Richmond’s Trent Cotchin may just be ready to rediscover his best form in 2022 after relinquishing the captaincy.
The three-time premiership skipper passed on the leadership to Dylan Grimes and Toby Nankervis for the upcoming season and now enters the new campaign under less pressure he’s experienced for several years.
Cotchin has little left to prove.
A trio of flags, three best and fairests and a Brownlow Medal are more than most will ever get out of the game, but the midfielder isn’t letting up in 2022.
“In terms of Trent, he’s had a wonderful pre-season and really just trained the house down to be honest,” Tim Livingstone, the club’s GM of football performance, told Sportsday.
“We expect him to play the same football that has made Trent such a champion player, so he’ll be around the midfield.”
Since peaking in 2012, Cotchin has gradually declined in average disposals, clearances and scoreboard impact.
However, fitting into a strong midfield featuring the likes of Dustin Martin and Dion Prestia, plus shedding a major responsibility, there’s hope the 31-year-old can return to the form that had him as one of the best midfielders in the league last decade.
Meanwhile, Livingstone also outlined plans for another Tiger set to improve his output in 2022.
Noah Balta helped the Tigers win the 2020 premiership as a defender but will be doing it at the opposite end of the ground this year after the club confirmed plans to deploy the 22-year-old in the forward line.
Balta has impressed as a key defender over the past two years, but the club feels his assets are just as beneficial ahead of the football, according to Livingstone.
“It’s permanent at the moment, we think he gives us some great flexibility and different options up the ground,” he added of the positional switch.
“The reality is we lost Mabior Chol and Callum Coleman-Jones last year, so in terms of key forwards, it gives us a dynamic option.
“We’re really excited about seeing how Noah goes this year. He’s powerful, he’s got a great leap on him and can take a mark, so he’ll hopefully be difficult to play on up forward.”
Balta spent time in attack in the club’s recent practice match against Geelong and went goalless, but did impress with his attack on the footy.
Cotchin, Balta and the Tigers are next in action in the AAMI Community Series against Hawthorn in Devonport before starting the 2022 season against Carlton at the MCG on March 17.