Trent Cotchin’s heartbreaking disclosure comes amid the Richmond Tigers’ retirement.
Cotchin, 33, is destined to go down as an all-time Richmond Tigers great, having captained the club to three premierships.
Trent Cotchin acknowledges his body isn’t what it used to be as he announces his retirement from the AFL at the conclusion of the 2023 season, marking the end of an era for Richmond after the departure of triple-premiership coach Damien Hardwick earlier this year. A flood of condolences poured in for the 2012 Brownlow Medal winner when it was announced he would retire at the end of the season, with Cotchin fighting back tears at points during a press conference explaining his retirement on Thursday afternoon.
Cotchin, who has 305 games under his belt, is in a race against time to add more, having ruled himself out of this weekend’s encounter against St Kilda due to a nagging calf injury. His retirement announcement was made at the same time as Geelong and Hawthorn champion Isaac Smith’s.
Cotchin will undoubtedly be remembered as one of Richmond’s finest players, having played a significant role in the club’s premiership successes in 2017, 2019, and 2020. Cotchin, along with key forward Jack Riewoldt and powerhouse midfielder Dustin Martin, was instrumental in transforming the Tigers from a middling club to an AFL powerhouse in the late 2010s.
With 188 games as Richmond captain, the three-time club best and fairest holds the record for the most games played as a 22-year-old back in 2012. He is the first Tigers captain to lead the team to three championships, and he credits his time at the club with teaching him many significant life lessons.
“I accept reality and the conclusion of my chapter.” “My body is slowing down and getting older,” Cotchin explained.
“I discovered my life’s purpose in Richmond.” Because of what I discovered here at Richmond and what Richmond people taught me, I look forward to the future with nothing but excitement, adventure, and possibility.
“Learning that creating an environment to assist others in realizing and fulfilling their potential not only inspired me, but also helped me overcome my own fears.” I discovered that changing from ‘I’ to ‘us’ and making being interested not intriguing was a lot more fun.
