AFL football legend Leigh Matthews has paid Richmond captain Trent Cotchin the ultimate compliment after watching his powerful performance for the Tigers in their decisive preliminary final victory over Greater Western Sydney at the MCG last Saturday.

Cotchin had a team-high 26 disposals, with a game-high 17 contested possessions, equal game-high seven clearances, six intercepts, five inside-50s, four rebound-50s, a game-high nine tackles, equal team-high 21 pressure acts, six score involvements, and a team-high 514 metres gained, prompting Matthews to pour praise on the star midfielder for the fiercely determined way he’s going about his football.

“Trent Cotchin, for me, he’s joined the (Joel) Selwood-(Rory) Sloane battering ram club,” Matthews said on Channel Seven’s ‘Game Day’.

“And, dare I say Michael Voss, who was the benchmark for me, for that kind of footballer, Trent is playing like Michael Voss the last month or two.  

“It is just so inspiring.”

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick paid his own special tribute to Cotchin following the Tigers’ preliminary final win.

“I thought he was best-on-ground again . . . he was outstanding,” Hardwick said.

“There were a couple of contests where he shouldn’t have been anywhere near it, and he either halved it or won it.

“I’m very fortunate, I get to watch him on a weekly basis and see a lot of things that a lot of people don’t . . . He’s an incredible player.

“He’s taken his game to a new level, which is hard to say when he’s a Brownlow Medallist, but just so glad to have him.

“We just love the way he plays and leads our club . . .

“I get a bit emotional speaking about him, really, because of the way he plays.

“He’s been incredible this year . . .”