Trent Cotchin’s Grand Final hopes could be saved by inconclusive GWS medical report
TRENT Cotchin’s premiership hopes could be saved by an inconclusive GWS Giants medical report that cannot pinpoint when Dylan Shiel was concussed.
Richmond
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A GWS medical report which cannot state when Dylan Shiel was concussed could save Trent Cotchin’s Grand Final hopes.
The Richmond star will have his fate decided at a 9am meeting of the match review panel after his high hit on GWS star Shiel.
A suspension for the inspirational Richmond captain, who has starred in both finals this year, would be a devastating twist to its fairytale surge.
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But in a lifeline for his case, the Herald Sun can reveal GWS doctors could not decide which of two first-quarter incidents concussed Shiel.
Shiel played on for another 10 minutes then was hit by Richmond’s David Astbury just seconds before the quarter-time break where his day ended.
The MRP could still decide the hit is of sufficient force to see Cotchin suspended for a week for a medium-impact, careless hit.
But the uncertainty will help his case if the GWS doctors cannot directly attribute his hit to the concussion Shiel suffered.
It is understood the MRP considered meeting on Sunday to decide Cotchin’s fate but two of the four panel members had prior commitments.
Richmond would be certain to fight any suspension at a Tuesday tribunal case, then potentially a Thursday appeal in what could be a distracting week-long circus.
The most important consideration is whether Cotchin made a genuine attempt at winning the ball rather than taking out Shiel.
If they judge the ball was his only focus, Shiel’s concussion is irrelevant to the MRP members Michael Christian, Nathan Burke, Jason Johnson and Michael Jamison.
Of particular concern to the match review panel will be Cotchin’s decision to dip his shoulder into Shiel rather than reach for the ball.
Sports medico Peter Larkins said Cotchin might benefit from shades of grey in the GWS medical report.
“They were monitoring him after the Cotchin incident but he stayed on the ground and was favouring his chronic right shoulder injury,’’ he told the Herald Sun.
“He was definitely hit in the head. But if the medical report says they were happy he wasn’t developing signs of concussion until the second incident, it becomes more important.
“If that is right, then Cotchin is much better off.”
It is an impossibly difficult case for the MRP because Cotchin ended up with the ball but did not seem to make it his first objective.
Half-back Brandon Ellis is expected to be handed only a fine for his head-high hit on Lachie Whitfield in the last moments of the game.
Ellis clipped Whitfield to the head but the incident would be only a $1500 fine if it was assessed as low impact, to the head and careless.
Ellis also suffered an arm injury but will play, Kane Lambert shrugged off a foot concern and David Astbury suffered an AC joint issue.
Dustin Martin will play with bruised ribs after coming down heavily in a forward 50 collision but played out the game with a brilliant three-goal performance.
Adelaide’s Mitch McGovern ran at 80 per cent on Friday as he attempts to overcome a hamstring injury but is rated an outside chance of returning.
Richmond leadership group member Jack Riewoldt said Cotchin always made the ball his focus.
“To be honest I can’t really comment too much but what I will say about Trent is the way he attacks the ball shows exactly what sort of player he is,” he said.
“He attacks the ball with ferocious spirit and it was fantastic to see him stand up again for us.
“He was the best player on the ground for us and he led from the front and that comes down to him wanting the ball more than any other player.
“The club will wait if anything does come out of it, but he is a ferocious animal and you only have to see the way he attacks the ball to see what it means to him.”
Incoming AFL football boss Steve Hocking is expected to consider a system where the MRP meets the morning after all games to decide upon penalties.
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