Richmond captain Trent Cotchin’s head-to-head midfield battle with Fremantle’s red-hot Brownlow Medal favorite Nathan Fyfe was a major highlight of last Saturday’s epic twilight encounter between the two teams at the MCG.

Cotchin had 24 disposals, including an equal team-high 13 contested possessions, seven clearances and eight score involvements, plus five tackles.  Fyfe finished with 25 disposals, including 14 contested possessions and six clearances, along with 10 tackles.

Both players were valuable contributors for their respective sides, although the general consensus was that Cotchin just shaded Fyfe in what was an absorbing duel throughout. 

VIDEO: Maric on the Sunday Footy Show

“‘Cotchy’ going head-to-head with Fyfe was a huge match-up . . . I hope a lot of people enjoyed watching it,” Richmond vice-captain Ivan Maric said on Channel Nine’s ‘Sunday Footy Show’. 

“It was really inspiring to be alongside him (Cotchin) on the field.

 “The great thing about Trent is he’s been all about team-first football all year.

“He’ll do all the team jobs before doing anything for himself. 

“He puts his hand up for those sorts of roles (playing on Fyfe) and just takes them.

“There’s never ever whingeing or any complaining coming from him.”