Jonathan Brown tells WAGs to ‘stay out of it publicly’ after Brooke Cotchin defends husband Trent

AFL great Jonathan Brown says the partners of footy players should be seen and not heard after this WAG spoke out.

2015 Brownlow medal. Trent Cotchin and wife Brooke . Pic: Michael Klein.

JONATHAN Brown has told the partners of footballers to keep their support private after the wife of under-siege Richmond captain Trent Cotchin spoke out in his defence on the weekend.

Cotchin has been targeted by sections of the media and the general public during the Tigers’ underwhelming start to the season, prompting his wife, Brooke, to offer her support on Instagram and in an interview with the Sunday Herald Sun.

“It’s easy to sit there and pass judgment on what someone’s doing,” Brooke told the Herald Sun. “But the reality is the majority of those people aren’t out there (on the field) and they’ve never been out there before ...

“There’s a lot of people on social media that just want to have a crack at you for no reason. That is the hardest thing — someone who is so perfect in our eyes is constantly getting criticised for anything and everything.”

But Brown says Brooke should have kept her thoughts behind closed doors. “Cotch would have died when he walked down to the newsagency the next day to grab the Herald Sun,” Brown said on Nova 100’s Chrissie Sam & Browny.

“We get great support from our partners and our loved ones. They’re there to support you at home, through the tough times, which is great, they do a fantastic job the girls, but they need to stay out of it publicly.

“This was a no go zone for my wife, Kylie. Certainly I never had to muzzle her but she would never have spoken publicly about it.”

Brooke and Trent Cotchin at last year’s Brownlow Medal.

Brown believed Brooke’s comments had sparked a backlash because of Richmond’s recent finals struggles. “It’s just the perception,” he said. “Obviously Richmond are going through a tough time ... we just want to be big boys, we want to be men and it’s a man game.

“You know what, if Luke Hodge’s partner Loz did the same thing — say if when Hodgey broke his arm a couple of weeks ago (and) they had a bad loss against Geelong — you know what, it would be a non-story because Luke Hodge and the Hawthorn Football Club has performed under pressure and in finals and won premierships.

“But it’s this perception, Richmond has a soft underbelly, sometimes from the leaders. When these sort of stories come out it just perpetuates the perception.”

The three-time Brisbane premiership player even indicated Brooke’s comments could prompt AFL clubs to begin media training their players’ partners.

Brooke posted a photograph of Trent and their daughter in the wake of Richmond’s 68-point defeat against West Coast on Friday night.

“Every week you go out and give your all. To have to listen to the constant criticism you have had to put up with especially of late has been incredibly hard,” she wrote.

“Those closest to you know just how dedicated you are to your football club and teammates on and off the field.

“As a wise man once told me, ‘People’s opinions are none of our business.’ We love you and are proud of you”.

It’s not the first time she has felt the need to support the Richmond captain. Before Round 1 she posted a photo with the caption: “There will always be critics and there will always be someone trying to make a story out of nothing ... Let the haters hate because there isn’t many people like you out there!”