Tigers` Cotchin faces hefty suspension

Richmond have failed in their plea for the AFL match review panel to go easy on
midfielder Trent Cotchin, who faces a hefty suspension for charging.
Cotchin on Monday was hit with a four-game suspension for crashing into the back of
North Melbourne's Sam Wright at the MCG on Sunday, which left the young Kangaroo
with concussion.
The panel ruled Cotchin was reckless and made high contact of high impact but he can
reduce the penalty to three games through a guilty plea.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick on Sunday hoped the panel would judge Cotchin's
contact the same way it had when assessing a match-day report against Essendon's
David Hille earlier this year.
Hille has three times been reported in games this season but had the bookings
quashed by the panel.
The Tigers have until Tuesday morning to decide whether to accept Cotchin's penalty
or challenge it at the tribunal.
His suspension came on the same day North defender Daniel Pratt admitted players
were frustrated by inconsistent decisions handed down by the panel.
Pratt said the playing body was close to demanding the AFL review the judicial
system and the panel's workings.
"There's too many inconsistencies now," he said.
"The speed of the game's increased so much that decisions like that, for Cotchin to
stay or go, if you put it in context of when he's got the football, if he makes the
wrong decision with the ball ... it's just a turnover, but if you make a wrong
decision there you can find yourself getting weeks.
"It would be good if they could have a look at it and the sooner the better."
The incidents involving Hille and Cotchin were similar, although Hille three times
avoided sanction earlier this year because he did not make high contact on
opponents.
The panel's respective decisions over Carlton skipper Chris Judd and Geelong forward
Steve Johnson this year have also raised eyebrows.
Judd avoided penalty despite throwing back an elbow into the face of Fremantle
counterpart Matthew Pavlich over the first weekend of the split round 13, which cut
the cheek of the Dockers skipper.
Johnson was suspended for a similar offence against St Kilda's Steven Baker the
following weekend, while Baker was suspended for nine games for a series of offences
against the Cat.
Poor records came back to hurt Port Adelaide forward Daniel Motlop and Brisbane
Lions defender Ash McGrath, who were hit with suspensions for engaging in rough
conduct on opponents.
Motlop was suspended for two games for an offence against the Western Bulldogs'
Shaun Higgins in Darwin on Saturday night and cannot reduce the penalty because of
his record.
McGrath faces the same problem, as he was suspended for one game for an incident
involving Hawthorn captain Sam Mitchell in Launceston on Saturday.
But a good record helped Carlton's Andrew Walker avoid suspension for making a
front-on challenge on Sydney's Ben McGlynn at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Adelaide midfielder Michael Doughty can accept a reprimand for engaging in rough
conduct against Geelong's Mathew Stokes last Friday night.
West Coast's Eric Mackenzie can also escape penalty for the same charge involving
Essendon's Jay Neagle on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
North defender Michael Firrito can accept a reprimand for striking Richmond's Robin
Nahas.
West Coast's Andrew Embley ($2400), Brisbane's Jack Redden ($1200) and Melbourne's
Jordie McKenzie ($1200) were all fined for making contact with umpires, but can
reduce their penalties by pleading guilty.