Judd: Cotchin Would've Been Suspended During The Year

Triple M Footy’s Chris Judd believes Trent Cotchin, Brandon Ellis and Rory Sloane would have been suspended during the home-and-away season for the heavy hits they inflicted on opponents on the weekend.

Cotchin, Ellis and Sloane were all cleared by the match review panel for their big collisions with Dylan Shiel, Lachie Whitfield and Patrick Dangerfield respectively during the preliminary finals.

However, Judd believes the right calls were made in all three cases because a one-week suspension heading into a grand final would be like a “four or five lifetime ban”.

“I think it’s the right decision,” the dual Brownlow Medalist said of Cotchin being cleared on Triple M’s Rush Hour.

“I think were the incident to have occurred during the year I suspect he would have got a week. I suspect Ellis would have gotten a week as well and probably Sloane, too.

“But given what’s at stake a one-match ban now is really equivalent to a four- or five-lifetime ban considering the importance of being able to play in a grand final.

“So considering the incidents were in play, I think the MRP got it right.”

The Tigers are aiming to break their 37-year premiership drought on Saturday while the Crows will be gunning for their first flag since 1998.