Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was torn between anger and grudging respect after captain Trent Cotchin became the latest victim of Collingwood tagger Brent Macaffer.

Cotchin was restricted to 13 disposals – his lowest in an AFL game since 2010 – as the Tigers’ season lurched into crisis.

Friday night’s 38-point loss to the Magpies left Richmond with one win from four games.

Only two sides in the last five seasons have recovered from that start to make the finals – and one was Carlton’s elevation from ninth into the top eight last year because of the Essendon supplements scandal.

With fellow star Brett Deledio sidelined with the flareup of an Achilless tendon problem, Cotchin had to fire against Collingwood.

Instead, Macaffer tagged him out of the game and Cotchin’s frustration was evident in the last term when he tangled with Collingwood utility Clinton Young.

“He’s a better man than I am, put it that way,” Hardwick said of how Cotchin dealt with Macaffer’s attention.

“There are some people out there that do give the protection (to players such as Cotchin).

“At the end of the day, I will be showing my players that’s how you tag.

“(Macaffer) did an outstanding job.”

Hardwick was asked later who should be providing the protection – umpires or Cotchin’s team-mates.

“Don’t get me in trouble. I will leave that one to your imagination,” Hardwick replied.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said Macaffer had turned his career around after dropping off in 2011 and then suffered a knee injury that put him out of action in 2012.

“That mental attitude and effort is what’s driving him now. He’s been able to stay and stick to the tas,” Buckley said.

“His concentration’s been huge against the best ball winners in the competition and he’s getting better and better at it.

“It’s the strength of his character that’s getting it done and his commitment to his craft.”

Macaffer also was impressive in round three when he played on Geelong star Steve Johnson.

Asked if Macaffer’s game on Cotchin had been his best effort, Buckley said: “He’s had some good ones. But he’s getting better week by week

“Caff’s performance was huge.”