carsales Drive-Thru car chats with Trent Cotchin

Trent Cotchin is many things, to many people. At the ripe age of thirty, the father of three is a Brownlow Medal winner, AFL All-Australian player, three-time Jack Dyer medalist and two-time premiership winning captain. The Richmond Tigers No.9 player is a football marvel.

Chatting to Cotchin for our carsales drive-thru series, it quickly becomes obvious that there’s far more to Trent Cotchin than a long list of career achievements. It seems that above all else, he’s kind and his ability to ‘read the play’ extends well beyond the footy field.

His new business Posisocks, co-founded with wife Brooke, is one example - positive slogans on socks as a daily trigger for positivity and improved mental health.

"The idea is born from giving people a really simple trigger first thing in the morning, to get themselves in a positive mindset. And our purpose as a company is to help inspire and potentially educate people on how to be more positive," says Cotchin.

He’s a car guy too, kicking off his legal driving years with a ‘fully sick’ Holden Commodore VL.

"The old man. Clearly, when you’re on a farm it’s different, I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time with my Dad out in the paddocks working away. When I was younger I’d be sitting on his lap and driving."

"We moved to the farm when I was about 10 – it [our car] was literally the biggest piece of junk. I can’t remember the model but it was a three on the tree [transmission]. So I learnt manual very early on. It was missing the door panel on the driver’s side and there were plenty of challenges! We threw a few bales of hay in the back and went around the farm, feeding the cows. My little sister would be my co-pilot."

"The first one I purchased… it was a [Holden Commodore] VL, a fully sick VL that had an exhaust system on it! I was about sixteen, thinking it would be my first car. But then when I got drafted I was still 17 so by then I had a little bit of money in the bank and I bought a Holden Commodore – I had a VZ at age 17!"

"Yeah, I would. Growing up in Reservoir it was the Holden and Ford conversation all the time. Then maybe vintage cars as I went through my early stages of high school through The Fast and the Furuious and Gone in 60 Seconds phase… that Shelby Mustang!

"Now for me, I think it’s more about a mixture of class and comfort with a bit of power. I’ve been lucky enough to have been in a [Jeep] Trackhawk [recently] which clearly has plenty of power but the smoothness of a luxury car."

"We got married in Flinders [Victoria] so we’re always heading back to that side of the coast and I think it’s a really nice drive through Red Hill and Arthur’s Seat - it’s a pretty amazing part of the world. Then the other way we head is towards Mount Macedon, Trentham and Daylesford – it’s a lot colder but beautiful!"

"It’s a long standing partnership. It’s pretty amazing for two businesses to be aligned in their thinking and stay connected. I feel as though both companies have similar values and I think the thing I love most about Jeep is that they were there through our most challenging times – certainly in my career. And that hasn’t wavered. I’d like to think they’ve had some challenging times as well and that we’ve been there as well.

"I think even as recent as the current Jeep campaign for them to say ‘we didn’t get it right but we fixed it’. I think that’s bold to put your hand up in that way. It rings true with the values we [Richmond FC] possess as a footy club but also personally."

"They’re big - and really cool. Having been in a Wrangler it’s just a bigger and sexier version of that. Even though the Wrangler is pretty sexy. It’s funny, with my Dad hat on it would be not a bad family wagon as well. Throwing the pram in the boot which is a tray, it’s been really handy! It’s pretty good space in the cabin. And clearly there’s the benefit of a tray that all the tradies would love - but I reckon mums might like the look of them too."

"No I haven’t. I think a few of the [Richmond] boys did it last year in the Jeep Trackhawk. I don’t mind the idea of speed but I think the pressure of racing would scare the crap out of me! I’d shit my pants - but it’d be pretty cool. It would be a cool experience!"

"I like the idea and I get it from a sustainability point of view. But you can’t beat the sound of a V8 taking off at the lights - or even cruising along. It feels unnatural for me, too, the no sound - but of course I get that it’s the way of the future."

"No I haven’t actually. My Dad has a horrific ute up on his current farm – it’s a horrible yellow colour and that’s called Barney - after a banana I think! My sister had a Mitsubishi Magna called Maggie the Magna."

"Yes! There’s something sort of…. getting back into one now it’s a bit meditative, driving a manual. You don’t get to do it often these days."

"Rock solid – 7.5 out of ten. Actually, rock solid… I’ll say 8."

"It’s ok! I know you’re not supposed to have any form of emotion showing – or is that for a passport photo? Mine is just ok. I would say 7 out of 10."

"Well I’m a lot better than Brooke, she gets her east and west rattled. And her Mum is ten times worse! Generally for sense of direction, I’m pretty good. And I’ll always try to find a shortcut! I’m gonna go with a 7."

"Oh, easy, Gone in 60 Seconds – getting chased down in the Shelby. I think it’s all down to that car."

"Mum and Dad moved up to Echuca and we’ve always been going to Moama – in the caravan parks. Mum and Dad moved up there full time six or seven years ago. That’s probably the most memorable road trip for me.

"With the kids now, it’s always exciting. We try to get away for a weekend here and there. I think just escaping anywhere that has that fresh air feel and a country vibe. Spending time away together is always the nicest of trips. If you can get a mix of coast or country, that’s the tip of the iceberg for me."

"Some people complain about getting in the car and driving places but I find it quite therapeutic - particularly if it’s a manual. I think with a manual you have to focus on that moment - clearly if you don’t your car won’t go anywhere. I typically chuck a podcast on every morning and every trip home from the club.  It’s amazing how much information you can consume and make use of your time when you’re in the car."

"Bachar Houli – I feel safe sitting in the passenger seat and he always likes to drive no matter if it’s a two or eight hour trip. He heads away a lot and designates himself as driver. He’d be a choice pick."

"Hand sanitiser. That’s pre-COVID, too. Germs sort of freak me out a little bit. Don’t tell anyone. I’m sure you will! And probably a charger cord."

"Yeah, they’re awful, particularly when you change your car over a little bit.  It’s challenging – the re-installing! Particularly with three of them! The width of cars is a challenge for three car seats! And, oh god, the amount of stuff that gets under the car seats! If only they could self-clean!"

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