Cotchin calls it a day as captain
RICHMOND will begin scanning its leadership group for a new captain after triple premiership hero Trent Cotchin announced on Tuesday he was relinquishing the role.
Cotchin, 31, said he would continue to play for the Tigers next year but felt it was the “right time to step down”.
The 2012 Brownlow Medallist took over the position in 2013 when he was 23 and was criticised for his leadership style in 2016 – the year before leading the Tigers to a historic premiership victory.
He led the Tigers to three premierships in four years and became the club’s longestserving captain.
“It has been an incredible privilege to captain this club but it feels the right time to step down from that role,”
Cotchin said.
“The club has built a really strong leadership culture over the past five years and we have some excellent leaders at Richmond that will flourish in the captaincy role.
“It’s an awesome opportunity to continue our philosophy of pushing leadership deep through the organisation, and for me to continue to play a role on-field and off-field.”
The Tigers’ next captain will likely come from Jack Graham, Nick Vlastuin or Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said the club would make a decision on its new leader “when the time comes”.
“He is such a selfless leader and this decision underlines that,” Gale said. “He has always done what he thinks is best for the team.
“He will still be an enormously important part of our team and I know how driven he is to see this club bounce back in 2022.
“Succession planning has been a key element of our football leadership program and the club will be well placed to make a decision on the next captain when that time comes.”
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said Cotchin would remain an important leader next year, regardless of his title.
“He prides himself on the development of our emerging leaders and he will undoubtedly remain committed to that and moving us back up the ladder next season,” Hardwick said.
In his first year as captain, Cotch-Dustin in led Richmond to its first finals appearance in 12 years in 2013.
He is the only triple premiership captain in Richmond history and has led the club into the equal-most finals campaigns (seven).