TRENT Cotchin will lead a streamlined three-man Richmond leadership group in 2017, after being appointed skipper for a fifth-straight season.
Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance will be his co-vice captains.
The Tigers had a five-strong group to lead last season, with Riewoldt stepping up in place of Shane Edwards, Ivan Maric and the departed Brett Deledio (Greater Western Sydney)
Cotchin, a Brownlow medallist, All Australian and three-time Jack Dyer Medallist, was voted by the players to continue as captain.
"Trent is an impressive player and person, and his leadership of this group has developed significantly," Richmond’s general manager of football Neil Balme said.
"We love the way that Trent leads from the front, supports his teammates and represents our football club, and the Richmond jumper."
Cotchin's leadership has come under fire – particularly last year when the Tigers finished 14th after being finalists in each of the previous three seasons – but the 26-year-old emphasised that all that mattered was how he was viewed on the inner sanctum at Punt Road.
"You don't pick being captain by yourself. People can say whatever they want and say that I’m not the right person, but the reality is that my peers think that is the case and that gives me a whole lot of confidence and excitement about leading our group," Cotchin told News Corp.
"You're voted in because they see something in you that gives them the confidence that you can lead the group."
Riewoldt, 28, and Rance, 27, have impeccable playing records, both winning club best and fairests and being All Australians, and Balme believed the pair would provide "great support" for Cotchin.
"Jack is a wonderful clubman and we look forward to him continuing to support Trent and his teammates in season 2017," Balme said.
"Alex is a very passionate and influential player and person around the club. He is highly rated among his teammates and we look forward to him having another great season."
Cotchin said Riewoldt's elevation was the result of considerable effort on behalf of the spearhead.
"As we've seen over a number of years, Jack has some amazing strengths. He’s also had times where he's shown on-field that things can affect him at times," Cotchin said.
"But he's done a lot of work and his relationships are as good as they've ever been, especially with our young forward line."
The Richmond leadership group was voted by the playing group, in consultation with the coaching and football department staff, club executive, and facilitated by leadership consultant, Shane McCurry.
