Richmond captain Trent Cotchin headlines the list of AFL players sweating on the match review panel’s findings after round eight.
Cotchin clocked Fremantle midfielder Lachie Neale in the jaw with a jumper punch during the Dockers’ two-point win at the MCG on Sunday.
Cotchin could escape sanction, be fined or potentially miss the Tigers’ clash with Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, depending on how the panel grade the blow.
Sydney superstar Lance Franklin and Brisbane youngster Nick Robertson exchanged jumper punches in the preceding round but both players were cleared on that occasion.
“It was the view of the panel that the force used was below that required to constitute a reportable offence,” the panel noted at the time.
Meanwhile, Hawthorn vice-captain Isaac Smith will soon learn whether he is forced to miss the clash with Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.
Smith was reported for striking when he lashed out at Robertson during the Hawks’ comfortable win over the Lions in Launceston.
The panel is also likely to dish out several fines after melees in a handful of matches.
Geelong’s Cameron Guthrie could also pay a price for shoving an umpire out of the way to take a mark during his side’s loss to Essendon on Saturday night.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
"Cotchin is a very very dirty player" you reckon. Yeah, he's a regular Toby Greene. A modern day David Rhys Jones or Ron Andrews. I assume you're being sarcastic.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Meanwhile the AFL are sending blahdy blah tsk tsk tsk notices to NM, Syd, St K and Carl over harmless melee action.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Agreed. The M in MRP stands for Muppet.
Micko
Guest
What I don't get is as soon as you grab someone's jumper it should be a free kick. They pay some of them in marking contest. That would soon cut out all this school yard jumper punch rubbish.
Paul W
Guest
No, watch Neale's jaw jolt back. Far worse than the Hawkins one last year that cost him a week.
Birdman
Guest
MRP clearly wanted to err on the side of caution with Cotchin not looking directly at Neale - could come back to bite them in future. On Rioli, I have to agree it was worth looking at but I doubt it would have ended in suspension - the incident seems illustrative of where Cyril is at the moment - playing very reactively.
Cat
Roar Guru
MRP seems to be ignoring thier own rules frequently this year. Why bother having them if they are going to decide the punishment then massage the penalty to fit it?
TomC
Roar Guru
It was interesting to read Bartel's comments about how the panel disagreed on whether the conduct should be graded as intentional or careless. Given the MRP usually considers any strike behind the play to be intentional - in fact that's in their rules - it seems strange they went with careless. It looks to me like they went with the less appropriate grading deliberately to avoid giving a suspension.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Unbelievable. Just jumper punch and no worries.
I ate pies
Guest
Me too. A punch is a punch. Whether he is holding his jumper at the time is irrelevant. Of course, this is the new MRP, where outcome is all that matters. Intent is irrelevant now.
Jack
Guest
I reckon cotchin is a very very dirty player but the media pick certain players to pick on and his a golden child. The umpires always give him soft frees as well
rusty
Roar Rookie
Mate I cannot believe Cotchin got off for that. Once again, one rule for the 'popular' players at Melbourne clubs and one rule for everyone else. You reckon Walters would have got off for that? Or Lindsay Thomas? What a joke.
Kane
Guest
Rioli didn't even get looked at. What a joke, protected species. He always has been.
Paul W
Guest
Thanks, thought I was the only one with this opinion. Just looked like he wanted to hurt Walker.
Haydos
Guest
Agree 100%
Demak
Roar Rookie
Cotchin has to be suspended, that was more than just a jumper shake it was a balant strike to the jaw. The sooner the AFL clamps down on jumper punching the better it's a rubbish blight on our game
Kane
Guest
Rioli should be in more trouble than Cotchin for his knee straight into the back of the Brisbane bloke.