Trent Cotchin has denied dwelling or even thinking about Richmond's damning preliminary final loss against Collingwood as the Tigers officially return for the start of their preseason campaign, as reported by the Herald Sun.ย
The loss was heartbreaking for the Tigers, who entered the match hot favourites and were considered likely to become back-to-back premiers after a home-and-away season in which they loomed as undefeatable juggernauts on the MCG.
โUntil just then I hadnโt really thought about it,โโ Cotchin said when prompted about the devastating loss.
โI think itโs the power of acceptance. It was what it was and thereโs not much I can do about it now.
โWe didnโt play really well on that night and Collingwood played exceptionally well, obviously didnโt get the bickies in the big one.
โBut weโre just really excited about the way that we prepared and played for the majority of last year was an improvement on the year prior. We didnโt quite get the reward that we wanted to and weโll be striving to go again throughout this pre-season along with some fresh faces.โโ
Cotchin said he did not plan on watching the Grand Final after the Tigers' departure, but couldn't resist watching the game while out with his family.
โI wasnโt going to watch it, but the reality was the way it panned out wasnโt exactly how we had planned or prepared for, the better team won on the night and went on to play in the Grand Final and it was a fantastic Grand Final and a great spectacle for the game.โโ
As the Tigers gear up for a big 2019, Cotchin also said he was excited to welcome Tom Lynch and other new faces to Tigerland but wasn't willing to consider the changes the star forward might bring to the club and their game.
โI wouldnโt say itโs the end (of the way team played), thatโs probably something you have to speak to Dimma (coach Damien Hardwick) about more so than me,โโ Cotchin said.
โWeโre just excited about Lynchy, just like Mav Weller, contributing exactly what we expect of them and thatโs to play their role as weโve spoken about over the past few years. Weโre just excited about what other strengths they bring to our formula.
โBut Iโm really excited to see what he brings, but also the way our group that are structured around him down there can help his game as well.โโ
