Fan's 'unacceptable' comment on photo of Trent Cotchin's kids

Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin has delivered a masterclass in putting Instagram knuckleheads in their place, following their surprise loss to Hawthorn last Thursday.

It’s been a tough start to the year for the Tigers, with only a draw and a loss after the AFL’s return from the coronavirus enforced hiatus.

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Despite winning the premiership last year, AFL die-hards will know Tigers fans (much like fans of most clubs, realistically) can occasionally be prone to some irrational criticism of their team.

Cotchin was on the receiving end of such criticism after posting a picture of his daughters the day after their loss to the Hawks - resulting in a bizarre barrage from one Tigers commenter.

“Focus on footy u guys are playing s***, I love Richmond but it’s not acceptable,” the user wrote, clearly giving away his shortened memory.

Classy as ever though, Cotchin was quick to politely point out that a picture of his children was not the forum he was looking for when it came to footy criticism.

“Thanks mate, appreciate your feedback but one loss doesn’t make a season and we are 3 rounds in,” he wrote in reply.

“Appreciate you posting this on a photo of my kids which will always be more important than a game. Thanks.”

Showing a keen ability for missing the point entirely, the Tigers fan didn’t seem too interested in listening to what Cotchin actually had to say.

“Cotchin I’m joking I love u bro. Ur my fav player I can’t believe u replied.” he wrote back.

Unfortunately for Cotchin, it doesn’t look like this particular fan picked up on the message he was trying to send - but hopefully other quick-fingered commenters will think twice about the right forum for their footy takes in future.

Richmond need more than Dustin Martin

Coach Damien Hardwick has warned Dustin Martin won't be Richmond's panacea as the struggling Tigers prepare to welcome back their biggest star against St Kilda next week.

With Martin sidelined by bruised ribs, the Tigers were held to just five goals for the second straight week in a 32-point defeat to Hawthorn on Thursday night.

Hardwick declared Martin a highly probable inclusion against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium in round four but said his underperforming needed a lift across the board.

"You take one of the best players, if not the best player in the league, out of your side and you'd prefer to have him than not," Hardwick said.

"But the reality is there's 22 other players that play our way, they just didn't play well enough tonight (against Hawthorn).

"Dustin is one player. He's not the Richmond Football Club.

"He's a very important player, don't get me wrong, but our expectation is that our players that pull on the jumper play a hell of a lot better than they did tonight and I've got to coach them better as well."

Martin has been incredibly durable over the course of his decorated career, with Thursday night's match just the eighth AFL game he has missed in 10 seasons.

The 28-year-old has played 226 of the Tigers' 233 matches since making his AFL debut in round one of the 2010 season.

He hurt his ribs in an intra-club match before round two and carried the injury into the Collingwood clash before being rested.