Trent Cotchin- My take.

[TheAnt]

An article I recently did on another site.

Trent Cotchin

2013 SuperCoach Price: $622,100

2012 SuperCoach Average: 116.3

2012 First Half of the year Average: 111

2012 Second Half of the year Average: 122

2012 Centuries: 19

2012 Consistency Rating: 20 (Almost Elite)

2013 Position: Midfield

2013 Bye Round: 11

Projected Average in 2013: 127

Upside:
There’s a lot to like about Cotchin in 2013. Having just come off a career best year in which he came equal second in the brownlow and shot up into the top echelon of midfielders, drawing some comparisons to Gary Ablett. Cotchin’s the perfect prototype for a SuperCoach player. He can play inside just as good as he can outside, and be able to go forward and shake a tag if he’s going quiet.

His consistency was a big highlight in 2012, proven not only by his whopping nineteen SuperCoach hundreds, but by earning the AFLCA Champions Player of the Year award. Coming off a very solid last month to a year where he averaged a massive 136 and polled 11 out of a possible 12 brownlow votes, including a 35 disposal, 3 goal game against the Western Bulldogs, which just about displayed every skill in the game to a tee. Many are taking it as a sign of things to come.

In further good news, Trent Cotchin is entering only his second full pre-season, having been restriced last year until late January. That should see him close his games out better than he did at times in 2012, however that wasn’t nearly as bad as his team mate Dustin Martin, nor Richmond in general did.

While his stats stated that he didn’t have the greatest DE% of the premium midfielders, it didn’t state the chances he created with his clever ball use, which at times was outstanding to watch. He was number 2 for kicks retained inside 50, just behind Steve Johnson, and was 4th overall for inside 50′s. He also ranked 10th in disposals per game, despite  his highest possession counts being  35 and 38, once again underlining his consistency and his ability to use the ball at an elite standard. That, along with an increase in tackling and goal kicking propelled Cotchin to a premium status.

Despite some people worrying about the added pressure of captaincy that Cotchin recieved over the break, it doesn’t seem to affect Cotchin very much. In the 5 games he was acting captain in 2011, his average was decimal points difference to his overall average that year. Add the return of Tyrone Vickery and the possibility of one of Griffiths or Aaron Edwards to kick to in the forward line, and it might just see a boost in his disposal efficiency. With Richmond set to improve in 2013 in their challenge for finals, Cotchin will have to lead the way.

Downside:
Hard to pick out many downsides to a player with so many positives, however there are still a few areas in Cotchin’s game which he can improve on. Firstly, his ability to rack up the ball and score big points. It may seem odd having that as a criticism for a player who averaged 116.3 and 27.6 disposals a game, however just as his scores hovered around 110 at times, his disposal count constantly hovered around 27-28. It is a nit pick, but for him to score as highly as other options like Pendlebury and Kennedy he will have to get more games of 150+.

On that stat alone, Cotchin only three scored over the super elite 130 mark, whilst most around his status had upwards of 6. Cotchin scored seven times in the 120′s, and the difference between Cotchin become an out and out elite, may lay in his ability to improve his scoring, to capitalize on that magical 130+ mark.

For that to happen, he needs more games just racking up the ball, or kicking goals. It sounds obvious enough, and while Cotchin did just under average under a goal a game in 2012, which is very good; He didn’t get big scores often. His ability to get these may just come from getting a bigger tank, which should come naturally from training in a full pre-season.

He is also getting picked a lot by many different coaches. This isn’t a huge problem but you may get ahead of the game by not picking him. It’s risky considering his positives, but could pay off. You could say he is unproven, but his 2011 wasn’t at all bad.

Overall, there isn’t a lot you can pick out of a very balanced and good game. It’s also worth noting Cotchin does tend to kick it long into the forward line from the centre often, Champion Data will award zero points for a kick that travels less than 40 meters to a contest which is a slight downside.

What to expect in 2013:
If you look at the scoring rules, all Cotchin needs to do is get a one more effective kick a game added onto his stats in 2012 to get a super premium like scoring output. If he continues his upward spiral in his statistics this seems likely, if not even more. There is no doubting that Cotchin has what it takes to be the very best, he is however, not there just yet. With the favourable draws for teams who finished bottom 10 in  2012, and Richmond desperately fighting for a finals birth, you can expect Cotchin to have an even bigger impact in clearance work.

His ability to get the ball inside and burst out and receive it back on the inside makes him a very formidable player. Add the fact that he can go forward and be a very awkward match up is an added bonus and makes him a very hard, if not downright impossible to tag him effectively. Ross Lyon in particular noted this and sent Ryan Crowley to Brett Deledio. You have to consider him and look as to how he fits in your team, as there aren’t that many negatives to him. Cotchin is constantly trying to create things, which shows worse in his stats then what he is when he is disposing the ball and getting it through traffic.

If you want a high scoring, reliable, consistent midfielder, have a good hard look at Trent Cotchin.

[Nige]

That site wouldn't have to be Supercoach Paige would it?  ::)  ;)

Fantastic article, pretty hard to go past Cotch for me. Got him locked.

[colmullet]

yeah he's locked into my mids this year to

[TheAnt]

That site wouldn't have to be Supercoach Paige would it?  ::)  ;)

Fantastic article, pretty hard to go past Cotch for me. Got him locked.

Yes it is  :)

[Hagebear]

He's an absolute gun but just can't fit him in. Would have to knock out Ablett, Pendles or JPK.

[ando_10]

He's an absolute gun but just can't fit him in. Would have to knock out Ablett, Pendles or JPK.

ive managed to fit gaz cotch JKP and swan in.

yeah cotch to again improve on his unreal year he had last year and ive also backed him to take charlie home at seasons end.

[enzedder]

My take...gun and the first tiger boy picked.

[strikes91]

127.... really ?

[TheAnt]

Tell me why he can't.

[quinny88]

127.... really ?

Averaged 124 after the bye last year so its not beyond him. Im predicting slightly lower though. 120-125

[strikes91]

we'll see. imo no chance. 110

[quinny88]

we'll see. imo no chance. 110

So he's gonna go backwards 6ppg is he ???

[TheAnt]

we'll see. imo no chance. 110

So he's gonna go backwards 6ppg is he ???

Apparently  ::)

[pikla]

lock. will be top 5 mids this year IMO

[4820]

lock for me, no doubt  ;)