AFL ‘not happy’ after Tex calls out Cotchin’s ‘deliberate’ kick

The AFL is reportedly looking into Taylor Walker after the Crows star suggested the AFL would have treated him differently to Trent Cotchin.

Tensions flared between Cotchin and Walker.

The AFL is reportedly unhappy with Adelaide forward Taylor Walker after he publicly called out Trent Cotchin’s “deliberate” kick at him during the Crows’ win over Richmond at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Tempers flared between the pair after Walker bumped Cotchin into the turf in front of the benches. It appeared that Cotchin raised a leg in retaliation — prompting a furious reaction from Walker — as the duo got tangled up.

The ex-Tigers skipper escaped with a $2000 fine for the action from the Match Review Officer, however, Walker has suggested a harsher penalty would’ve been handed down if the roles were reversed.

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“Especially when it’s deliberate,” a frustrated Walker told Triple M regarding whether the incident deserved a harsher MRO sentence.

“I tell you what, if the shoe was on the other foot, I would have been missing the next month.”

Speaking on 3AW Sportsday, AFL reporter Sam McClure said the league was looking into Walker’s comments.

“It’s my understanding that the AFL are not happy and are looking into those comments,” McClure said.

“He’s essentially questioning the integrity of the Match Review Officer. I think it’ll be stronger than a please explain.

“All I can tell you is that the AFL are not happy about it.”

Crows legend Mark Riccituo said Giants star Toby Greene would’ve been suspended for “three or four weeks” had he committed the same act.

It comes as Walker has produced dazzling form — booting nine goals from two games including a game-high five majors against the Tigers — since returning from a six-game suspension due to a racism incident last year.

And the former Crows captain’s importance to the club from a leadership perspective has been heightened following skipper Rory Sloane’s season-ending ACL injury.

Although Walker likely won’t be installed as the permanent fill-in captain, AFL Media journalist Damian Barrett noted he’ll “probably be the unofficial leader”.

“We’ve all had judgments and views and strong opinions... but he’s got the second chance,” Barrett said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified on Monday night.

“The club has let him back in and it’s right now that we look at it from a footy perspective. It’s no coincidence that Elliott Himmelberg has had his two best games of football (since Walker returned), particularly the most recent one where he too kicked four goals in a big win against Richmond.

“While Sloane is going out, it’s not ideal that Tex Walker is going to become the man, at least symbolically, it’s actually the perfect scenario for Adelaide to get through this Sloane-less period.”

But Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes questioned how the Crows could market Walker as a leader of the club moving forward.

“How much do they put him on the promotional stuff and how much do they put him up for the media and let him build the club?” He posed.

“I don’t know if it sits that well just right now.”

Barrett conceded “it won’t sit well for a lot of people,” but believes Walker deserves plaudits from a footy perspective.

“Some people will never forgive, and that’s their right to not forgive,” he said.

“But everyone deserves a second chance. He’s got it, and from a footy side of it, you can’t talk more highly of him the way he’s carried himself in that regard.”

Originally published as AFL ‘not happy’ after Tex calls out Cotchin’s ‘deliberate’ kick