RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has launched a stirring defence of captain Trent Cotchin, declaring recent criticism of the midfielder was "unjust" and "farcical".
Cotchin has borne the brunt for the Tigers' underwhelming start to the season and come under fire for allegedly failing to show leadership in the tense final minutes of his team's loss to Collingwood last Friday night.
Hardwick said the critics, who have included former Richmond assistant coach David King, needed to look for other targets.
"It's easy for people to sit behind keyboards and microphones and cameras and make judgement, but this is a guy that leads from the front," Hardwick said.
"He has 38 possessions, he wins clearance, he wins contested ball. He's an outstanding leader of our footy club. No question.
"I sit there and I'm flabbergasted by the criticism he cops … it's become farcical the level it's got to.
"I find it incredibly disappointing and unjust."
Cotchin had 38 possessions against the Magpies and was awarded AFL Coaches Association votes by both Hardwick and Nathan Buckley.
Following Friday night's loss, King said the Tigers needed a change of leadership and a captain who could "organise" his teammates.
Hardwick admitted on Friday night his team had played "unintelligent" football in the final minutes, but refused to lump the blame onto Cotchin.
"We win a lot of footy games because of this bloke," he said.
"So people need to actually take a deep breath and look at some other targets.
"I'm tired of it to be honest and it's about time people look at this guy for what he is, a bloody good football player.
"We just worry about our four walls, but I think it's got to the stage where if we don't address it, then it keeps going."
Hardwick conceded his side was "just going" after a 1-1 start to the season and said improvement was needed ahead of Saturday's clash against a red-hot Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.
The Crows are ranked No.3 in the AFL for points scored after two rounds (compared to the Tigers' at 11th) and Hardwick said his team would attempt to take away the attacking side of Adelaide's game.
"We're one of the better defensive sides in the comp, and offensively we can score heavily as well," the coach said.
"It'll be a different sort of ball game than what you've seen over the first two weeks with us."
With versatile defender Dylan Grimes is sidelined for two weeks with a hamstring injury, the Tigers could look to small defender Steven Morris or key position player Troy Chaplin this week.
Versatile backman Jake Batchelor is also waiting in the wings as the Tigers plot a way to shut down Eddie Betts, who booted five goals against Port Adelaide in round two.
Hardwick confirmed important half-forward Shane Edwards would return after missing one match with a hand injury, but he was less convincing on ruckman Ivan Maric.
"We'll see how he goes with training," Hardwick said of Maric, who has battled a back injury.
"He hasn't played a lot of footy over the first five or six weeks with NAB Challenge, so we'll see how we go.
The coach said vice-captain Brett Deledio had not progressed with his recovery from a quadricep injury this week and was still only able to kick with a children's size football.
