Star midfielder Trent Cotchin will captain Richmond for a fifth consecutive season, with the Tigers finalising their player leadership group for 2017.
Cotchin, 26, a Brownlow Medallist, All Australian and three-time Jack Dyer Medallist, was voted by the playing group to continue as Richmond’s captain.
He will lead a three-man leadership group at Tigerland in 2017.
Key forward Jack Riewoldt and key defender Alex Rance are the other members of the Tigers’ 2017 leadership group and will be co-vice captains this season.
“Trent is an impressive player and person, and his leadership of this group has developed significantly,” Richmond’s General Manager – Football, Neil Balme said.
“We love the way that Trent leads from the front, supports his teammates and represents our football club, and the Richmond jumper.
“We’re very confident that both Jack and Alex will be great support for Trent as his deputies this season.”
Riewoldt, 28, is a dual Coleman Medallist, two-time All-Australian, a Jack Dyer Medal winner, and he’s been the Tigers’ leading goalkicker for the past seven seasons.
Rance, 27, had another outstanding season in 2016, finishing with All-Australian honours for the third consecutive year, and a runner-up placing in the Jack Dyer Medal, after winning it in 2015.
“Jack is a wonderful clubman and we look forward to him continuing to support Trent and his teammates in season 2017,” Balme said.
“Alex is a very passionate and influential player and person around the Club. He is highly-rated among his teammates and we look forward to him having another great season.
“While these three players are in the Club’s official leadership group, we expect all of our players to demonstrate and develop their leadership, and we’ll be continuing our work in this area to ensure they develop these skills.”
The leadership group was voted by the Richmond playing group, in consultation with the Club’s coaching and football department staff, Club executive, and facilitated by leadership consultant, Shane McCurry.
