BRETT Deledio has slammed former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes' suggestion that Richmond should change its captain.

Cornes told Fox Footy on Wednesday night he thought the Tigers could "make a statement" by replacing current skipper Trent Cotchin with All Australian defender Alex Rance.

But Deledio was having none of it. 

Speaking on Melbourne radio station RSN927 on Thursday morning, Deledio stood by his long-time teammate Cotchin.

"Kane's entitled to his opinion. I don't agree with it whatsoever," the veteran Tiger said.

"Rancey's a fantastic leader but Trent's the man in charge of our group and has been for the last three or four years, and done it really well.

"I don't think he'll be handing it back any time soon, and nor should he."

Cornes was critical of Cotchin in the wake of last Saturday's 88-point loss to Greater Western Sydney. 

He highlighted passages of play where Cotchin was searching for the ball, when Cornes felt he could have been laying blocks or helping in other areas.

"I know he (Cotchin) is an easy target and he gets looked at a lot and spoken about at Richmond a lot … he's looking for easy ball," Cornes said. 

"His natural instinct is to want to get the footy.

"Perhaps they need to make a statement with their captain and perhaps that man is Alex Rance, if you can convince him to do it." 

Cotchin will lead the Tigers into battle against Collingwood on Friday night at the MCG.