Is this the vision that saves Cotchin from missing a Grand Final?

Is this the vision that saves Cotchin from missing a Grand Final?

RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin is free to play in the AFL grand final, the league has announced.

The star midfielder’s high bump to the head of Giants gun Dylan Shiel was scheduled to be reviewed by the AFL Match Review Panel on Monday morning.

Cotchin collected Shiel across the chin with his shoulder while cannoning into a contest to try and win a disputed ball in the first quarter of Richmond’s preliminary final victory of GWS at the MCG.

Channel 7 first reported on Monday morning Cotchin has been cleared, less than two hours after MRP members began their review of reportable offences across both preliminary finals.

I understand Trent Cotchin has been cleared by the MRP.@Richmond_FC @7NewsMelbourne — Nathan Templeton (@nathantemp7) September 25, 2017

The report was confirmed by AFL media manager Patrick Keane shortly after.

TCotchin cleared contact DShiel. Panel said Cotchin direction was in line of ball, not opponent. Contact not unreasonable in circumstances. — Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) September 25, 2017

The MRP ruled Cotchin was right to pursue the football as he did and deemed the contact made to Shiel’s head was “not unreasonable” given how close he came to taking possession of the ball before Shiel.

“It was the view of the panel that Cotchin was seeking to win possession as his line of direction was always towards the ball and not his opponent,” The Match Review Panel report stated.

“The panel determined that Cotchin was seeking to contest the ball and therefore contact was not unreasonable in the circumstances.”

Cotchin broke his silence on the decision on Monday afternoon.

“(I was) obviously relieved in a sense, given there was so much attention about it, but as it always has been, it’s about the process and we’re looking forward to a big week on the track and hopefully an even bigger Saturday,” Cotchin said.

“I was pretty relaxed. My intention was always to go for the footy, so I was glad that was the way they ruled it and that’s about all that was in my control.

“It was out of my control so there was no point worrying about it and sitting there concerning myself with what could be or couldn’t be. I just wanted to show up (to training) and do what I normally do.”

Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph reported the MRP were divided on the Cotchin verdict for a full two hours before a decision was reached.

MRP divided for two hours on scotch. Finally agreed on a consensus. Felt he ran at the line of the ball. — Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) September 25, 2017

The MRP also announced Richmond defender Brandon Ellis is free to play in the grand final after being cleared for his hit on Giants star Lachie Whitfield, while Adelaide superstar Rory Sloane was also cleared for his front-on heavy contact with Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield.

SHIEL ‘FEELS COMPLETELY CHEATED’

FOOTY commentators on Monday celebrated Cotchin’s huge news, however, the controversial decision from the MRP has still come under fire.

Shiel is yet to speak publicly about the incident but former GWS assistant coach Mark Williams says he’s talked to the young star, who feels “cheated” by the system after being robbed of the chance to perform at his best during the preliminary final.

Speaking on SEN radio, Williams was adamant Cotchin should have been suspended and said Shiel was baffled by the decision to clear him of any wrongdoing.

“Great player, great leader, I love him (Cotchin) a lot but I’ll tell you who I love more and that’s Dylan Shiel,” Williams said.

“Everyone has missed the point of Dylan because as much as everyone would love ‘Cotchy’ to play and that’s great, Dylan didn’t get to play in a preliminary final, the biggest game of his career and the one that he was excelling in by the way.

“Did he get concussed? Yes he did. And did he get concussed in the first collision with Cotchy? Yes he did.

“He could not see properly after that.

“He feels cheated. I’ve talked to him and he thinks, ‘Wait a minute, the system — I got hit in the head by Cotchy, didn’t get a free kick even, I got hit in the head again by David Astbury, didn’t get a free kick, what’s going on?’

“I feel for him.

“(He feels) completely cheated by the system. What in the hell?”

Former Brisbane Lions player Scott Harding was also outraged by the MRP ruling, declaring the game has “lost its integrity”.

What a rort. Intent, high contact & player out for the remainder of game. Not even a fine! #AFL has finally lost its integrity #cotchin — Scott Harding (@scotthardingUH) September 25, 2017

As a football player - you are taught to go for the ball. First. If you are first you will likely be protected. In this case Cotchin was 2nd — Scott Harding (@scotthardingUH) September 25, 2017

I'm glad all are cleared... but there is no way Ellis shouldn't have been fined. Elected to bump & got him high. — Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) September 25, 2017

Great result for the game and good outcome but no way he plays if it’s a minor round game. #AFLGrandFinal https://t.co/IIbrbtHEXN — Kane Cornes (@kanecornes) September 25, 2017

Let's get something really clear:



So happy that Trent Cotchin is playing in the GF.



But given the rules; that's a very poor decision MRP. — Sam McClure (@sam_mcclure) September 25, 2017

Let's just remember, Patrick Dangerfield is ineligible for tonight's Brownlow because of a tackle.



Cotchin is very lucky. — Sam McClure (@sam_mcclure) September 25, 2017

The Cotchin Precedent will now be rigorously applied to all incidents regardless of head injury caused...until it isn't.#Farce — Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) September 25, 2017

Cotchin was always going to get off, Ellis escaping without even a fine bizarre ... — Mark Stevens (@Stevo7AFL) September 25, 2017

CONCUSSION CONFUSION KEY

The Herald Sun reported on Monday, the GWS medical report given to the MRP indicated the club’s doctors were uncertain if Cotchin’s hit caused Shiel’s concussion symptoms or if a second collision between Shiel and Richmond’s David Astbury — 10 minutes later in the first quarter — could have caused the damage.

Footy legend Jonathan Brown on Monday morning said he was confident Cotchin would be cleared.

“There is enough doubt there David Astbury hit him just before quarter time,” Brown told Nova 100’s Chrissie, Sam and Browny.

“What happened 10 minutes into the first quarter, Trent Cotchin was going to be fractionally second to the ball, so he curled up into a ball, made Shield earn it, but he did open his hand up late and the ball was there.

“I call them a bang-bang contest when you know you are going to be split seconds late but you’ve still got to drive through the contest, that is a football incident.

“Dylan Shiel for the next 15 minutes was GWS’ best player. He stayed down but I think he hurt his shoulder in that clash. David Astbury, with 10 seconds to go, crashed into Dylan Shiel and hit him also. He could have been shaken up from that. There is enough of a grey area, when the GWS doctor gives his medical report, which the MRP people will look at, you can’t tell which incident it was from.

“I agree with Eddie McGuire that if he gets suspended it will be in the high court by Thursday night, they will have an injunction, Trent Cotchin will play no matter what.”

GRAND FINAL HAD NO BEARING

Despite the enormous consequence of a one-match suspension, MRP member Michael Christian said on Monday morning the MRP would not take into account the fact any sanction will cost Cotchin a spot in the grand final.

The Collingwood great told 3AW Radio a ruling on whether Cotchin was careless in making high contact with Shiel, despite making a genuine attempt at winning the football, will be the key decision confronting the panel.

“We are assessing incidents as the incident, irrespective of if it’s the first round or the final round or Grand Final week,” Christian said.

“Trent Cotchin is one incident, but there’s probably 10 or 11 incidents we’ll be looking at this morning.

“I can’t comment right now on the specifics of Trent Cotchin and Dylan Shiel, but what I can say is that when we assess different cases, there are specific provisions in the tribunal guidelines that talk about forceful, front-on contact.

“So the decision that we’re faced with — and I don’t want to talk specifically about the Cotchin incident — is whether forceful front-on contact incident, whether the player was genuinely contesting the ball or whether there was some carelessness attached to the act.

“If it’s deemed that a player in that situation is genuinely contesting the ball, there will be no case to answer.”

BARTLETT’S WORRIES EASED

Earlier, Tigers legend Kevin Bartlett said he was worried that Cotchin would be rubbed out for the grand final after reviewing the video of the midfielder’s clash with Shiel.

“Since the game, I’ve watched it from all angles and videos available, and I am concerned under league rules that Cotchin didn’t have his arms outstretched towards the ball when he hit Shiel in the head with his shoulder,” Bartlett wrote in a column for SEN.

“Cotchin’s right arm was tucked in when contact was made.

“This is going to be a line ball decision. In what part the consequences of finding Cotchin guilty will play on the minds of the MRP is unknown.

“A careless finding means the captain misses the Grand Final before tribunal or appeal challenges.

“Tiger fans should be buoyed by the comments of former AFL boss Adrian Anderson who formulated the rules, for he believes he should get off.

“And former MRP member Jimmy Bartel also says he thinks Cotchin will get the benefit of the doubt.”

Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said the AFL must suspend Cotchin after putting themselves into a corner with their loaded rhetoric throughout the 2017 season.

Thomas took a swipe at AFL “imbeciles” for creating a system where it is impossible to justify Cotchin not being sanctioned by the MRP.

Under AFL criteria Cotchin CAN’T play. Once again imbeciles have got themselves into a corner of self righteousness & society do-gooding. — Grant Thomas (@Thomo_Grant) September 24, 2017

If you tried to explain this to anyone overseas they’d think you were mad. Because AFL did not define an intent component they are stuffed — Grant Thomas (@Thomo_Grant) September 24, 2017

Heads sacrosanct. Player relinquishes rights if he connects with head. These “holier than thou” society & brand driven stances r unworkable — Grant Thomas (@Thomo_Grant) September 24, 2017

I sincerely, earnestly hope AFL do what we expect & compromise themselves & allow him to play. I really do. But by letter of law he’s gone — Grant Thomas (@Thomo_Grant) September 24, 2017