In a special series leading up to the 2017 AFL national draft, richmondfc.com.au examines the Tigers’ construction of their drought-breaking premiership team this year via the competition’s main talent acquisition pathway throughout the past decade. Today, we focus on Richmond’s drafting of Trent Cotchin.
It was a race in two between talented Northern Knights pair Matthew Kreuzer and Trent Cotchin for who would be the No. 1 pick at the 2007 AFL national draft.
Richmond had finished with the wooden spoon in the ’07 season, but Carlton, who was second last, qualified for a priority pick before the Tigers’ selection.
So the Blues had the prized first pick, and for weeks before the draft all the speculation about which young gun they would choose revolved around ruckman Kreuzer and midfielder Cotchin.
The fact Kreuzer and Cotchin were best mates heightened the interest of who would go No. 1 in the draft.
As much as Richmond’s recruiting manager Francis Jackson rated Kreuzer, he had his sights firmly set on securing Cotchin’s services.
Jackson was a happy man when he got word just before the draft that Carlton had committed to taking Kreuzer.
“I was always keen on Trent because I felt that his natural talent was unsurpassed,” Jackson said.
“I actually remember a kind of watershed moment in that decision (to go with Cotchin ahead of Kreuzer) was a trial game that (Vic) Metro were playing at Victoria Park.
“It was a wet day and I remember thinking the way Trent played that day was as if a space ship had dropped him in the middle of the ground because his ball skills, and ability to think his way through traffic, were just outstanding in difficult conditions.
“He never, ever fumbled, he had fantastic awareness, and he made the most of every possession he had . . .
“His (under-18s) carnival that year, he got tagged against WA in Perth by Patrick McGinnity, who towelled him up. Trent had a really disappointing game for a player with such a high profile.
“But you rest assured that he would bounce back the next week, which was against South Australia in a deluge in Melbourne.
“Trent was outstanding. He showed his true character, fighting back from an ordinary game the week before in Perth.”
Jackson also was convinced from the outset that Cotchin had the makings of an extremely good leader.
“I went on the AIS trip that year, which was to South Africa . . . Clearly from that trip I saw significant leadership qualities in Trent. And, also, from talking to some of his teachers at PEGS (Penleigh Essendon Grammar School), he had quite a few leadership qualities that were evident very early on,” Jackson said.
Trent Cotchin AFL fact file
Debut: Round 8, 2008 v Geelong, MCG
Games: 198
Goals: 118
Honours: 2012 Brownlow Medal winner, triple Jack Dyer Medallist (2011, 2012, 2014), All-Australian representative in 2012, Club captain since 2012, Richmond’s 2017 premiership captain
