Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has acclaimed the team’s leadership group for continuing to provide the impetus that enables the Tigers to consistently rise to the challenge and overpower their rivals.
Hardwick again was full of admiration for the way captain Trent Cotchin and co vice-captains Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt marshalled the Tiger troops, when the going was at its toughest, during last night’s absorbing contest with Sydney at Etihad Stadium, enabling Richmond to eventually prevail by 26 points.
“Trent and his fellow leaders in Alex and Jack, they really do lead from the front,” Hardwick said.
“They’re incredibly resilient characters that have been through a lot at this football club, and they obviously got the rewards last year. But they continue, when they’re challenged, to keep raising the fight, and that’s the pleasing thing about my leaders.
“I don’t have to prod them a lot, they just know how to respond.
“That’s the sign of a good footy club, and a great leadership group, really.
“I get the privilege of watching those guys on a weekly basis . . . the way they come in and they commit themselves to contest after contest, it’s just so impressive, and I can’t speak highly enough of that.
“They’re a quality unit that fits within our side and I’m very lucky to have those three representing our football club and our leadership group.”
