Cotchin in as Tigers aim to buck trend

TRENT Cotchin is a certain starter tomorrow as the Tigers set themselves for a North Melbourne ambush at Etihad Stadium.

Cotchin will play after overcoming knee soreness, but his availability only puts a bullseye on his back as a target for tagger Ben Jacobs.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is thrilled to escape the wintry Melbourne weather at Etihad. But he is aware the Kangaroos shape as a huge test given their forward line arsenal and a defence ranked behind his as the best in the competition.

Hardwick said only the media had written off North Melbourne as a pre-season fancy, adamant he would not underestimate a team that had won seven of its past nine against the Tigers.

“We are looking forward to the challenge of North Melbourne,” Hardwick said.

“They have been in outstanding form, they are the second-best defensive side in the comp behind us so it’s going to really challenge us and the way we want to play.

“They have probably had the wood over us in the last couple of years so we are looking forward to a fierce contest. They have got a really strong back six, a mature spine and play a really contested brand of footy.

“Brad [Scott] is a great coach and we are looking forward to the challenge of playing them under the roof.”

Toby Nankervis will play despite speculation he was sore, football boss Neil Balme last night confirming that he would take his place in the selected side.