Trent Cotchin responds after Damien Hardwick sends pointed message in Gold Coast speech

Richmond legend Trent Cotchin has praised Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick for an inspiring awards night speech to his team having claimed the club have everything it needs to succeed in the AFL. Hardwick delivered a roaring speech at the end of season awards night on Tuesday having backed his team to make a push in 2025.

The Suns finished two positions higher this year and were just two wins off finishing inside the top eight. With renewed confidence up north, Hardwick addressed the club in a passionate speech about what next year might look like if they work together.

"We as a team, are better than you think. We have more grit and resolve than you know. All the answers you need are in this room. Our club will do everything in its power, to give you every opportunity to be successful," he said. "The reality, is if you want to run with the big dogs, you have to get off the porch," he said.

Hardwick's message was a strong rallying cry for the club having finished in 13th in the 2024 season. Gold Coast showed signs of improvement under Hardwick and are expected to lock down Mac Andrews on a long-term deal.

The premiership winning coach may be onto something and Cotchin was asked about what it was like playing under his former mentor. Cotchin won three premierships under Hardwick - in 2017, 2019 and 2020 - during their time together at Richmond. The duo helped build a dynasty at the club and Cotchi admitted the coach knows how to stir up emotions in his players.

"He is an incredible storyteller, in the way he connects other stories that he has read...what it tells me is there is still a lot of work that needs to be done at the footy club," Cotchin said Channel 7's Talking Footy. "He needs to start to provide that belief to these guys, so they can start believing in themselves and executing on what the bigger picture is."

Hardwick will be hoping to build on an improved season in the Gold Coast having jumped up two positions from 2023. And they have already been boosted with some good news heading into the off season.

Mac Andrews signs blockbuster deal with Suns

And to begin their off season on a high, the Suns have re-signed Mac Andrew on a staggering new deal that could become the richest in history. The 20-year-old's bumper new contract runs until the end of the 2030 season but could take him to the end of 2034 and be worth a a staggering $12 million, if various performance-based clauses are met.

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According to Nine’s Tom Morris, if Andrew plays 60 games by 2030 then it will automatically trigger the remaining four years on his lucrative deal. Andrew was already contracted until 2025 and the initial five-year extension means he is now the longest contracted player at the Suns.