet – the significance of it,” he said.

“He seems to think it was bad, so we’ll wait and see what that’s like. That’s the challenging thing about AFL football, isn’t it? It’s such a tough game and warriors go down, especially great ones like Dylan.”

Star midfielder Dustin Martin also remains sidelined for the Tigers with a hamstring complaint that Hardwick has conceded is recovering “slower than we’d like”.

He was set to train on Sunday, but Hardwick was not definitive when asked whether Martin would return before the end of the home and away season.

“Where it’s at, we’re not too sure,” he said.

“We’ll wait and see. It’s at the stage now where we could push the envelope, but if we do make it (to finals), if we hurt it again it’s season over.

“We’ll take it slowly, slowly. Obviously with a re-injury it’s a little bit tough. We’ve got some work to do in that aspect.”

The game was hit with a late moment of confusion when a score review was called at the same time a free kick was paid on the goal line to Tiger Noah Balta, resulting in no score to the Lions.

Hardwick admitted he was unsure at what had transpired but said the game could be easier for umpires.

The Tigers are unsure when Dustin Martin will be back. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“There wouldn’t be a harder game in the world to umpire. I tell you what – if you sit there and boo them, you get out there and do the job. It’s tough,” he said.

“I’m probably like a fan every now and then – I get frustrated with the umpires, and that’s the reality. Our game is so hard. It’s so dynamic. So many moving parts. They do a pretty good job most of the time.

“It’s a really tough gig and if you think you can do better, by all means, ring (AFL umpiring official) Dan Richardson and put your hand up to do it.

“I think we could make it easier for them. There’s so many rules. Even from a marking contest, stand the mark versus back five (metres). There’s so many things that they’ve got to adjudicate.”

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said he had erred in selecting tall Darcy Fort as the team’s medical sub, with the ruck forced to step in when small forward Zac Bailey was sent to hospital for scans on his ribs.

But the Lions coach said his team’s rampant first half just went to show that it had the mettle required, and downplayed the frenetic final moments that included the Balta free kick, a Mitch Robinson set-shot miss and a Darcy Gardiner turnover.

“They don’t do those things on purpose. Mistakes happen in football,” he said.

“They tend to get highlighted because they were late in the piece.”

Bailey remained unlikely to fly home with the team on Sunday night.

Brisbane’s MCG hoodoo – the Lions haven’t won at the venue since 2014 – was extended to 11 games on Sunday, but Fagan said the record wasn’t having a mental impact on his side.

“I don’t believe in the MCG monkey,” he said.

“My personal view is we haven’t won here because we haven’t been good enough whenever we’ve played here, which hasn’t been very often.

“We played much better tonight, it was our best performance here, but the ground is no excuse.”

Finals? Crazy comeback sees Tigers steal epic

— Owen Leonard

Richmond has sensationally kept its flickering finals hopes alive, coming from the clouds to finally snatch a nail-biter in a thrilling win over a Brisbane outfit now succumbing to the prospect of missing the top four.

The Tigers’ previous three weeks – including a two-point loss to Gold Coast, a four-point loss to North Melbourne and a draw against Fremantle – has threatened to end a season in which the top four could have been beckoning if not for a series of late-game blunders.

But the tide turned on Sunday, with Richmond sealing a thrilling 104-97 win after Tom Lynch converted a fourth goal in the final minute of play.

The Lions led by as much as seven goals in the second quarter and held a 36-point halftime lead, before a six-goal-to-two third term in favour of the Tigers turned the game on its head.

Tom Lynch celebrates kicking the sealer. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Brisbane, having lost its last 10 MCG assignments – including a 64-point drubbing at the hands of Melbourne in round 15 – was a side under the sort of pressure Richmond heaped on opponents in premiership-winning seasons.

The Tigers preyed on their suddenly-vulnerable opposition in the final term, powering back to within half-a-game of the top eight in a heart-racing triumph.

In a final quarter that had everything from score-review confusion to a shock Mitch Robinson set-shot miss, it was ultimately the Tigers who kept their nerve, booting four goals to one to complete a stunning turnaround.

Lynch was monumental in the second half, with fifth-gamer Noah Cumberland (five goals) once again shooting up as late-season surprise packet.

Brisbane only sits percentage out of the top four, but with matchups against Carlton, St Kilda and Melbourne to come – and fourth-placed Sydney having a relatively smooth run home – the double chance is hanging by a thread.

The Tigers face Port Adelaide away next week, before matchups against Hawthorn and Essendon back at the MCG – where they will start favourites – are poised to decide their fate.

Dan Rioli from long range! ðŸŽ¯#AFLTigersLions pic.twitter.com/ekYDjGVqD7
— AFL (@AFL) July 31, 2022

FORGOTTEN DUO DELIVERS, TIGERS TALLS PREVAIL

Kicking multiple goals in the same game was a feat left-footed duo Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood hadn’t yet achieved in 2022.

The partnership’s potential has been somewhat forgotten this season, with Daniher (shoulder) sidelined from round seven to 13 and Hipwood only returning from an ACL in round nine.

The pair’s best collective effort came in round 20, when the former booted three and the latter added one.

On Sunday, they combined for five in the first quarter alone and seven for the match.

But the second half was a different story.

Returning Tigers star Tom Lynch ending up booting four, including the sealer, combining with Cumberland and Jack Riewoldt (two goals) to catalyse the comeback win.

Lynch flew high to take a final quarter hanger. Picture: Mark Stewart

Daniel Rioli put the Tigers in front for the first time of the match. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

TIGERS DO IT FOR TITCH

Shane Edwards’ 300-game celebrations looked all but spoiled by halftime.

The reliable Tiger joined Kevin Bartlett, Jack Dyer, Francis Bourke and Jack Riewoldt during the week as the only players of the club to have reached the milestone, and a loss looked the only plausible result at the main break with Richmond 36 points adrift.

But a stunning 10-goal-to-three second half ensured Edwards’ milestone match would be a memorable one as the Tigers claimed the win for the much-loved utility.

Edwards finished the match with 12 touches and a behind.

Tom Lynch just used Marcus Adams as a step ladder! #AFLTigersLions pic.twitter.com/MJvPGJK4u7
— AFL (@AFL) July 31, 2022

CLASSY COLEMAN

When backline general Daniel Rich (concussion) was a confirmed out for the Tigers’ clash, questions arose over where the Lions’ drive out of defence would come from.

Keidean Coleman answered.

The rising defensive dasher racked up 30 touches and 742m gained and was comfortably the most influential player on the ground in the first half.

The 22-year-old couldn’t quite drive his side home but shapes as an unlikely key to the Lions’ September hopes after a breakout year.