The AFL’s pre-season competition is now just over a week away, and Richmond captain Trent Cotchin, for one, can’t wait to get stuck into some fair dinkum on-field action.

“We’re footballers, we love playing the game, so every opportunity to pull the boots on is one that you want to take,” Cotchin said at today’s launch of Richmond’s community camp in Albury.

“Obviously there are a few teething issues as you come into games every year.

Win the 2016 Tigers Golden Ticket by becoming a Richmond member

“That’s probably the perfect place to play and learn exactly what we’ve worked on over the whole pre-season . . .”

The Tigers kick of their NAB Challenge campaign against Fremantle at Mandurah in WA on Friday, February 19.

“We have a pretty fit squad, the majority of players are out on the track, so there’ll be a big pool of players to pick from and everyone will have an opportunity to show their stuff,” he said.

“We’ve got an intra-club match during training on Friday, so I suppose that’ll go a long way to picking a side . . .

“Some players might play a half (against Fremantle), some might play a full game, but the reality is we want everyone to play their role and perform as strongly as we possibly can.”