Trent Cotchin says he was going for the ball in clash with Dylan Shiel, Damien Hardwick confident

UPDATE: TRENT Cotchin has declared he was going for the ball in his clash with Dylan Shiel and a chorus of former players have thrown their support behind the Tigers skipper. HAVE YOUR SAY

Trent Cotchin puts a big hit on Dylan Shiel.

INSPIRATIONAL Richmond captain Trent Cotchin is confident he will be right to play in Saturday’s Grand Final against Adelaide at the MCG, insisting he only had eyes for the ball in his first-term collision on Giant Dylan Shiel.

Cotchin could be sweating on Monday’s match review panel report after being involved in a heavy collision with Shiel in the opening term.

No free kick was paid at the time but Shiel was left dazed and later ruled out of the clash with concussion.

SOUVENIR EDITION: MORE THAN 15 PAGES OF FALLOUT FROM RICHMOND’S PRELIMINARY FINAL WIN IN YOUR SUNDAY HERALD SUN

The Tigers star is treading a match review panel tightrope given he has already had two fines for classifiable offences this season. It would only take one more for Cotchin to be suspended.

However, the 27-year-old said his sole intent was winning the ball, which he hopes will ensure he does not have a problem.

Asked if he was worried about the MRP’s assessment of the bump, Cotchin said: “I don’t think so, from memory, I was going for the footy.”

Trent Cotchin is facing a possible suspension for the Grand Final.

“(My instinct) was to hit the contest hard, just going for the ball.

“I would like to think so (that he will be fine). Again, it is out of my control — it is what it is.”

Tiger coach Damien Hardwick and teammate Brandon Ellis backed Cotchin as a ball player and to avoid any MRP sanction.

“I think so (he’ll get off), at the end of the day (he’s a) ball player. The fact of the matter is he hasn’t been reported,” he said.

AFL legend Leigh Matthews believes Cotchin should be cleared, declaring there was no doubt the Tigers skipper had eyes for the ball.

MARK ROBINSON: COTCHIN LOOMS AS HEARTBREAK STORY OF 2017 GRAND FINAL

JUMPERS: TIGERS TO WEAR CLASH STRIP IN DECIDER

PLAYER RATINGS: EVERY TIGER, GIANT ASSESSED

DANIEL RIOLI: TIGER DESTINED FOR THE GRAND STAGE

REPORT: TIGERS RIDE YELLOW AND BLACK WAVE TO GRAND FINAL

“He’s going for the footy, his hands are down for the football and he ends up with the footy in his hands,” he said on Channel 7.

“You can’t bump high but that wasn’t a bump, that was more a collision for me.

“You’ve got to be able to attack the footy with as much force and ferocity as you can summons.

“I think it would be really bad for the game if there was a problem with that incident.”

Ellis said there was little more Cotchin could have done.

“Mate, he won the ball, (and) he went for the ball,” he told the Sunday Herald Sun.

“What more do you want him to do?”

Giants coach Leon Cameron agreed, saying he was a “ball player”.

“I wouldn’t think there’d be anything in it,” he said.

Shiel played out the first quarter after the clash and underwent a concussion test at quarter-time, which he failed. He did not return to the field.

It will only take one more fine for a classifiable offence for Cotchin to receive a one-match suspension.

Hawthorn premiership player Brad Sewell said Shiel should have done more to protect himself and brace for potential contact.

“There is duty of care on both players and Dylan Shiel just opens himself up completely, he doesn’t attempt to protect himself,” he said.

“He knows Cotchin is coming.

“Cotchin has eyes for the ball only.

Dylan Shiel suffered delayed concussion after the incident. Picture: Getty

“Whether we like it or not, there is an unspoken bias for finals. You want to see the very best players out there playing every week but when it’s finals and Grand Finals, for something that is almost innocuous in that he’s completely going for the ball Trent Cotchin there is no thought there whatsoever for Shiel ... he has to be fine.”

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin joined the chorus of former players to throw their support behind Cotchin.

“He was driving at the ball ... I think he plays,” he told Channel 7.

“It would be so sad to see a player miss for really attacking the footy like that.”

Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling didn’t believe there was any need for concern.

“Incidental contact ... there may have been head high contact but he didn’t bump,” he told Channel 7.

Fellow commentator Luke Darcy agreed: “You don’t miss a Grand Final for that.”

However, it was reported in the second quarter that Shiel had gone to the Giants’ rooms to get checked with the results sure to play a part in Cotchin’s immediate future.

Wayne Carey said he doesn’t believe Cotchin will be in strife.

“He went hard and low, but the footy is right there,” Carey said on Triple M.

“No case to answer for mine.”

Cotchin in NO trouble for contact. Went low, hard, eyes on ball and won it. Everything players are taught to do #AFLfinals #AFLTigersGiants

— Campbell brown (@Browndogg_30x) September 23, 2017

If Cotchin misses a GF for that then the footy gods have spoken for his two cheap shots earlier in the year #AFLTigersGiants #karma

— MelbTiger Talk (@MelbTigerTalk) September 23, 2017

Last game for cotchin this year. GONE!!!!

— harald hardrada (@brad_harald) September 23, 2017

Wouldn't have thought Cotchin has anything to worry about

— 🌈Andy Jamz (@AndyJamberg) September 23, 2017

Lol at Cotchin trying to be a tough guy. Just play your normal game, bro #AFLTigersGIANTS

— Tom Ditchburn 🌈 (@Tditchy15) September 23, 2017

Minimum 2 weeks, Fyfe received time for incidental contact and this is the same. Deledio is a liability at the moment for GWS.

— Rod (@Polish_62) September 23, 2017

Originally published as Trent Cotchin says he was going for the ball in clash with Dylan Shiel, Damien Hardwick confident