Hawthorn champion Jordan Lewis sympathises with Richmond captain Trent Cotchin amid a “pile on” of criticism over his current form.
Cotchin’s struggles have coincided with the Tigers’ run of four straight defeats, with the 31-year-old midfielder averaging 16.5 disposals over the last month.
Last week’s loss to Collingwood saw Richmond drop to 12th on the ladder leaving their premiership defence hanging by a thread.
“I think at the moment, when you get to the back end of your career, and you play the type of footy that Trent individually plays, you’re so reliant on the team performing really well,” Lewis told SEN Breakfast.
“Because if you’re carrying an injury into the game and a lot of the parts of the team’s strengths are falling apart, you get exposed.
“The unfortunate thing I suppose for he and the Richmond Football Club at the moment is because they’ve got so many injuries, they don’t have the flexibility or the luxury to rest him, or they don’t have the wins on the board like they would in previous seasons to be able to rest players like that.
“I feel a little bit sorry for him in terms of the media scrutiny around his performance and Richmond’s performance at the moment.
“He’s had a bad six to seven weeks, that’s OK, he’s been a champion player for a long period of time, and I just think we’re too quick to jump on players that are down on form and maybe carrying a few injuries and the side’s down on form – everyone seems to pile on.
“I tend to feel sorry for him.”
The Brownlow Medallist and three-time premiership skipper is contracted to Richmond for another year.
The Tigers could welcome back key pair Kane Lambert (hip/calf) and Toby Nankervis (knee) for Friday night’s must-win clash against Brisbane at the MCG.