Does this picture prove Tigers were robbed?Herald Sun
15 August 2016RICHMOND suffered more heartbreak when it was overrun by Geelong, but should Trent Cotchin have been kicking for victory after the siren?
The Tigers led by 35 points at three-quarter time only to stop to a walk in the final term as Geelong stormed home.
The Cats slammed on 6.9 to 0.0 to lead by 10 points with less than two minutes remaining, before Ty Vickery kicked a goal to cut the margin to four with about 30 seconds left.
The Tigers’ only hope was a quick centre clearance and a goal and their chances looked shot when Patrick Dangerfield got his hands on the ball.
But under pressure from Dustin Martin he handballed to Sam Menegola, who was run down by Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin, earning a holding the ball free kick.
Cotchin wasted no time bombing the ball inside 50, where Jack Riewoldt flew for a miracle mark but couldn’t hold on and the siren sounded seconds later.
But rewinding the frantic finish reveals a bad miss by the umpire that could have cost Richmond a shot at victory.
As Cotchin prepared to take his free kick Dangerfield lingered just a metre or two away and Joel Selwood ran even closer, coming from well behind Cotchin as he ran to make the contest in Geelong’s defensive 50.
At the start of the season the AFL increased the protected area around the mark to 10m, and numerous players have been penalised for offences less blatant than Dangerfield and Selwood’s.
Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield are almost within touching distance of Trent Cotchin after he earns a free kick.Last month Hawthorn kicked two crucial goals against Sydney from 50m penalties, including one to Jono O’Rourke after Kieren Jack didn’t get out of the protected area quick enough.
That call was criticised by Michael Christian, a member of the AFL Laws of the Game Committee: “The rule is designed if you’re outside the protected zone and you run into the protected zone, 50 straight away. But when you’re already in there you’ve got to give time to the player to run out.”
Selwood and Dangerfield had both bases covered.
A 50m penalty would have brought Cotchin to within 30m from goal and likely shooting after the siren.
He isn’t the most reliable kick for goal on the Richmond list, booting 7.6 this season. But at least he would have had a chance to join Sam Lloyd in Tiger immortality.
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