Trent Cotchin has wound the clock back this year.

The veteran Richmond midfield star and triple Tiger premiership captain, who stepped down from the role as skipper at the end of last season, is back to his ferocious, ball-hunting best in 2022.

He is averaging 23.1 disposals per match, which is his highest tally since the Tigers’ drought-breaking 2017 premiership year, along with 10.8 contested possessions, 3.2 marks, 2.9 tackles, 5.2 clearances, 2.6 centre clearances, 3.6 inside-50s, 3.1 intercepts, 4.9 score involvements and 266.3 metres gained in the 17 games he’s played.

In his 285^th AFL game yesterday, against Hawthorn at the MCG yesterday, the 32-year-old was superb, with 30 disposals, a game-high 17 contested possessions, a game-high nine inside-50s, eight clearances, three centre clearances, five stoppage clearances, four marks, one goal, nine score involvements, three tackles and 401 metres gained.

It was the second game in-a-row Cotchin had racked up 30 disposals or more – the first time he’s managed that since 2017.

Cotchin’s form in the midfield throughout the season has been a key factor in Richmond securing a finals berth this season after finishing 12^th last year, and he shapes as pivotal to the Tigers’ 2022 September campaign.