Miracle man Cotchin helps wounded Tigers rediscover their roar

In 2019, Richmond and Scott Morrison claimed miracle wins. And with canny leaders like Trent Cotchin, we should beware these wounded Tigers

Just before half time of Saturday night's game at the MCG, two very different footballers went toe-to-toe on the Members wing: Trent Cotchin, an articled clerk who plays a blue collar game, and Bailey Smith, who looks like he's just stepped off a float at Royal Randwick.

With Cotchin right on his hammer, Smith spilled a chest mark. The 32-year-old Tiger, who recently relinquished the Richmond captaincy, has always excelled at ground ball scrimmages. On this occasion, he was better balanced, a bit cannier and that little bit more ferocious than his 21-year-old rival. Cotchin got the faintest of fingers on a stationary ball, which released Noah Balta, and it led to a Tom Lynch goal.