Richmond seems to be set to unleash triple premiership captain Trent Cotchin as a ahead in 2023, however the 32-year-old’s transfer out of the midfield is already being questioned.
The Brownlow medallist has been vital by way of the membership’s dominant period however significantly within the final two years when accidents ravaged what was already arguably their weakest space of the bottom.
Most critically, Dion Prestia performed simply 9 video games in 2021 whereas Dustin Martin performed solely 9 in 2022, with Cotchin including 36 matches to his tally throughout that interval. He ought to develop into the sixth participant to expire within the yellow and black 300 instances in 2023.
Watch each match of each spherical of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
But he might achieve this within the ahead line, with Cotchin spending the final three match simulations completely within the entrance six.
With high-priced recruits Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper anticipated to stroll into the Tigers midfield alongside Prestia, plus youthful gamers equivalent to Shai Bolton and Jayden Short deserving spots, coach Damien Hardwick seems more likely to push Cotchin right into a Dustin Martin-style forward-mid combine.
“Yep, Trent Coleman,” Richmond ahead Jack Riewoldt quipped to Seven News.
“He’s been playing forward a little bit. For a player like him to add another string to his bow and play forward, it’s important for us.
“Don’t know what sort of nickname we’ll have this year but Trent Coleman’s got a bit of a ring to it. A few of the boys were ribbing him about it but he might’ve kicked three or four in a practice game the other day.
“Clearly with the additions to our football club, with Tim and Jacob coming along, we’re looking really strong in the midfield so we’re looking to repurpose Trent in the different position.
“Footballers play football in any position, and Trent’s a great of our club and a great footballer.”
However Port Adelaide nice Kane Cornes is not sure concerning the transfer and questions whether or not Cotchin is even within the Tigers’ greatest 22 if not taking part in full-time midfield.
“If he’s not in the centre bounce, in the phone box where he does his best work … when he’s diving on boots, when he’s tackling, winning clearance, pushing the ball forward – I don’t think, if he’s not playing that role, he’s in Richmond’s best 22,” Cornes mentioned on SEN’s Sportsday on Monday night time.
“He’s kicked 16 goals in the last five seasons, Trent Cotchin.
“I give it two weeks. I give the experiment two weeks.
“It’s like Geelong saying last year, ‘oh, we’re going to turn Joel Selwood into a forward’. It just wouldn’t work.
“It’s the toughest position to play, the athleticism required. It’s an unrealistic expectation for a player who’s gonna be 33 by Round 1 this year, with the injury issues that he’s had and the speed and dynamic nature of that role.”
Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy had extra religion in Cotchin’s means to adapt.
“It’ll be a multifaceted role. It’ll be a pressure role, I reckon,” Healy mentioned.
“I could see him coming out of the goalsquare as a leading player. He’s been a very talented midfielder and we’ve seen a lot of talented midfielders go forward in the last few years of their career and do very well.”
Originally printed as ‘I give it two weeks’: Richmond’s grasp plan to reinvent ex-captain pushed out by increase recruits
Source: www.news.com.au
