After five matches he's already taken 23 marks, had 83 disposals, kicked five goals, had five goal assists and snared an NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.
Not bad for a bloke who missed the entire pre-season due to injury.
The number two pick in last year's NAB AFL National Draft snared his nomination a week after his Northern Knights teammate from last year, number one pick Matthew Kreuzer, locked away his own nod for the AFL's best young player.
"Pre-season, having the injury, I had just set myself to play one AFL game … If I got there, I was going to reset my goal," the 18-year-old said on Tuesday.
"Now it's just to stay in the side and have an influence on the games that we play.
"I just keep working harder and harder each week, and try and better myself.
"There's a lot of things that I need to work on, but like every young player in the AFL, everyone can improve on many of their weaknesses, so I'm just trying to improve my game every week and hopefully get better as we go."
In junior football, Cotchin sometimes played as a small forward, and admitted he's still a fan of kicking goals.
"When I was younger I played a fair bit forward, so I've always liked being around the goals, and I don't mind kicking one.
"It's just part and parcel of the game – if you're there and you get the opportunity and you kick a goal, then that's it. If you don't, you've got to do something else.
"I'm really enjoying it – even more when we win.
"Just to be with your idols, as a young fellow, is really exciting. But I think you've got to make sure you don't get caught up in it, and play your natural game."
