2020 AFL Grand Final - Richmond v Geelong
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 24: Nick Vlastuin of the Tigers celebrates during the 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the Geelong Cats at The Gabba on October 24, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Trent Cotchin will step down from his role as captain for the 2022 season.

The Tigers veteran is the longest-serving captain of the Richmond Football Club, playing 188 of his 268 senior games as skipper.

Cotchin was appointed the role after the 2012 season, before leading the side to three premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

The midfielder decision to step down from the captaincy duties has left some big shoes to be filled. So, who could captain the Tigers in 2022?

RELATED: 'Caro' names the ideal next Richmond FC skipper 

We've named five options the Tigers are likely to consider.

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1. Dustin Martin

Age: 30

Career Games: 260

Dustin Martin's record speaks for itself. A three-time Norm Smith medalist, two-time best and fairest and a Brownlow medalist. He also performs when it counts, having won three Gary Ayres Awards for being the best finals player.

He is sixth in the competition by way of AFL rating points, averaging 22.6 disposals and 1.2 goals per game in 2021.

DUSTIN MARTIN
Midfielder
Richmond
2021 SEASON AVG
22.6
Disposals
2.3
Tackles
3.6
Clearances

As an extraordinarily good player, the captaincy would only add to Martin's long list of accolades. He would be well placed to continue the values and attitudes imparted by Cotchin under the well-documented strength of the pair's relationship.

Despite being contracted to the end of 2024, he will be 31-years old by the mid-season of 2022, meaning his potential appointment would likely be a short term prospect.

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