Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has cited the team’s Round 18 loss to reigning premier Sydney as a key factor in enabling them to rise to the significant challenge of knocking over ladder leader Hawthorn at the MCG last Saturday.

The Tigers lost to the Swans by 47 points in their SCG encounter, but responded superbly, six days later, defeating the 2012 runner-up by 41 points.

“We made a lot of errors last week with the way we played against the Swans, and learned a lot from the way they played and the intensity they brought to the contest,” Cotchin told ‘Roar Vision’.

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“I felt, early on in the game, we really set a standard for us to take forward for the four quarters, and the boys really stuck it out.

“We knew it was going to be a really hard-fought, contested battle that we needed to win . . . It was just a real willingness by us to win the hard footy and then beat them on the spread.”

Cotchin produced an inspirational captain’s performance, gathering a game-high 18 contested possessions and nine clearances in his 34 disposals.

“I just set out to set the standard in that area,” he said.

“We knew that was going to be critical to the way the result swung, and we won contested footy convincingly, clearances and, ultimately, the game.

“I can only play my role the best I can, and it’s great that we have so many guys stepping up to the plate.”

Cotchin also praised the efforts of the Richmond defenders, who kept Hawthorn’s star-studded forward line of Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli, Jack Gunston and Luke Breust to just one goal between them.

“They were fantastic.  They just keep growing, the boys, and the relationship they have with each other down there is something to be very proud of,” Cotchin said.

“But they know that you’re only one week away from a difficult performance, and they’ve just got to make sure they’re maintaining that confidence and cohesiveness, that’s getting the job done at the moment.”