There have been particular scenes on the MCG on Saturday evening as Trent Cotchin performed his three hundredth sport, main his Tigers to a 13.12 (90) to 11.4 (70) win.
A 3-time premiership captain and 2012 Brownlow Medallist, Cotchin has achieved all of it within the yellow and black.
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While there was a who’s who of AFL personalities within the stands, former Tigers coach Damien Hardwick’s presence was most keenly felt.
Just underneath a month for the reason that three-time premiership profitable coach stepped away from the sport, he had been dwelling it up on his sofa or on an abroad journey since leaving the job he’d held for 14 years.
And Cotchin and Hardwick are inextricably linked, being the captain and coach mixture that ended the Tigers’ 37-year premiership drought — after which did it once more, and once more.
And they’re the second longest captain-coach pairing in AFL historical past, having had 188 video games collectively, second solely to Chris Scott and Joel Selwood’s 245 video games.
While Hardwick, who gained premierships at each Essendon and Port Adelaide as a participant, has been linked to any attainable job within the AFL, it’s clear his coronary heart nonetheless beats yellow and black.
His presence stunned the commentators as Cotchin ran onto the sector for the three hundredth time, as Hardwick patted his coronary heart.
“That is a great sign, what about that?” Garry Lyon stated on Fox Footy.
“I didn’t realise that Damien Hardwick’s back from his overseas jaunt and he’s come along to pay tribute to his captain.”
Jonathan Brown added: “It shows the great respect in that relationship that those two men have because they were the two most important players at Richmond with the turnaround.”
On area, Cotchin kicked two objectives and a behind in addition to getting 29 disposals in a usually wonderful show from the 33-year-old.
And off the sector, Hardwick was the MVP because the digicam saved discovering him — and sending the group in raptures every time.
Post-game, the tributes flowed thick and quick for Cotchin.
But even amid the reward for his or her inspirational chief, Jack Riewoldt couldn’t assist however take a shot on the former coach.
Asked on Triple M Footy what had turned the Tigers season round, because it now sits ninth on the ladder, half a sport again to the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide Crows, Riewoldt quipped: “We got rid of Dimma. He was in the crowd tonight, carrying right on, wasn’t he. The crowd was going ballistic when he started doing his little handshake. It’s all about him.
“But I think for us, we’ve just got back to playing the Richmond brand of football. I couldn’t put my finger on one thing but guys are probably playing a bit better as individuals and I suppose that just turns into a better team performance.”
Riewoldt additionally paid tribute to Cotchin.
“He means a lot to me but I think it’s more about what he means to the Richmond faithful,” Riewoldt stated.
“37 years of a premiership drought, he’s the beacon of hope, the beacon of happiness. He’s the bloke a the front — as well as Dimma — that provided so much happiness in people’s loungerooms and people’s workplaces and when they came along to the footy to be proud as Tigers again.
“He pretty much, along with Dimma and a few others, sort of dragged us up and got us there in 2017 and changed the culture and we all followed suit and the rest is history.”
On area after the match, Dustin Martin stated the win meant much more than regular.
“I’m glad we could do it for our inspirational warrior Cotchy,” Martin stated.
“I don’t really have the words for how much he means to me and all the boys. Awesome night of footy and I’m so glad we could do it for Cotch.”
Martin and Riewoldt chaired Cotchin off the sector.
Speaking to Fox Footy after the match, Cotchin stated Hardwick had given the staff the recommendation of “embracing the celebration”.
“It wasn’t about me — it was about celebrating those who have been there for me from those early days when I started when I was four-and-a-half all the way through to recent years as well,” he stated.
“Grateful for the way the club have managed things. They’ve obviously been really supportive and everyone that’s been part of my journey, I’m so grateful for.”
As for Hardwick’s look, Cotchin knew he can be attending.
“He sent me a wonderful text earlier in the week, not just about this weekend but about our journey together,” he stated.
“It’s been a really special one. We’ve spent so many highs and so many lows and I think that’s where it’s most important that you have really good people around you and that’s what he is.
“I did happen to spot him late in the last quarter and he gave me a cheeky little grin while I was running around on the ‘G.”
Source: www.news.com.au
