Trent Cotchin
The tough, uncompromising captain who transformed Richmond from a laughingstock into an Australian football dynasty, leading them to three premierships.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Australian rules footballer·Birthday: April 7·Millennials
Biography
Trent Cotchin arrived at Richmond as the number two draft pick, a silky-skilled midfielder burdened with the hope of reviving a sleeping giant. His early years mirrored the club's struggles—full of talent but lacking the hardened edge for ultimate success. The turning point was his own transformation. Shedding the 'outside player' label, Cotchin reinvented himself as a brutal, in-and-under contested ball winner and, crucially, a leader who demanded absolute sacrifice. Appointed captain in 2013, his relentless standards and willingness to put his body on the line set a new tone. Under his stewardship, Richmond forged a identity of pressure and team-first ethos, breaking a 37-year premiership drought in 2017 and adding two more flags in 2019 and 2020. Cotchin's legacy is that of a catalyst; his personal evolution sparked a cultural revolution that returned the Tigers to the apex of the AFL.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Trent was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Trent Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Trent's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Captained Richmond to three AFL premierships in 2017, 2019, and 2020, ending a 37-year drought for the club.
- Awarded the Brownlow Medal in 2012 as the league's best and fairest player.
- Won the Jack Dyer Medal as Richmond's best and fairest player three times (2011, 2012, 2014).
- Named captain of the All-Australian team in 2012.
Did You Know?
He was drafted with pick No. 2 in the 2007 AFL draft, one selection after Matthew Kreuzer.
Cotchin and his wife Brooke have three children, and their daughter's middle name is 'Tiger' in honor of the club.
He is a co-owner of the esports organization Rogue, alongside other athletes and entrepreneurs.
He played his entire 306-game career for Richmond, never appearing for another AFL club.
“It's not about the individual, it's about what we can achieve as a team.”
