Richmond have been given a huge boost ahead of their first AFL grand final appearance for 35 years after the match review panel cleared their influential captain, Trent Cotchin, to play in Saturday’s premiership decider.
Cotchin’s heavy collision with Greater Western Sydney player Dylan Shiel during Saturday’s preliminary final had been the focus of much of the post-match analysis, with his place in the biggest game of his career in jeopardy.
The MRP met on Monday morning before delivering its verdict that Cotchin was seeking to contest the ball and therefore “contact was not unreasonable in the circumstances”.
“Cotchin moves down low and braces for contact as Shiel approaches to pick up the ball,” the MRP said. “It was the view of the panel that Cotchin was seeking to win possession as his line of direction was always towards the ball and not his opponent.
Cotchin, who has been in excellent form during the finals series, had been fined on two previous occasions earlier in the season for jumper punches. A third fine would have meant an automatic one-game ban.
The MRP also cleared Cotchin’s team-mate Brandon Ellis of a high bump on Lachie Whitfield and Adelaide’s Rory Sloane of a bump on Patrick Dangerfield during Friday’s first preliminary final against Geelong.
The Tigers booked a place in their first grand final for 35 years with victory over the Giants at the MCG on Saturday, and will meet Adelaide, who have themselves waited 19 years to reach the flag decider, at the same ground a week on.
