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Richmond's Trent Cotchin cleared to play Grand Final

Trent Cotchin will play in the AFL Grand Final on Saturday after being cleared by the Match Review Panel.

Richmond fans around the country will rejoice at the news after a nervous couple of days for the Richmond skipper.

Cotchin’s heavy clash and bump to the head of GWS Giants star Dylan Shiel was reviewed by the MRP on Monday morning.

Cotchin will be this happy after hearing the MRP decision. Pic: Getty
Cotchin will be this happy after hearing the MRP decision. Pic: Getty

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane tweeted that Cotchin was cleared.

"Cotchin moves down low and braces for contact as Shiel approaches to pick up the ball," the MRP said in explaining its decision not to charge Cotchin.

"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.

"The panel determined that Cotchin was seeking to contest the ball and therefore contact was not unreasonable in the circumstances."

MEASURE OF THE MAN: Cotchin's selfless act of star leadership

No free kick was paid to Shiel, despite Cotchin clearly making high contact with the Giants' onballer.

Fellow Tiger Brandon Ellis was also not cited by the MRP for his high bump on Giant Lachie Whitfield.

Adelaide prime mover Rory Sloane was cleared over a high bump on Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield in the first preliminary final which the Crows won by 61 points.

The 27-year-old Cotchin - who was best afield in the 36-point win over GWS - was walking a tightrope as he had twice been fined earlier this year for minor indiscretions.

A third charge - even if the contact had been deemed as low - would have triggered an automatic ban.

There is no doubt Cotchin would have appeared at the tribunal on Tuesday, had he been charged. Even if cleared then or on appeal, it would have made a high-pressure week all the more stressful.

Sydney's Andrew Dunkley and Barry Hall contested the 1996 and 2005 grand finals after being booked for preliminary-final indiscretions.

"It should have been the best week of my life," Dunkley said.

"Instead, it was one of the worst."

In 2003, the AFL appeals board upheld the tribunal decision to ban Rocca despite pleas from the forward plus former players Peter Schwab and Neville Crowe regarding the impact of missing a grand final through suspension.

Crowe, who played no part in Richmond's 1967 grand-final triumph, explained in 2003 that it "continually grinds away at your soul. I would not wish or want any player of any club to go through the continuing misery and grief that's involved".

Debate raged across the country from the moment the bump occurred with half in each camp, on whether he should be banned or not.

It would have been a tough break for Cotchin, his leadership such a huge part of why Richmond have the opportunity on Saturday to win their first flag since 1980.