Cotchin, who became the award leader the previous week, was the Tigers’ top vote-getter in last Saturday night’s loss to Carlton, with five, taking his overall season’s tally to 80.
He now leads Essendon captain Jobe Watson by five votes, with gun Adelaide on-baller Scott Thompson a further three votes behind in third place.
Richmond’s only other vote-getter in the Round 18 clash with the Blues was Shane Tuck, who polled three votes.
Respective coaches Damien Hardwick (Richmond) and Brett Ratten (Carlton) awarded the maximum 10 votes to star Blues midfielder Marc Murphy.
The current leaders’ board in the AFLCA’s Player of the Year award, with five rounds to go, is:
80 - Trent Cotchin (Richmond)
75 - Jobe Watson (Essendon)
72 - Scott Thompson (Adelaide)
70 - Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
67 - Dayne Beams (Collingwood)
66 - Matthew Boyd (W. Bulldogs)
66 - Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
59 - Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
58 - Dane Swan (Collingwood)
57 - Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne)
