COTCHIN BACKS HARDWICK GOLD COAST MOVE
Jon Ralph
Richmond premiership captain Trent Cotchin has endorsed Damien Hardwick’s imminent move to Gold Coast as he prepares to make a decision on his own future.
Cotchin missed Friday’s loss to Western Bulldogs with a tight calf in what was a loss that likely ended the Tigers’ finals hopes.
He hopes to return alongside Dustin Martin against St Kilda on Sunday.
The Herald Sun reported on Saturday that Gold Coast powerbrokers Mark Evans and Bob East returned from their Italian meeting with Hardwick confident he would be their coach next year.
Cotchin said he held no ill feeling against Hardwick despite the mid-season exit.
“He just got to a point where he knew he probably wasn’t the right person for leading our footy club through this year,” Cotchin said on Triple M.
“You can get tired. I have seen first-hand how exhausting being a senior coach can be in his journey of 14 or 15 years.
“Seeing him the day he told me at his house, it felt like there was colour back in his eyes.
“His skin looked as healthy as it had looked and that was literally an overnight thing.
“It was his time to move on to the next thing and by all accounts he has enjoyed Europe.”
Richmond has asked multiple Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt whether he might play on next year given the lack of forward options.
Cotchin is tipped to retire but said he would make no definitive decision until talks with the club’s senior leaders.
“I think I am close,” Cotchin said of the decision on his future.
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