In the lead-up to the 2012 season, Tony Greenberg examines the burning questions on the lips of Richmond supporters.  Today he considers . . .

Is reigning Jack Dyer Medallist, Trent Cotchin, in line for further football honors in 2012?

After shrugging off the injury problems that had hampered him during the first three years of his AFL career, Cotchin shone throughout the 2011 season in a manner befitting a player of his immense talent.

He played all 22 games, racked up possessions at will, dominated the clearances and inside-50s, set up numerous opportunities for teammates with his creative play, and hit the scoreboard as well, kicking 18 goals.  Not surprisingly, ‘Cotch’ took out his inaugural Jack Dyer Medal, as Richmond’s Best and Fairest player for 2011.
Those of the Yellow and Black persuasion now tingle with anticipation at what the gifted, young midfielder, who was recently officially named as the Tigers’ vice-captain, is capable of achieving this season.

Cotchin seems set to be a major beneficiary of Richmond’s plans to boost its midfield depth, and the Club securing the services of a highly-competitive, aggressive ruckman in Ivan Maric from Adelaide, to bolster its centre-bounce and stoppage work. 

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The return to the middle of another class act in Brett Deledio, will almost certainly ease the pressure on Cotchin, and help him become an even more dangerous player for opposition teams to counter.

Having polled 15 Brownlow Medal votes in 2011 - the most for the season by any player in the competition aged under 23 - it’s certainly not beyond the realms of possibility that Cotchin could become Richmond’s first Brownlow Medallist since the great Ian Stewart in 1971.

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