Recruiter says terrific Tanner ‘ bit like Cotchin’

TANNER Bruhn has been likened to Richmond captain Trent Cotchin and is described by one AFL club recruiter as a player with “twinkle toes”.

“In terms of small- medium midfielders, I think he’s probably got the most class in the draft,” the recruiter said.

“I just think he’s got twinkle toes. I like blokes like that whose feet don’t touch the ground in traffic and they use the ball well. He’s a bit like Cotchin I think on his feet. Scott Pendlebury goes laterally and around in circles just to keep everyone guessing. Cotchin goes through the line of the ball and just keeps going straight. I think Tanner Bruhn does that really well.”

They are big raps, but ones Bruhn is more than happy to take on. “Trent’s obviously a great player and a club legend at Richmond, so to be compared to him is pretty humbling,” Bruhn said.

“But I just try and go about my footy the way I go about it and if people say it’s a bit like Trent Cotchin, then I’ll take that.”

Bruhn managed only a handful of games at the end of last year after the discovery of a right knee issue last January which required surgery and meant a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

But in the final two rounds of the NAB League season for Geelong Falcons he averaged 17 disposals ( 12 contested), 4.5 inside- 50s, five clearances and kicked three goals in a sterling return for a bottom- age player.

“He’s a very balanced footballer, skilful, has a lot of time and he’s very flexible,” Falcons coach Luke Daffy said.

“I’d be pretty excited if I was an AFL club to get Tanner in the door.”

In 2018, Bruhn became just the second Falcons player since Luke Hodge to play under- 18s while still eligible for under- 16s. “That was probably one of my biggest achievements,” Bruhn said.