For someone who spent 16 seasons at the top of AFL, Trent Cotchin’s post-football life looks surprisingly different from what many might expect. Rather than slipping into a media gig or coaching role at Richmond, the former Tigers captain has taken his leadership into two other elite sporting clubs — and into the boardroom.

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Born: 7 April 1990 ·
AFL career: 2008–2023, Richmond Tigers ·
Games played: 306 ·
Brownlow Medal: 2012 ·
Premierships: 3 (2017, 2019, 2020) ·
Current role: Leadership Mentor, Brisbane Lions & Melbourne Storm

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Trent Cotchin played 306 games for Richmond Football Club (Wikipedia)
  • He won the Brownlow Medal in 2012 and three premierships (2017, 2019, 2020) (Richmond FC)
  • He is married to Brooke Cotchin and they have three children (Richmond FC)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth is not publicly disclosed
  • Specific home address is private
  • Future media or full-time coaching plans remain unspecified
3Timeline signal
  • 2008: AFL debut for Richmond
  • 2012: Brownlow Medal
  • 2023: Retirement from AFL
  • 2024: Leadership mentor roles begin
4What’s next
  • Continued mentorship with Brisbane Lions and Melbourne Storm (Apple Podcasts)
  • Podcast series “Shaped by Trent Cotchin” exploring life after sport (Apple Podcasts)
  • Occasional media and brand appearances (Apple Podcasts)

Six key stats, one pattern: Cotchin’s career numbers tell a story of sustained elite performance rather than flash-in-the-pan brilliance.

Attribute Value
Full name Trent William Cotchin
Date of birth 7 April 1990
AFL debut 2008
Retirement 2023
Spouse Brooke Cotchin
Children 3

What does Trent Cotchin do now?

Leadership mentor roles

According to his LinkedIn profile (public professional network), Trent Cotchin currently serves as a leadership mentor for both the Brisbane Lions (AFL) and the Melbourne Storm (NRL). The profile describes his work as helping athletes and staff develop “high-performance mindsets” and “team-first cultures.”

Corporate mentoring

The same LinkedIn profile indicates Cotchin also mentors leaders across corporate industries — a natural extension of the captaincy skills he honed over a decade at Richmond. His speaker biography from Celebrity Speakers (Australian booking agency) emphasises his “calm authority and emotional intelligence,” qualities that translate well beyond the boundary line.

Media appearances

In 2024 Cotchin launched a podcast series called Shaped by Trent Cotchin, which, according to its Apple Podcasts listing, explores “what happens when athletes step off the field and into the next chapter.” He also appeared on Dancing With the Stars in 2025, drawing comment from his wife Brooke (Now To Love (entertainment publication)).

The upshot

Cotchin is not simply drifting into retirement; he is actively building a multi-code leadership brand that leverages his AFL credibility while creating distance from the game that defined him.

Bottom line: Trent Cotchin’s post-AFL portfolio includes mentorship at two elite clubs, a podcast, and corporate speaking — a deliberate pivot that keeps him inside sport without being tied to one code.

Where does Trent Cotchin live now?

Family home location

Trent and Brooke Cotchin purchased a five-bedroom home in Melbourne’s inner south-east in 2023, according to reports in real-estate publications. The property provides space for their three children and is within reach of both the Brisbane Lions and Melbourne Storm training facilities when Cotchin travels for mentoring sessions.

Property details

Specific address and purchase price have not been made public. The family maintains a relatively private presence on social media, with Brooke Cotchin occasionally sharing glimpses of family life on Instagram (Now To Love).

The pattern: Cotchin has chosen to stay in Melbourne — the city of his birth and AFL career — rather than relocate to Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast, suggesting family stability remains his top priority.

Who is Trent Cotchin’s wife?

Brooke Cotchin background

Brooke Cotchin (née Loughnane) is a former netballer and fitness professional. She and Trent began dating as teenagers and married in 2016. Brooke has been a visible presence throughout his AFL career, often attending games and club events alongside their children.

Marriage and family

Their relationship is frequently described in interviews as a partnership built on mutual support. In a 2023 feature, SportsDads (parenting and sport platform) framed Cotchin’s retirement as “a decision made with family at the centre.” Brooke publicly supported his 2025 Dancing With the Stars appearance, writing on social media about the challenge of balancing his new commitments with home life.

“Curiosity is a motto I live by — it keeps me open to the next chapter, whether that’s footy, family, or something I haven’t tried yet.”

Trent Cotchin, via YouTube interview (2023)

The trade-off: The Cotchins have crafted a public-private boundary that allows Trent to remain in the spotlight while protecting their children from the full glare of celebrity.

How many children does Trent Cotchin have?

Names and ages

Trent and Brooke have three children, as recorded in a Richmond FC (club profile): daughters Harper and Mackenzie, and son Parker. Specific birthdates have not been publicly shared, but the children are all of primary-school age.

Family life

Brooke’s Instagram feed occasionally shows the family at home and on holidays, reinforcing the image of a close-knit unit. Cotchin himself has spoken about fatherhood reshaping his perspective on leadership — a theme he brings into his mentoring work with younger athletes.

  • Harper (eldest daughter)
  • Mackenzie (daughter)
  • Parker (son)
Why this matters

For a player who captained Richmond through its most successful era, the ability to reframe success around fatherhood — rather than premierships — is a powerful signal to other athletes considering life after sport.

What is Trent Cotchin’s AFL legacy?

Career highlights

Cotchin debuted for Richmond in 2008 and went on to play 306 games — placing him among the club’s most capped players (Richmond FC). He won the Brownlow Medal in 2012, was appointed captain in 2013, and led the Tigers to three premierships (2017, 2019, 2020) (Wikipedia).

Captaincy

His captaincy style was often described as “quiet” — leading by example rather than with loud speeches. A Celebrity Speakers biography characterises him as “courageous, inspirational, and deeply respected by teammates.”

Awards

  • Brownlow Medal (2012)
  • 3× AFL Premiership player (2017, 2019, 2020)
  • All-Australian (2012)
  • Richmond Best & Fairest (2011, 2012)

The implication: Cotchin’s legacy is not just the silverware but the culture he helped build — a team-first ethos that Richmond has tried to sustain after his departure.

Timeline: Trent Cotchin’s career milestones

From a teenager drafted in 2007 to a leadership mentor in 2024, here are the key dates that shaped his journey.

  • 7 April 1990 — Born in Melbourne, Victoria
  • 2008 — AFL debut for Richmond Tigers (Wikipedia)
  • 2012 — Won Brownlow Medal
  • 2013 — Appointed Richmond captain (Footywire)
  • 2017 — Won first AFL premiership
  • 2019 — Won second AFL premiership
  • 2020 — Won third AFL premiership
  • August 2023 — Retired from AFL (SportsDads)
  • 2024 — Began leadership mentor roles with Brisbane Lions and Melbourne Storm (LinkedIn)

Confirmed facts

  • Trent Cotchin is a former AFL player for Richmond
  • He is married to Brooke Cotchin
  • They have three children
  • He works as a leadership mentor for Brisbane Lions and Melbourne Storm
  • He won three premierships and a Brownlow Medal

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth
  • Specific home address
  • Future media or coaching intentions

In his own words

“The best leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room — it’s about knowing when to step back and let others step forward.”

Trent Cotchin, from his LinkedIn profile

“Watching him take on Dancing With the Stars is like watching him take on anything — he’s all in. But he still makes time to read bedtime stories.”

Brooke Cotchin, via Now To Love

Trent Cotchin has quietly engineered one of the more deliberate post-football transitions in recent AFL memory. By splitting his time between two elite clubs, a podcast, and a family-centred home life, he is proving that leaving the game doesn’t mean leaving leadership behind. For the Brisbane Lions and Melbourne Storm, the bet on a former Tiger captain is already paying dividends in the form of a mentor who understands high-stakes environments from every angle.

Related reading: Darcy Fogarty: AFL Career, Salary, Tattoo, and More

Additional sources

newidea.com.au, youtube.com

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Frequently asked questions

What is Trent Cotchin doing now?

He works as a leadership mentor for the Brisbane Lions and Melbourne Storm, runs a podcast called Shaped by Trent Cotchin, and does corporate speaking engagements.

Where does Trent Cotchin live?

He and his family live in a five-bedroom home in Melbourne’s inner south-east.

How many children does Trent Cotchin have?

Three: daughters Harper and Mackenzie, and son Parker.

Who is Trent Cotchin married to?

Brooke Cotchin (née Loughnane), a former netballer and fitness professional.

When did Trent Cotchin retire?

He announced his retirement from AFL in August 2023.

How many premierships did Trent Cotchin win?

Three: 2017, 2019, and 2020.

What awards did Trent Cotchin win?

He won the Brownlow Medal in 2012, was named All-Australian in 2012, and won Richmond’s Best and Fairest in 2011 and 2012.