No wonder Trent Cotchin got off

Victoria’s most senior law officers stepped out to plead in the defence of Richmond captain Trent Cotchin.

Cotchin’s Law

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin was cleared to play in Saturday’s grand final by the AFL’s match review board yesterday. It probably didn’t hurt that the Tigers skipper had Victoria’s law and order elite on his side. State Attorney-General Martin Pakula tweeted his support for Cotchin yesterday after the player was under a cloud for hitting another player’s head during the weekend’s game against GWS. “No way Cotchin goes. No way,” the lawyer said, clearly not waiting for the independent process to take its course this time. And Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton was barracking for Cotchin to get off on 3AW: “Isn’t there a case for discretion? He’s a great fella.” No wonder the board cleared Cotchin — the law and order bosses might have reintroduced hangings otherwise.

Tiger behind bars

The law won’t be stepping in for ex-Tigers player Aaron James. The 1990s Richmond player is in custody until October 2, two days after the big match, after pleading guilty to drink-driving and domestic violence charges. He’s also charged with alleged drug-dealing offences. It’s the second time the law has kept a big Tigers fan away from the grand final with star player Dusty Martin’s father, Shane, refused entry to Australia from New Zealand because of his criminal past.

Latho let loose

Mark Latham has a new book coming out next week. It’s titled Mark Latham’s Outsiders — I WONT BE SILENCED! Because Latham — who appears on Sky News despite the fact it sacked him, can be heard on talkback radio constantly, writes a column in The Daily Telegraph and is just about to publish his 10th book — is definitely being silenced.

Adelaide and beyond

Australia is going into hyperspace with Education Minister Simon Birmingham announcing the nation’s first space agency and a Strewth favourite is coming Down Under to be part of our interstellar journey. Tesla boss Elon Musk is coming back to Adelaide’s International Astronautical Congress on Friday to give a talk about his SpaceX company (with which he’s planning to launch a manned mission to Mars). The North American billionaire’s burgeoning relationship with the Aussie space sector would add to our long galactic partnership with the Yanks. NASA has used Australian tracking systems for space missions since 1957 and Oz famously helped transmit the ­first moon landing to the world in 1969.

Star Trekkin’

Coincidentally, the announcement of an Aussie space agency came on the same day Star Trek: Discovery, the newest series in the Star Trek franchise, came out. Our fair nation won’t be exploring new planets or meeting alien warrior races anytime soon like the crew at Starfleet. But this writer reckons the Klingons would love rugby league. All that blood and violence and male bonding.

War on crabs

The scourge of radicalisation has infected Australia’s crustacean community. A group of radical crabs are in police custody after a Queensland bomb squad sting yesterday. The cops were called out to Crestmead, 27km south of Brisbane, after a suspicious pressure cooker was seen on the street. Alas, it was not a bomb but, rather, a pot full of crabs (whether they were cooked or uncooked has not been confirmed). No explosives, sure, but imagine those sharp crab pincers in the wrong hands. Ouch.

Labour lockout

Britain’s Labour Party is holding its conference this week but not everyone is invited to join the revolution. Just look at this extraordinary sign spotted by the popular “Larry the Cat” Twitter account at the Labour conference halls in Brighton. “For the Many, Not the Few” at the top. “Strictly private — Labour Party staff only” at the bottom. Probably feels symbolic for the scores of moderate Labor MPs whose preselections are being threatened by far-left backers of party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

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