Richmond premiership captain Trent Cotchin has tried to explain why his former coach dropped a Winnie the Pooh reference during his speech at Gold Coast’s best and fairest night.
Damien Hardwick raised eyebrows on Monday night when he addressed Suns players and staff at their awards night.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cotchin responds to Hardwick’s speech.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 
The Suns won 11 games in Hardwick’s first season in charge to finishing a disappointing 13th after a maiden finals appearance looked on the cards at one point.
Hardwick, who won three premierships during an incredible stint at the Tigers, quoted Winne the Pooh A. A. Milne when speaking at the podium.
“The famous author of Christopher Robin and his bear Winnie the Pooh, A. A. Milne, penned the following, ‘you’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you know’,” he said.
“What I will say is this, we as a team are better than you think, we have more grit and resolve than you know, all the answers you need are in this room.
“Our club will do everything in its power to give you every opportunity to be successful.
“The reality is if you want to grow up with the big dogs, it’s time to get off the f***ing porch. Let’s go.”
Channel 7 commentator James Brayshaw was surprised by the children’s book reference.
“If you’re quoting from a book, I’m thinking Sir Alex Ferguson, I’m thinking Andre Agassi, I’m not thinking Winnie the Pooh,” he said on Talking Footy.
The panel then asked Cotchin to help decipher the message.
Cotchin played the majority of his career under the master coach, helping the club win three premierships during a stunning four-year period.
“Dimma is an incredible storyteller and he connects other stories that he’s read, not so much Winnie the Pooh in my time. I think what it tells me is that there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done at the footy club,” Cotchin said.
“He needs to start to provide that belief to these guys so they can start believing in themselves and executing about what the bigger picture is.
“I’ve heard that analogy before, he used different words … ‘if you want to piss with the big dogs, you need to get off the f-ing porch’.”
Key defender Sam Collins was a runaway winner of the best and fairest award, finishing well clear of surprise packet Bodhi Uwland in second place.
Midfield trio Sam Flanders, Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson rounded out the top five.