RICHMOND has signed captain and free agent Trent Cotchin on a long-term deal.

The Herald Sun understands Cotchin was tucked away by the Tigers on a new five-year extension after weeks of negotiations to take him off the market to rival clubs.

The new deal means he will remain at Richmond until at least the end of the 2020 season.

Earlier this year Cotchin became the youngest player in Tigers history to win three best-and-fairest awards this year after another stellar year.

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He has also guided the Tigers into two consecutive finals campaigns despite the disappointment of successive elimination final defeats.

The Tigers were facing a huge task to re-sign all of Cotchin, star defender Alex Rance and star half forward Dustin Martin, but it is a key development given he has nearly 12 months running on his deal.

Cotchin averaged 26 disposals in playing every game this year, rebounding after a quiet start to the year to lead the Tigers on a rampaging nine-match winning streak.

Hawthorn had inquired this year about Cotchin’s availability as it considered how to spend the money freed by Lance Franklin’s departure.

But Cotchin was always loyal and has taken away a big distraction that would have hung over his head all season.

“We are thrilled to have Trent commit to Richmond on such a long-term deal,” Tigers football manager Dan Richardson later told the club’s website.

“While we were extremely confident he would re-commit to the club at the end of his current contract, it’s a great result that the extension has been finalised so swiftly.

“Trent has grown into an outstanding leader of the Club, while maintaining an extremely high level of on-field performance.”

Key midfielder Brett Deledio did something similar when he signed a five-year deal on the eve of the season instead of letting talks drag.

Cotchin had signed only a two-year deal last time he was out of contract which put him out the first time he became a free agent.

Adelaide will likely have to deal with the distraction of Patrick Dangerfield’s contract all season.