Richmond captain Trent Cotchin sets new flag record for Tigers

Richmond’s first triple-premiership captain Trent Cotchin doubted his leadership ability early on but is now one of the Tigers all-time greats.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick with his captain Trent Cotchin and the cup. Picture: Sarah Reed

Trent Cotchin will finish his career as Richmond’s most successful captain but it required the intervention of those closest to him to deliver his astonishing legacy.

In the infancy of his captaincy, the Tigers midfielder was not certain whether he had the attributes to lead the famous club to success, despite the clear belief others had in him.

Elevated to the Tigers captaincy aged 22 in 2013, Richmond’s prolonged struggle to reclaim their status as an AFL power continued in his first four seasons as skipper.

It seems remarkable given their success over the past four seasons but, in the Tigers’ last outing in 2016, the Swans humiliated them by 113 points at the SCG.

At that stage Cotchin had the right to wonder whether he would play in another final, let alone be at the forefront of a resurgent power that has now won three of the past four premierships.

“I was extremely close (to walking away), not just being captain of such a special club, but footy as well. It got to a pretty challenging point,” he said.

“But I think we all face those moments in our career, whether it is footy or life in general, and that is when you need to rely most on the people who love and care the most about you, because there is always someone who wants to hear how you are going.”

This is where the stewardship of his fellow pillars at the club — president Peggy O’Neal, chief executive Brendon Gale and coach Damien Hardwick — came to the fore.

They, too, were challenged by elements of a frustrated fan base after the disastrous finish to the 2016 season.

Dustin Martin celebrates with coach Damien Hardwick at the Gabba. Picture: Getty Images

The four pillars who have led Richmond superbly held firm. Each trusted the other to deliver.

And in turn the quartet backed their board, their administration, their football department and their teammates to do the same.

“I think solidarity and trusting and empowering people in their roles to do one, what they are employed to do, but also the key strengths they bring to the role they are in,” Cotchin said.

“If your key leaders are providing that sort of environment, it flurries through right down to whoever it is. You want people to feel empowered and aligned to your values as a group.”

The 31-point success by Richmond over Geelong on Saturday night at the Gabba fulfilled the vow by Gale a decade ago.

He tasked the Tigers with winning three flags by 2020, while also surpassing 75,000 members and eradicating a significant debt.

“Effectively dreams are just really big, scary, audacious goals and to say that we ticked them off is pretty incredible, to say the least,” Cotchin said.

“I know that given the hunger we have as a group, but also as a football club, we will be looking at ways in which we can get better and stay on this journey.”

There were times in 2020 where the Richmond skipper, who has surpassed the deeds of Tigers immortals Jack Dyer and Royce Hart with his leadership, and others including Hardwick had their doubts.

Young players Callum Coleman-Jones and Sydney Stack caused a furore with their breach of the AFL’s protocols, which included a fight outside a kebab shop near a strip club, saw them evicted from Queensland.

When his wife Brooke was involved in a breach, Cotchin also considered departing the hub in support of his family, but listened to the advice of others including Gale and AFL CEO Gill McLachlan.

It has been a challenging season for many, as Cotchin noted. Players have left families behind in Victoria. Some became new fathers. Others lost loved ones. But their success elevates the importance of this premiership.

“We have created memories that will last a lifetime,” he said.

“What it does show, if we can all stick together, anything is possible, and that applies to the world.”

Hardwick was key to driving the success and boasts a remarkable resume as a premiership player with Essendon and Port Adelaide and now three as a coach of Richmond.

He acknowledged the uncertainty created by coronavirus unbalanced him earlier in the season. But once in a hub environment, the Tigers were able to find their rhythm.

Record-breaking Norm Smith Medallist Dustin Martin made a beeline for Hardwick shortly after the final siren on Saturday.

Asked what sets his coach apart as a leader, Martin responded; “Where do I start?”

“The care that he’s got for his players … ever since we started together 10 years ago, he’s almost been like a second father to a lot of us,” he said.

“He’s a friend first, and then a coach second, and I couldn’t be anymore grateful.

“He’s helped me to become a better person and, along with all the other boys as well, we’ll walk away from this footy club as better people.”

It is what every coach strives for. The three premierships Hardwick has delivered for Richmond are the cream on top.