Richmond premiership captain Trent Cotchin will trade in the yellow and black for the Ballan footy jumper.
Ballan was one of five clubs to be part of the 2023 ‘The Carlton Draft’ where five former AFL players are drafted to one of five local clubs for a one off match.
Isaac Smith was taken at pick up by Bunyip before the Blues selected Cotchin with pick two.
Cotchin will line up for Ballan in round eight against Newlyn on June 1 in its Central Highlands Football League clash.
The Brownlow medallist said he was quite happy to go pick two to Ballan.
“You always watch the seniors growing up as a kid as part of your local footy club,” he said.
“As much as I didn’t grow up in the country you do realise how big it is for those communities with young kids there watching. There will be families that have been part of the club for a very long time, there will be farmers and everyone from different walks of life coming together to have a great day,
“There’s a brand new facility which is even more exciting and I think the deck is in pretty good knick.”
Cotchin said he was fine with changing the Tigers jumper for a Blues one, saying it’s way better than having to put on a Collingwood jumper.
As for expectations for the game.
“Hopefully none from anyone,” he laughed saying he was expecting some feedback on his performance.
“To get through the game is probably my only hope and expectation would be a real coup.
“I think I’ll try and play on different parts of the field and see what the game is throwing up.”
Ballan president David O’Hanlon said they were thrilled to get Cotchin in for the day,
“It doesn’t happen every day and we’ve had a bit of a rough couple of years with new renovations that have taken way longer than expected,” he said.
“To get an AFL superstar who pretty much everyone in the country know who that is pretty special
“We had our first home game since 2021 [earlier in the season] and now Trent coming down will be massive
“We were pretty keen to go for him and it’s gone our way, we’re pretty happy.”
