Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has leapt to Trent Cotchin’s defence amid queries over the veteran midfielder’s potential to contribute in a brand new position this season.
The addition of inside midfielders Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper means Cotchin won’t characteristic as usually within the Tigers’ engine room in 2023.
The 32-year-old triple-premiership star will spend extra time throughout half-forward than he has finished for almost all of his adorned 287-game profession.
Harsh critics have already branded Cotchin too gradual and questioned whether or not he’ll kick sufficient objectives to justify his place.
But Hardwick, who believes outsiders are too fast to write down off champion gamers as a result of “it’s an easy story to write”, is having none of it.
“He’s a great contested-ball player but he’s got incredible craft up forward, funnily enough,” Hardwick instructed Fox Footy.
“He played this role for about the last six or seven weeks last year and he did that very well if you go back and have a look at the tape.
“He arrange a variety of objectives, he kicked a few objectives as effectively, so we’re actually assured in what he can do.
“We also know that when push comes to shove we’re going to need him at the coalface.
“He’s a top quality participant and folks at all times rapidly soar on the champs.”
Carlton coach Michael Voss, whose team takes on Richmond at the MCG on Thursday night, is wary of Cotchin’s potential impact in the season opener.
“He could be a barely totally different model (of himself) however he’ll nonetheless be a reasonably good model,” Voss instructed Fox Footy.
“He’ll nonetheless hold us effectively and really privy to the place is on the sector at anyone level.”
Hardwick hopes former GWS guns Taranto and Hopper, playing alongside Dion Prestia and Shai Bolton, will give the Tigers new strength at stoppages this year.
“There’s three phases of the sport and we have been fairly good at two – the turnover sport and offensively as effectively,” Hardwick mentioned.
“What we have in all probability struggled with is the clearance side and the flexibility to cease scoring from these.
“Over the course of the summer we addressed that, brought two ready-made players, good stoppage players and clearance players, that allow the game to be played a different way.
“If we will get that a part of our sport up and going it will make my job a hell of loads simpler and the way in which we play a little bit bit totally different as effectively.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
