Star midfielder Trent Cotchin has identified Richmond’s improved defensive set-up this season as a major factor in the rising self-belief levels within the team.

The Tigers are ranked in the top eight for points against after seven rounds, with emerging young defenders Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes, Jake Batchelor and Steven Morris earning plenty of plaudits for their impressive efforts across the backline.  

“They’re really starting to gel together and find that security between each other,” Cotchin said this morning on SEN’s ‘Hungry for Sport’ program.

“I think we have that confidence when the ball’s going into the defensive-50, they’re going to win it back.

“As a midfield group, I know we’re a lot more confident with how they’re going . . .
“It just gives you that opportunity to spread offensively when you can see that they’re going to win the footy . . . To have that confidence in your key defenders and rebounding defenders is something you can’t get at some clubs.

“Obviously, we haven’t been in that position over the last few years, but to see how well ‘Rancey’ and ‘Grimesy’ have been going is a massive tick for not only our recruiting staff, but the coaching staff, with the work they’ve been doing with them.”
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