Trent Cotchin: What He Does Now, Wife, Net Worth & Retirement

Few AFL leaders build a legacy as clear-cut as Trent Cotchin’s: three premierships, a Brownlow Medal, and a decade-long captaincy at Richmond. Yet the story that gets less airtime is the one unfolding now—how a former midfield general remakes himself as a leadership mentor across two football codes and beyond. This profile pieces together that transition using verified career milestones, current roles, and the personal anchors that shape his post-football life.

Former AFL Captain: Richmond Football Club (2013–2022) ·
Games Played (AFL): 306 (87th most all-time) ·
Premierships Won: 3 (2017, 2019, 2020) ·
Current Career: Leadership Mentor (Brisbane Lions, Melbourne Storm, corporate) ·
Married To: Brooke Cotchin (since 2016)

Seven key identifiers paint a complete picture of the man behind the headlines.

What does Trent Cotchin do now?

Leadership mentor roles

• Works as a leadership mentor for Brisbane Lions (AFL) and Melbourne Storm (NRL), according to his LinkedIn (professional networking profile).
• Richmond’s retirement announcement described him as a “transformative” figure in developing leadership culture (Richmond FC – official club website).

Corporate mentoring

• Cotchin also mentors leaders across corporate industries (LinkedIn – professional networking platform).
• His LinkedIn description reads: “3× premiership captain, high-performance culture builder, leadership mentor.”

Media appearances

• He appears on AFL-themed podcasts and at corporate events, including a breakfast appearance at Moe Racing Club promoted via Instagram (social media platform).

What this means: Cotchin’s post-playing career isn’t a series of one-off gigs but a deliberate second act built on the leadership philosophy he developed at Punt Road. The demand from both sport and business validates his approach.

Who is Trent Cotchin’s wife?

Brooke Cotchin’s background

• Brooke (née Kennedy) was Trent’s high school sweetheart and the daughter of AFL legend Rick Kennedy (New Idea – Australian lifestyle magazine).
• The couple married in 2016 (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia).

Their wedding

• Trent and Brooke were married in a private ceremony attended by family and teammates.

Family life

• They have three children: Harper, Mackenzie, and Parker (New Idea – Australian lifestyle magazine).
• Brooke has been credited by Trent for helping him through difficult periods during his playing career (New Idea – Australian lifestyle magazine).

The pattern: Brooke has been a constant through Cotchin’s entire adult life—from high school to the captaincy, from three premierships to retirement. Her public support reflects a partnership that grounds his high-pressure career transitions.

How much is Trent Cotchin worth?

AFL career earnings

• As a longtime captain and star midfielder, Cotchin was among Richmond’s highest-paid players. Specific salary figures aren’t publicly available, but top-tier AFL players typically earn between $600,000–$1.2 million per season.

Endorsements

• Cotchin had sponsorship deals with brands such as Nike and others during his playing days. Post-career income likely includes speaking fees and mentorship retainers.

Post-football income

• His leadership mentor roles with the Brisbane Lions, Melbourne Storm, and corporate clients provide ongoing income. No verified net worth figure exists in public records.

Why this matters: The lack of a confirmed net worth isn’t unusual for active retired athletes who haven’t sold a business or taken a public company role. It underscores that his current focus is on building a mentoring practice, not cashing out.

What happened to Trent Cotchin?

Retirement announcement

• Cotchin announced his retirement from the AFL on 9 August 2023, effective at the end of the 2023 season (Richmond FC – official club statement).
• He was joined by wife Brooke and their three children at Punt Road Oval for the announcement.

Last AFL season

• He finished his career with a club-record 306 games for Richmond (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia).
• Richmond described him as a “towering” figure who transformed the club’s leadership culture (Richmond FC – official club website).

Current activities

• He transitioned to a leadership mentor role in early 2024, working across AFL and NRL clubs.

The implication: Cotchin didn’t just retire—he executed a planned handover from on-field captain to off-field culture builder, a transition that Richmond itself had a hand in shaping.

Where does Trent Cotchin live now?

Melbourne base

• Cotchin and his family live in Melbourne, Victoria.

Family home

• They purchased and renovated a five-bedroom Federation home in Melbourne’s inner north in 2020, as featured by Homes to Love (Australian home design publication).

What this tells us: Cotchin’s choice to stay in Melbourne—rather than move to Queensland for his Brisbane Lions role—signals a family-first priority, with travel built around his mentoring commitments.

Cotchin’s journey from AFL captain to multi-sport mentor is a case study in intentional transition. He didn’t just walk away from football; he reshaped his lifetime of leadership into a new career that serves both elite athletes and corporate clients. For the Australian sports fan who wonders what retired champions do next, the answer is clear: they build cultures—and in Cotchin’s case, they build them across codes, industries, and for the long haul.