Trent Cotchin admits to suffering a panic attack ahead of key final in 2017

Retiring AFL star Trent Cotchin has opened up and made a shock admission about being overcome ahead of a key moment in his career.

Trent Cotchin’s shock admission ahead of finals. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Retiring Richmond star Trent Cotchin has opened up on enduring panic attacks throughout his illustrious career.

The Tigers skipper’s career comes to an end after 306 games which saw him lead the club into seven finals series, four preliminary finals and three premierships.

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But it all came to a head before the 2017 finals series after the Tigers had endured some torrid stretches in the years prior.

“Playing (Geelong) in the 2017 qualifying final, it’s probably relative to what some of the captains would be feeling this week,” Cotchin said on Channel 7’s Talking Finals.

“I’d had three finals series previously, unsuccessful, I hadn’t really performed individually … and coming out of the meeting, I had this panic attack; a little bit of anxiety, started to stress that I had never beaten Geelong in my whole career over ten years, what if that doesn’t go quite right, what if I don’t touch the footy?

“I started telling myself all these stories. So, I called my life coach, Ben Crowe and sat down and settled the nerves.

“I think it’s one of those things that you never want to show anyone or tell anyone, but it’s amazing what the psyche of finals and footy can do to any individual.”

Cotchin fired after the panic attack. (AAP Image/Julian Smith).

The Tigers went on to dismantle the Cats by 51 points with Cotchin recording 21 disposals and kicking a goal.

They ultimately secured the premiership after defeating GWS in the preliminary final before toppling minor premier Adelaide by eight goals in the Grand Final.

“That is an amazing admission from you because you have all of these young players who will be playing in this last month of football that don’t have the experience like you, but nerves and anxiety can attack anyone at anytime, can’t they?” Tim Watson responded.

Cotchin added: “They certainly can. I had been tagged in two of those (previous finals series) and I felt like that is what was creating the pressure. I knew I wouldn’t be tagged on the Friday against the Cats because there was a lot of other players you would tag before me.

“But you can tag a player, but not a captain, and I knew there was lots of things that I could control that would impact the game that wasn’t necessarily kicks, marks and handballs.”

“Coming out of the meeting … I had this panic attack.”

Before he led Richmond to a famous win in the 2017 Qualifying Final, Trent Cotchin had a panic attack.

Feeling the pressure ahead of a massive match, he details what happened next... pic.twitter.com/gtptApKC7w

— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 5, 2023

Geelong icon Joel Selwood admitted he had suffered a bizarre moment of his own ahead of the 2022 Grand Final.

A game which would ultimately be the final one in his illustrious career.

“Whilst Robbie Williams was doing his work, I couldn’t find any of our medical team,” Selwood explained.

“We had the pre-game meeting with the coach and for some reason I had my toiletry bag there and I just had the feeling I had to brush my teeth. Of all things: I had to brush my teeth.

“Jed Bews was the teammate I told and I held him to secrecy.”

Astounded as Selwood’s bizarre admission, James Brayshaw asked: “Was that the fifth Grand Final? Had you ever done your teeth before that?”

“Sixth,” Selwood corrected. “Not in 354 games.”

Originally published as Trent Cotchin admits to suffering a panic attack ahead of key final in 2017