Dimma says Cotchin’s role in premiership understated
RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says Trent Cotchin’s efforts in leading the Tigers to premiership glory have been underplayed.
In a year Dustin Martin earned every major individual gong, Hardwick made special mention of the captain’s heroics in the club’s barnstorming run through September.
Earlier this year, Cotchin wrote of the pressures he felt at leading his club, with some questioning if he was the right man to lead the Tigers.
Fast forward to the end of the season and with the 2017 premiership cup at Punt Road, Hardwick said the captain was largely responsible for the club’s fabled run, his ability to drive the game plan to his playing group a feature while his own performances in three finals inspired.
“He was enormous, his finals series as such, it’s probably been a little bit understated by the media, but really from a football club we looked at it (closely),” Hardwick said on The Hen House podcast.
Martin was the star attraction on his way to sweeping the awards including the Brownlow Medal, best and fairest, coaches award and AFLPA MVP.
Hardwick was all praise for his superstar who continued to perform each week amid ongoing speculation he might take up a free agency offer.
“It was a nerve-racking period towards the end, especially when Dustin flew to New Zealand to speak to his Dad,” Hardwick said.
“That was probably the first time I thought ‘geez, this is it, he could go’.”