Star Richmond midfielder Trent Cotchin has spoken openly about the challenges he’s faced in his first year as the Club’s captain on this week’s episode of “Talking Tigers”.

“I knew that there was going to be times where it was challenging, but there are also many benefits with it as well,” he told the Club’s official podcast.

"You get to know a lot of the younger players a lot better.

“You’re probably not as involved in your own performance and your own game as much.  You’re trying to teach the young guys and fast-track their development as quickly as possible, because that’s going to make you a better side down the track . . .

“It’s just been a matter of working on the right balance that gives me the best opportunity to be performing at my best . . .

“What I’ve tried to work on is listening to as much advice as I possibly can, but you’ve also got to find your own way of dealing with things.”

Cotchin, who finished equal-runner-up in the 2012 Brownlow Medal, won a second successive Jack Dyer Medal, and earned All-Australian selection for the first time, believes his output so far this season has fallen slightly short of what he produced last year, even though he’s still averaging just over 26 disposals per game.

“I feel like my influence on games hasn’t been quite to the standard of last year,” he said.

“I’d love to be getting a little bit more of the ball in the front half, but I feel like I’ve played my role reasonably well . . .

“There’s been the pressure of being the captain of the Club, and learning new ways of dealing with the added pressure.

“The boys have been fantastic in their support, but, again, it’s up to the individual to deal with those sort of pressures.

“I had that little knee injury (sustained in the Round 5 game against Fremantle) and, in hindsight, I probably should have missed the following week, to give myself a chance to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible.  I didn’t, and that probably lagged a little bit.

“The great thing is we’re 11-5, so I feel as a group we’ve gone really well.

“If I’m influencing games not quite to the same level, but there are other guys standing up, I feel like I’m playing a role for the side.”