Trent Cotchin free to play but MRP decision is a joke, writes Mark Robinson

IT’S great Trent Cotchin will play in the AFL grand final, but has the MRP and the league got itself in a giant pickle? MARK ROBINSON says from his side, the decision is a ‘joke’.

Trent Cotchin faces the media after being cleared by the AFL’s MRP. Pic: Michael Klein

THE good news is Trent Cotchin is playing in Saturday’s Grand Final.

The bad news is the match review panel and the AFL once again have opened themselves up to questions of consistency. And uncertainty.

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How can the football world be divided so much on one particular incident?

From this side, it’s a joke Cotchin escaped sanction.

He chose to bump Dylan Shiel as he contested the ball. His shoulder hit Shiel in the head and Shiel was effectively out of the game at quarter-time on Saturday because he struggled to see the ball.

One of the Giants’ most damaging midfielders missed three quarters of footy because, as he was playing the ball, an opponent crashed into his head.

Shiel was concussed by Cotchin. Yes, it wasn’t deliberate, it wasn’t malicious, but the responsibility is with Cotchin to ensure Shiel is not hit in the head.

If Cotchin was going for the ball, why didn’t he put his hands out front to try to gather the ball?

The panel ruling said: “Cotchin was seeking to win possession as his line of direction was always towards the ball and not his opponent. The panel determined that Cotchin was seeking to contest the ball and therefore contact was not unreasonable in the circumstances.’’

Premiership coach Mark Williams, whose daughter is in a relationship with Shiel, said Shiel felt let down by the system.

So he should because it’s a flawed system.

“He feels cheated,’’ Williams said on SEN.

Giant Jonathon Patton consoles Dylan Shiel who was forced to sit out the game with concussion. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“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.’’

It’s a staggering decision because the AFL tightened its interpretations to protect the head and, in Grand Final week, seemingly relaxed their interpretations to allow Cotchin to play.

Imagine if Cotchin took out Scott Pendlebury and the reaction of the Collingwood crew headed by Eddie McGuire?

Imagine if it was Toby Greene who took out Cotchin?’

Trent Cotchin and the Tigers dodged a hurdle. Pic: Michael Klein

The problem is, no one cares about Shiel or the Giants to seriously kick up a stink and the AFL, of course, wants Cotchin to play.

But what’s done is done and, much like the clash jumper debate, everyone has to live with the consequences.

The further good news is because Cotchin plays, exactly what to do with Dustin Martin is less predictable.

If Cotchin was suspended, it was likely Anthony Miles would replace him in the midfield which would mean Martin would’ve been required to play greater minutes also in the midfield.

With Cotchin in, Martin can remain the powerhouse forward, which right now appears to the X-factor project.

Against the Giants on Saturday, Martin played 61 per cent forward, which was his highest percentage of the season, and do note that he averages just 29 per cent game-time forward across the season.

Of course, the same debate about where to start Martin was had by Geelong coaches about where to start Patrick Dangerfield.

The Cats used Dangerfield forward for 82 per cent of the first quarter last Friday night and the result was the Cats lost clearances by four, contested footy by 11, conceded 16 inside 50s and were 31 points down at quarter time.

Not sure the Tigers will allow such first-quarter luxuries for the opposition, so we can expect Martin in the middle with Cotchin beside him.

Whether you agree with the match review panel decision or not, that midfield combo is absolutely needed by Richmond to knock over the Crows, albeit with a little time forward for the Brownlow Medallist.

Trent Cotchin was all smiles after being cleared by the MRP. Pic: Michael Klein