At just 22 years of age, Cotchin became Richmond’s 40th captain and its youngest in 100 years.
Having emerged as one of the AFL’s best midfielders over the past two seasons, the dual Jack Dyer medallist has already been earmarked as having the potential to become one Richmond’s longest-serving captains.
Cotchin becomes the second young leader from the NFL to assume the captaincy of an AFL club in a year, following Jack Grimes’ selection as Melbourne captain at the beginning of the 2012 season.
Grimes was also just 22-years-old when he was selected alongside Jack Trengove to lead the Demons.
It was a tough initiation as captain for Grimes following the death of club legend Jim Stynes in April, the intense media scrutiny surrounding Melbourne’s poor on-field performances throughout 2012 and, more recently, an AFL investigation into alleged tanking during the 2009 season.
But despite all the added external pressures, Grimes flourished with the extra responsibility and produced his best season of football. He averaged a career-high 22 disposals a game off half back and finished second in the club’s best and fairest award behind Nathan Jones.
Cotchin and Grimes follow in the footsteps of another former NFL junior, Brent Harvey, who led North Melbourne for three seasons between 2009 and 2011. Harvey – who also serves as the NFL’s ambassador – relinquished the captaincy to Andrew Swallow this year but continues to mentor his younger teammate in the lead role.
A number of other former NFL juniors currently serve in their AFL club’s leadership groups with Eltham junior David Zaharakis a member of Essendon’s leadership team, while Heath Shaw, formerly of Diamond Creek, is a member of Collingwood’s seven-man leadership group.
Northern Knights region manager Peter Kennedy attributed the rich number of leaders from the Northern region to a number of leadership programs run by his TAC Cup club.
Kennedy revealed the Knights had been running a program with Leading Teams since 2006 which helped determine leaders within the club and accelerated their leadership qualities.
“At the start of each season we have a group of players work with Jim Plunkett of Leading Teams,” Kennedy said.
“Jim is a former player of ours and played with Western Bulldogs and Carlton in the AFL and those sessions really work on bringing out the traits in a good leader and help our coaches with selecting leaders of the Knights each year.
“It’s something which is unique to the Knights and we’re very proud of our leaders’ progression.”
Kennedy said it was ultimately the coaches’ decision as to who would captain the Knights each season, but he said programs like Leading Teams brought to the fore the team’s best leaders.
The Knights’ regional manager also said his club had worked extensively with Josh Sebbens – who is currently undertaking his Masters in sports psychology at Victoria University – on a high performance leadership program.
Another two future leaders were selected in the AFL draft last Thursday with Eltham teen Nick Vlastuin drafted to Richmond with pick No. 9, while Mill Park’s Nathan Hrovat was selected by Western Bulldogs with pick No. 21.
Hrovat captained the Knights in 2012 with Vlastuin named his vice-captain, while the roles were reversed at the 2012 NAB AFL Under-18 National Championships where Vlastuin captained Vic Metro to its second consecutive Division 1 title, with Hrovat serving as vice-captain.
Kennedy said the leadership attributes of both players were central to them being selected so high in the National Draft and is confident being exposed to several leadership programs at the Knights will put them in good stead to one day become leaders at AFL level.
