JONATHAN Brown says players’ partners should “stay out of it” after Trent Cotchin’s wife Brooke jumped to the defence of her man online last Saturday.

“I’m not sure, I don’t know Cotch that well but Cotch would have died, when he walked down to the newsagency the next day to grab the Herald Sun,” Brown told Nova 100.

Brooke Cotchin posted a supportive message on her Instagram account after Richmond’s heavy loss to West Coast and then agreed to an exclusive interview with the Sunday Herald Sun after the social media post gained traction.

Every week you go out and give your all. To have to listen to the constant criticism you have had to put up with especially of late has been incredibly hard. Those closest to you know just how dedicated you are to your football club and team mates on and off the field. As a wise man once told me 'People's opinions are none of our business' We love you and are so proud of you. We can't wait to have you home ❤️ @trentcotchin9 #ourno1 A photo posted by Brooke Cotchin (@blkcotchin) on Apr 15, 2016 at 6:04am PDT

Round 18

“Expressing your feelings, you can understand but ... it’s the perception, obviously Richmond are going through a tough time, we just want to be big boys, we want to be men and it’s a man game.”

Brown said it was a “no-go zone” for his wife Kylie to make comments publicly during his decorated career at the Brisbane Lions.

“We get great support from our partners and our loved ones, they are there to support you at home, through the tough times, which is great, they do a fantastic job the girls, but they need to stay out of it publicly,” Brown said.

“This was a no-go zone from my wife Kylie, certainly I never had to muzzle her ... she would never have spoken publicly about it.”

Brown said the comments only perpetuate a perception Richmond has a “soft underbelly”.

“You know what, if Luke Hodge’s partner Loz did the same thing, after Hodgey broke his arm a couple of weeks ago, they had a bad loss against Geelong, you know what it would be a non-story because Luke Hodge and the Hawthorn Football Club has performed under pressure and in finals and won premierships, but it’s this perception, Richmond has a soft underbelly, sometimes from the leaders, when these sort of stories come out it just perpetuates the perception.”

THE BOYS DISCUSS THE TIGERS, PIES, GRANT HACKETT AND HIGH-FLYING CROWS IN THIS WEEK’S SUPERFOOTY PODCAST: