Save articles for later

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

Richmond supporters may have lauded three premierships over their Victorian-based rivals since 2017, but Tigers great Trent Cotchin still cannot bear to have a rival Melbourne club prevail this month.

The Tigers did not make the finals this season, in what was Cotchin’s last as he announced his retirement. After week one of September action, fellow traditional power clubs Collingwood and Carlton, and 2021 premiers Melbourne, are still in contention, along with three interstate clubs.

However, Cotchin wants to the interstate club with the least supporters – Greater Western Sydney – hold the premiership trophy aloft.

This time: Trent Cotchin denied Phil Davis and the Giants the 2019 premiership, but the Tigers great hopes the Giants go all the way this September.Credit: Getty Images

“Given there are a couple of Melbourne teams in there, I would like to see GWS go on and win it, so I don’t have the pain and suffering of listening to Collingwood supporters and Melbourne supporters and Carlton supporters,” Cotchin said on Wednesday, having been confirmed as a leadership mentor with National Basketball League club South East Melbourne Phoenix.

“They have all had fantastic years. Some have maintained probably better form, or carried better form into finals, and the way they [Giants] performed last week, kind of suggested so. But, who wins, I have no idea. Collingwood and Brisbane are currently in the box seat, but those other teams are definitely worthy of being there, and ready to challenge.”

The Tigers dismantled the Giants in the 2019 grand final, the latter having rebuilt this season under new coach Adam Kingsley. The Giants face the Power in Adelaide on Saturday in a cutthroat semi-final.

New ball game: Tigers great Trent Cotchin has become a leadership mentor with South East Melbourne Phoenix.Credit: Getty Images

While Kingsley – a former Tigers’ premiership assistant coach – prospers, Cotchin was also effusive about Andrew McQualter, the caretaker Tigers coach vying for the top role permanently.

The Tigers are closing in on a replacement for Damien Hardwick, who quit mid-season and is now with the Gold Coast Suns.

While the Tigers fell short of finals, Cotchin said McQualter, a long-time assistant, would be a brilliant appointment.

“I expected him to be brilliant at what he did. He is so invested in the players and the care and making sure he maximises the talent that is on the list. He did that brilliantly,” Cotchin said.

“It is always hard when that finals opportunity gets taken away from you, which happened probably two or three weeks out from finals, and keeping a team motivated is really hard. But the way they performed in the [second] last round with a few players out was really special and significant.”

Cotchin said McQualter had “everything that is required to be a brilliant senior coach”.

“I know that his ideas and plans, if he was to be, obviously, the successful candidate, are really exciting for the club, but I am sure the club is doing everything they can to select the right person for the role and how to take the club forward,” Cotchin said.

The Tigers beat North Melbourne by 29 points in round 23, on a day they said goodbye to Cotchin and fellow retiree Jack Riewoldt. They were beaten by Port Adelaide in the final round of the season.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.

Most Viewed in Sport

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article