Trent Cotchin (Merged) | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Trent Cotchin (Merged)

I've written before of the special kind of love we all share for our great and magnificent Chimp. Our Captain O Captain.

But I couldn't give a flying *smile* if he gets to 300. It wouldn't make a lick of difference to his legacy if he didn't get there (he will). I don't want to see him carried. I don't want to see the Korneholes of the world gleefully pouring vinegar on his wounds. I don't want to see him go. But I don't want to watch a shadow.

Cotch's retirement will affect me like no one else's but Richo's. We didn't get the chance to send Richo off. If the league would allow it we could get 100,000 to a game v Gold Coast and pass him around the stadium over our heads. I'd kiss his feet and cry without shame.
 
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Isn't good enough to be best AFL 22. 100% we're carrying him to 300.

Question is, do we have better?
 
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He had just over a half a game last week and still could not contribute in a meaningful way. Compare him to Jack and the contrast is there for all to see. Jack has still got a spring in his step and can still launch. Cotch just plods arounds. If he continues to play he can only be a backup for injuries. The sub needs to have run and/or impact, he has neither. He can't make 300 unless we have more injuries. The club needs to come before the champion. I hope he retires and we can pack the G to send him off in style (R8 against the Eagles).
 
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Last year we carried Edwards to 300 and we’ll probably do the same for Cotch this year.
Are we getting a bit soft in our list management decisions.
Edwards plus Cotch equals 35-40 games of little input in two seasons.
We could have used these to help evaluate / develop Ross, Clarke, Sonsie.
 
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Mistakenly thought Cotch only had a few games to get to 300 this year. Still got another eight games to get there n sadly if his form of the last few games is all that he's got for us. Then we'll be a long time carrying lead in the saddle bags.
Won't be any surprise for the club to help him get to 300 same as we did with Shedda, unfortunately with the way the game is these days and the need to get games into the replacement kids. Sometimes carrying the former champions to a milestone is not so good for the future.

Pretty sure the AFL includes practice matches in the tally towards the 300 these days anyway so it probably shouldn't be a concerning factor in a players history. Sometimes when the body stops doing what ya want it to, ya simply need to bite the bullet n walk away, do something else.
 
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Oldie said it best - Cotch won’t wanna be nursed. He’ll walk before that happens
 
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TigerMasochist said:
Mistakenly thought Cotch only had a few games to get to 300 this year. Still got another eight games to get there n sadly if his form of the last few games is all that he's got for us. Then we'll be a long time carrying lead in the saddle bags.
Won't be any surprise for the club to help him get to 300 same as we did with Shedda, unfortunately with the way the game is these days and the need to get games into the replacement kids. Sometimes carrying the former champions to a milestone is not so good for the future.

Pretty sure the AFL includes practice matches in the tally towards the 300 these days anyway so it probably shouldn't be a concerning factor in a players history. Sometimes when the body stops doing what ya want it to, ya simply need to bite the bullet n walk away, do something else.
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Officially he has played 300, but that’s including practice matches and the like. The only thing that most recognise is H&A and finals. If practice matches and stuff were genuinely counted then Shedda’s got more than the 303 he’s credited with. The 300 is very important in club history, though. Before Jack did it in ‘21 we’d had 3 players who had played over 300 games in our history. It Cotchin can reach it, he’ll be the 3rd player from the current generation to do it.
 
It’s sad to watch the great Cotch be a shadow of his former self. Watching Florent burst away from him through the middle as if he was irrelevant was very sad to see, but indicative of where Cotchin is at unfortunately. 8 games to go, most of them being subbed on or off most likely.
 
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I want him to get (and the club to support this) to 300. Club legacies are built on generational success periods. To have Cotch The Great join Jack and Shedda stamps this group in RFC and AFL history as immortals.

Respectful transition of our immortals is an important fabric to our football club history. Do do anything else would dilute this IMO and reflect poorly, aka Hawthorn and the way they treated their legends.
 
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Tass said:
I want him to get (and the club to support this) to 300. Club legacies are built on generational success periods. To have Cotch The Great join Jack and Shedda stamps this group in RFC and AFL history as immortals.

Respectful transition of our immortals is an important fabric to our football club history. Do do anything else would dilute this IMO and reflect poorly, aka Hawthorn and the way they treated their legends.
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Beautiful stuff, Tass.
Agree.

There is no one beating the door down and with restings/rotations and the dreaded "I" word, Chimpah's replacements will certainly get a look in this year anyway.
Don't want to go down the Hawks route.
They cut it back too much.
 
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Tass said:
I want him to get (and the club to support this) to 300. Club legacies are built on generational success periods. To have Cotch The Great join Jack and Shedda stamps this group in RFC and AFL history as immortals.

Respectful transition of our immortals is an important fabric to our football club history. Do do anything else would dilute this IMO and reflect poorly, aka Hawthorn and the way they treated their legends.
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Yep, and if he is no longer as effective in his play, then he should be concentrating on being an on-field teacher. We need to find value out of him playing. Clearly not the player he has been but Cotchin can contribute in many ways.

DS
 
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Yes it’s become a moot point due to all the injuries and do we really want 3 mid season draft picks? It could be fun. But I’m definitely in the don’t carry anyone to 300 games camp. I got sick a few years ago and couldn’t do my job to the required level so I quit. I don’t see how it should be different for cotch. Let him go out with dignity.
 
We carried a completely shot Sheds to 300 over more than 8 games and I am happy for the Tigers to do the same for the great Chimp.
 
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I'm not a fan of carrying blokes to milestones but Cotchin is the exception to the rule. If anyone deserves to be a 300 game tiger then it's Cotchin. Best captain I have personally seen despite not getting the recognition in the wider football community. As influential in turning our club around as anyone you care to mention. A true leader and future Immortal of the club.
 
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Cooper O'Reilly said:
I'm not a fan of carrying blokes to milestones but Cotchin is the exception to the rule. If anyone deserves to be a 300 game tiger then it's Cotchin. Best captain I have personally seen despite not getting the recognition in the wider football community. As influential in turning our club around as anyone you care to mention. A true leader and future Immortal of the club.
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Yep Skippa Chimp was a catalyst.

One of the Richmond Football Clubs absolute Greatest and in the future hopefully is receiving the reverance he is deserving of.
 
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Glittering career & forthcoming milestones aside, if his name was Trent Smith after 11 games then no way he plays next week after genuinely battling in that first half.
It was hard to watch the Skip struggling like he was & Hardwick had little choice but to sub him out.
I didn't see any surprise or anger from Cotch when he was either despite media fishing for it.

No player is guaranteed one AFL game let alone 300 & that number still looks a way off to me if he plays like he did against Sydney.

I agree with spook 100%, how many games he plays has no bearing on his legacy but I don't want to see it tarnished either cause he limped to the end in a team that's well down the ladder just to reach a number that's a personal record.

No way known Cotch would either.
 
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Smart guy, knew he was struggling to chase and run down like he has so often before.

If he can’t inspire with that, I think he’s close to pulling the pin.
 
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