Trent Cotchin has been voted by his playing peers as AFL football’s captain of the year.

The Richmond skipper received the Best Captain Award at tonight’s AFL Players’ Association’s MVP awards function.

Cotchin’s inspirational leadership was a major factor in the Tigers backing up their 2017 premiership in emphatic fashion by finishing on top of the ladder at the end of this year’s home-and-away season.

He has consistently set the tone for the team throughout this season with his fierce determination to success and strong and bold style of play through the midfield.

Two talented, young Richmond players also featured prominently at tonight’s AFL Players’ awards function.

Jayden Short and Dan Butler were selected in the 2018 ‘22Under22’ line-up – the best players in the competition aged 22 or under.

Short, named as one of the team’s backmen, played all 22 home-and-away games this season, averaging 20.1 disposals, 4.4 marks, 4.4 rebound-50s and 3.5 inside-50s per match.

He’s ranked first in the competition for metres gained and 12^th for rebound-50s.

Butler, named on the interchange bench, played 15 home-and-away games, averaging 11.5 disposals per match and kicking 18 goals.

He’s ranked 12^th in the competition for tackles inside-50 per game and 20^th for goal assists per game.