Embrace the hype, boys

Cotchin’s plea to his players as premiership glory beckons

RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin has warned the Tigers can still take “bigger steps forward” as he encouraged his teammates to keep embracing the hype before their preliminary final next week.

After last week’s stunning qualifying final win over Gee- long, Cotchin said the Tigers were enjoying a “pretty normal” week on the track as they waited to find out their next finals rival.

Richmond surged into its first preliminary final since 2001 with a 51-point demolition of the Cats at the MCG last week, but the skipper said the Tigers had reviewed areas they could sharpen as they chase a drought-breaking Grand Final berth.

“You always review games and see there are areas where you think you can improve on,’’ he said.

“It’s different with different oppositions and the way that they play the game, but we are really confident that we know what works for us. But there are definitely areas of the game that we can take bigger steps forward in.’’

The Tiger army was out in force for the win last week and the club’s supporter base is relishing the rise to premiership challenger this year. Cotchin said the players had no choice but to embrace the hype.

“I think ‘Dimma’ [coach Damien Hardwick] has spoken about it in the media and a number of our players have, you have got to embrace it,’’ he said.

“I think in the past we have probably shied away from it, but the reality is it’s there, so you’ve just got to embrace it while it is there.’’

The Tigers will play the winner of tomorrow night’s semi-final between Greater Western Sydney and West Coast, but Cotchin did not have a preference for which team the Tigers faced.

“I think it is going to be a really interesting match. It’s hard to say, both teams are really talented,” he said.