The captain who broke a 37-year drought for Richmond
In short: When Trent Cotchin was drafted in 2007, the Richmond Football Club was far from its current glory. A former All-Australian and Brownlow medallist, Cotchin's journey from a promising junior to a three-time premiership-winning captain is a story of resilience through injury and leadership.
Trent Cotchin's career began with significant physical hurdles. After being drafted as the second overall pick in the 2007 AFL national draft, he faced immediate setbacks, including a broken foot in September 2007 and an inflamed Achilles tendon during his first pre-season. These injuries forced him to rely on swimming and stationary cycling rather than standard training to maintain fitness.
Despite these early struggles, Cotchin emerged as a cornerstone of the Richmond Football Club. He was a dominant force in the early 2010s, winning back-to-back Jack Dyer Medals in 2011 and 2012. His 2012 season was particularly notable; he led the club in total disposals with 606 and was selected for the All-Australian team, marking him as one of the premier players in the league.
His leadership was recognized early, with teammates voting him into the club's leadership group before his 20th birthday. This leadership culminated in a historic era for the Tigers. Cotchin captained the club to three premiership victories, including the landmark 2017 win that ended a 37-year premiership drought for the club.
Cotchin's individual accolades are extensive. He is a Brownlow medallist—a title he shared in 2010, though the award was later reassigned to Sam Mitchell in 2016 after Jobe Watson was ruled ineligible. His career is defined by his ability to read the play and his remarkable ability to overcome recurring hip and Achilles injuries to lead his club to unprecedented success.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Trent Cotchin
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