Past and present Richmond players at Monday night's Brownlow Medal count could not help but ponder what might have been if equal second place-getter Trent Cotchin had not left his run so late.

Despite heading into this year's count as one of the strong favourites, Cotchin did not poll a vote until his three-vote, 27-possession game in round seven against the Sydney Swans.

When eventual winner Jobe Watson stretched his tally to 29 votes in round 19, Cotchin's chances of winning were already over as he trailed by 14 votes with just four rounds to go.?

However, the 22-year-old Richmond midfielder flew home in those games to poll 11 of a possible 12 votes to join former Hawthorn captain Sam Mitchell as joint runner-up on 26 votes, four behind Essendon skipper Watson.

First-year Tiger Brandon Ellis and Richmond great Kevin Bartlett both lamented Cotchin's slow start.

"We knew he was going to finish pretty strong. I thought if he was in the top five with five rounds to go he was actually going to win it," Ellis told AFL.com.au.

"But not getting a vote until round seven really hurt him. If he had polled before then he would have come home with the bacon."

Bartlett said: "He just missed out I suppose in those first half dozen games of the season."

"He had a fantastic last four games and a wonderful season and he polled marvellously well." 

Veteran Richmond midfielder Shane Tuck could not speak highly enough of Cotchin as a person, footballer and leader.

"I've known Trent since he's been at the club. I've seen him grow as a player and it's hard to come across a more genuine human being than Trent Cotchin," Tuck said. 

"I've become good friends with him over the last four years and I'm really proud and happy for him. 

"And I just think that to come second in the Brownlow when he's only 22 is a great accomplishment and I look forward to him leading the club in the future."