Tigers support Cotchin

Hub stay right, says Gale

RICHMOND skipper Trent Cotchin “didn’t take long to realise” that staying in the team hub in the wake of wife Brooke’s COVID-19 protocol breach was the best option, according to Tigers chief Brendon Gale.

And he has delivered a season as good as his Brownlowwinning 2012 campaign, his coach has declared.

It emerged this week that the skipper had considered removing his family from the team hub environment as criticism mounted following Brooke Cotchin’s trip to a Gold Coast day spa that resulted in a $20,000 bill from the AFL due to a rule breach.

But while Gale – who was involved in conversations with Cotchin and coach Damien Hardwick relating to any potential departure – said there had been significant pressure, he backed his captain.

“I think back on the time when that situation of the COVID breach occurred, it brought a great deal of pressure and angst on Brooke and the entire family,” Gale said on Tuesday.

“Trent Cotchin is a wonderful captain and wonderful

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player, but most importantly he’s an incredible husband and father and family is first, second, third and fourth.

“Obviously there was a brief period when he contemplated returning home with the family, if that was the right thing for the family, but it didn’t take too long to realise the right thing for the family was to all be together in Queensland in our hub supporting each other.

“He’s doing a wonderful job as our captain and he’s in really good form at the moment.”

The Tigers chief executive’s wife Jane launched a staunch defence of the club on Sunday, declaring that Trent and Brooke had always had the full support of the club.

Hardwick conceded that Cotchin had been doing it “tough” in the hub, and that it made him “emotional” to consider the skipper’s importance.

“I think he’s had his best year since his Brownlow year (2012). Every game he has played he has been incredible for us,” Hardwick said.

“He’s done it tough up here at stages but I look at the way he has led this football club, I get a little bit emotional talking about this guy because of what him and his family bring to us. There’s no doubt he’s a big reason we are where we are.”