Richmond coach Terry Wallace can hardly wait to get a pre-season into his AFL Rising Star nominee Trent Cotchin.

The number two pick in last year's draft has won the Round 12 nomination for the AFL's prestigious best young player award after collecting 14 disposals and kicking a goal in the win over Melbourne last Sunday.

In just five games, Cotchin is averaging nearly 17 possessions and a goal per game with his effort even more creditable considering his pre-season was ruined by an Achilles injury.

Wallace said on Tuesday he can hardly wait to see what his talented 18-year-old will be like next season when he finally gets a pre-season under his belt.

"I don't think there is a player in the competition - right to the very best in the competition - that can perform at their best without having that proper pre-season (under their belt)," Wallace said.

"So what we are getting out of Trent at the moment is only 60 to 70 percent of what you could get out of him with a pre-season behind him."

That is an exciting prospect for the Tigers, who already looked to have uncovered a future star given the young midfielder's poise and class in his five appearances to date.

"It's really pleasing for Trent and the football club," Wallace said.

"Every club loves to have their young players number one on display and number two given credit for their work as well, particularly for Trent who was not able to do the pre-season but his natural ability has come shining out and he has done a great job."
Wallace said Cotchin did not even join in full training until the start of the home and away season in late March - some five months behind the bulk of players in the AFL.

"He was a long, long way behind the others," Wallace said.

Cotchin was taken at pick two in last year's draft behind his former Northern Knights team-mate and now Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and ironically his nomination comes just one round after Kreuzer's.

The young Tiger admitted it was frustrating watching the likes of Kreuzer and his fellow draftees from last year make their senior debuts early in the season while he struggled to get fit.

"I just couldn't wait for my opportunity and was hoping I could make the most of it," he said.

"I was a fair way off during the pre-season and thought I had a long