The danger with fining players with a 3 strikes and your out policy is that you end up with a Cotchin situation that has now left the AFL world shaking their head. The fact is, Cotchin didn't deserve to get suspended for his hit alone, but neither did Dangerfield on Kruezer. Had it been the regular season he would have copped a fine or a suspension. You can't not give the 3rd fine because it results in a suspension. The fine system is supposed to serve as a warning to players to get their shit together or get suspended. Cotchin is a serial repeat offender who chose to be reckless time and time again. It's not the AFL's responsibility to appease players wants and desires about playing in a grand final by having a punishment of missing the grand final doesn't fit the crime. In this case it does and the AFL were too gutless to make a decision. I genuinly think the AFL should appeal the decision based on the simple fact the MRP have to abide by the rules and not make them up.
I have to say I am conflicted and maybe hypocritical but let them fall where they may.
I do agree the MRP and by extension the AFL have created a huge problem for themselves. They really have opened a can of worms for litigation and injunctions further down the track. The only way I can see them gaining anything out of this is to scrap the whole tribunal system. You quite rightly point out the AFL has softened it so much they allow players to screw up twice and in doing so a 3rd time they are more penalised for stupidity than anything they may have done
The AFL/MRP have also shown the head isnt sacrosanct. Its all words.
Yet on first viewing of the Cotchin incident I was quite comfortable in what had occurred, just as I was in the Sloane/Dangerfield clash. These were , to me, football clashes. Some have said Cotchin targetted Shiel , and I am not 100% certain he did. I wont go to war over it , just my impression. So while I agree the process is wrong and was used incorrectly I am comfortable in the outcome. Hypocrite? Very much but I can also live with that for this week