Meet Wenty’s kickin’ cousins

NICK and Jack Cottrell are as close as brothers. So much so that many people believe they are.

The Wentworth duo are actually cousins, although not everyone around the SFNL knows this. Even some within their own club believe they are siblings.

“We wondered if we should actually say anything and see if it keeps going,” Nick said with a laugh.

“Everyone thinks we’re brothers,” Jack quipped.

No matter the situation, Nick and Jack have been vital additions to their home club this season.

Nick, 24, has been a leader across the defensive 50 for the Roos, while Jack, 19, has provided an X-factor across the ground.

The elder cousin had spent the past five years in Adelaide following university studies in nutrition and dietetics and is now working at the Mildura Base Public Hospital, while the younger Cottrell spent the past two years studying and playing football at Ballarat Grammar in the hopes of reaching a higher level. He is studying at La Trobe University.

“It was a good coincidence that we came back at a similar time,” Nick said.

“It’s the first time we’ve been able to play alongside each other. It’s been good, I think I look for him a bit. Very enjoyable.”

“I’ve probably been more middle but we do get to play together in the backline a bit which is pretty special,” Jack said.

“We’ve always had a close family, it’s special to play alongside your cousin.”

Wentworth have a 3-4 record but the Cottrells feel that if the side play their best footy they can be finals contenders.

“I think we had a really good pre-season with a lot of running under our belt and we were flying,” Nick said.

“Since the season has started we’ve had a few ups and downs but the good patches of footy we’ve played have been really good and hopefully we can keep striving towards that.”

“The atmosphere at Wentworth is the same as when I left,” Jack said.

“I think we’ve still got our best footy to play. We’ve got some good talls, and I think we can take advantage of that coming into the back end of the season.”