Finals

[barry]

So many games seem to be influenced by concussion. I can't see why an emergency player can't be brought in as a replacement.

[stevoswan]

The ABC can usually be trusted for a measured response after putting forward arguments for both sides, concluded thus on the Cotchin saga: "The verdict.........

Yeah, nah. If the AFL is serious about protecting the head and preventing concussion ? which it keeps assuring us it is ? then it needs to abide by its own laws, even if the results have unfortunate consequences.

Cotchin didn't have to lead with his shoulder, making contact with Shiel before taking the ball, and though his attack on the ball was admirable, he clearly had alternative options.

He hit Shiel high, with a bump, and the GWS player sustained a concussion bad enough to rule him out of the game.

At the very least, it deserves to be classified as rough conduct, careless and low impact, which would result in a fine and, thanks to Cotchin's prior indiscretions this season, a one-game ban. Considering the damage Shiel took, you could make a case for medium impact and a two-game ban.

The real question is whether the AFL and the MRP has the cajones to follow through, because the backlash to a Cotchin ban would be immense and it would genuinely be incredibly disappointing for him not to play on Saturday.

But footy isn't fair. It wasn't fair on Shiel, who had to sit on the bench for 75 per cent of the game, or the Giants who had to battle the red-hot Tigers without their best player. Cotchin unfortunately needs to cop his whack." Seems fair enough to me and largely how I see it......bad luck Trent, you of anyone deserve to share in potential Tiger glory but you've slipped up once too many.

[Matty10]

I say there's no real clash and that the Tigers and Crows should both wear their regular jumpers.

I agree. Most jumper clash issues are contrived. This one doesn?t seem a problem.


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[CureTheSane]

My opinion is Cotchin gets a week. If that's round 9 it's a week. I don't see if your trying to run a professional competition you all of a sudden change it now. He had the choice to bump or go the ball n he chose the bump n a split second later decided to go for the ball.

Yep, any other week that's at least a fine, which with his record gives him a week.
Will be interesting to see how it plays out...

[Markwebbos]

Do I need to mention Barry Halls 2005 "tummy tap"?

[stellation]

So many games seem to be influenced by concussion. I can't see why an emergency player can't be brought in as a replacement.

Completely agree.

[Hotpotato]

The Botch of Cotch disaster of 2017, he misses the Granny and the Crows win by 3 Points.
The indiscretion happens on Sat arvo and it takes 48 hours to sort in the most important game of their career.
It's riveting theatre.

[Scottee]

I think Cotchin will be adjudged to have been contesting the ball and the high contact incidental. I don't have a problem with that. If it was one of our players I'd hope that's how it would be assessed.

There was another incident in the final quarter, however, where I could have sworn Cotchin made high contact with another Giants player in their forward 50. It was shortly after the incident on Whitfield. But the commentators didn't make any comment and they didn't replay it, so maybe I was imagining it. He certainly seemed to stop the Giants player in his stride.

Knocking out or injuring players seems to have become the tactic of choice if there is a final to be won.From my perspective having played the game Sheils was targeted as were several other GWS players. Believe me, I am no fan of GWS because they have used similar tactics.

There were 3 serious head knocks at least in the game, 2 of which I would class as deliberate and one as careless. There were also a number of near misses where players were lined up.The dangers of head knocks have just been highlighted in the NFL and despite the actions taken by the AFL to ensure concussed players do not take the field, there are no consequences for knocking a player senseless in the actual field of play. Yet we have the absurd scenario whereby free kicks are given when a tacklers hand merely touches the shoulder of the ball carrier, and 50m given for micro infractions.

The send-off rule is something that should be considered, but surely, an actual reckless hit to the head should be a free kick and 50m ( I should add that this once happened routinely, but has now disappeared it seems).

The lack of a sub rule has heightened the advantage of injuring the opposition in important games, and it seems that unless we want to go back to subs there needs to be a change to the rules to protect the players.

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[Boddo]

Yep, any other week that's at least a fine, which with his record gives him a week.
Will be interesting to see how it plays out...

It's just laughable some of the comments n the main one from the media is "you wouldn't want to miss a grand final for that" well he bumped a player in the head n the player was concussed which long term could affect his cognitive ability or worse dementia. Wtf do you have to do to deserve to miss a gf? Take someone out with a sniper rifle from the top tear of the southern stand.

First mistake Cotchin made was he decided to hold a piece of clothing & punch someone in the face & then he decided to punch someone in the abdomen & finally decided to bump someone in the head with his shoulder. It's a week in anyone's language n for people to try to make up excuses is laughable at best.

Lastly something has to be done about these incidents in finals especially. It's becoming obvious what clubs are doing they are targeting players just like in the old sniper days knowing that then clubs lose one of their best players on the ground for the day. Needs a review system in an nrl bunker style system and the send off rule.

[Scottee]

It's just laughable some of the comments n the main one from the media is "you wouldn't want to miss a grand final for that" well he bumped a player in the head n the player was concussed which long term could affect his cognitive ability or worse dementia. Wtf do you have to do to deserve to miss a gf? Take someone out with a sniper rifle from the top tear of the southern stand.

First mistake Cotchin made was he decided to hold a piece of clothing & punch someone in the face & then he decided to punch someone in the abdomen & finally decided to bump someone in the head with his shoulder. It's a week in anyone's language n for people to try to make up excuses is laughable at best.

Lastly something has to be done about these incidents in finals especially. It's becoming obvious what clubs are doing they are targeting players just like in the old sniper days knowing that then clubs lose one of their best players on the ground for the day. Needs a review system in an nrl bunker style system and the send off rule.

Spot on Boddo!

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[Sandridge]

It's just laughable some of the comments n the main one from the media is "you wouldn't want to miss a grand final for that" well he bumped a player in the head n the player was concussed which long term could affect his cognitive ability or worse dementia. Wtf do you have to do to deserve to miss a gf? Take someone out with a sniper rifle from the top tear of the southern stand.

First mistake Cotchin made was he decided to hold a piece of clothing & punch someone in the face & then he decided to punch someone in the abdomen & finally decided to bump someone in the head with his shoulder. It's a week in anyone's language n for people to try to make up excuses is laughable at best.

Lastly something has to be done about these incidents in finals especially. It's becoming obvious what clubs are doing they are targeting players just like in the old sniper days knowing that then clubs lose one of their best players on the ground for the day. Needs a review system in an nrl bunker style system and the send off rule.

I'm with you! He has priors and the "you wouldn't want to miss a grand final for that" defence should be countered by "you wouldn't want to miss the majority of a preliminary final because someone whacks you in the head when you are bent over and going for the ball."

[CureTheSane]

I'm with you! He has priors and the "you wouldn't want to miss a grand final for that" defence should be countered by "you wouldn't want to miss the majority of a preliminary final because someone whacks you in the head when you are bent over and going for the ball."

yep, maybe the result would have been different...

[Boddo]

yep, maybe the result would have been different...

We'll never know but imagine how Richmond supporters would feel if say Ward did exactly the same to Martin n it ended his day. Would Richmond have won?

Also if Greene did that it'd be "yeh he gets a week for that n misses the grand final but that's the rules" unless he played for a Melbourne club of course n it'd be "it was an accident n we all know he's a larrikin n a good bloke n I can't see how he misses"

[Thunder Shaker]

If Richmond are good enough they will win without Cotchin.

No doubt the AFL will give them an armchair ride with the umpires.

[Boddo]

If Richmond are good enough they will win without Cotchin.

No doubt the AFL will give them an armchair ride with the umpires.

They're not good enough with or without corruption or Cotchin. It'll be a thrashing imo