Its the MRP thats the problem, not Cotchin. Everyone who's ever played footy knows that what Cotchin did was just good tough footy, winning a hard ball as you'd want your captain to do, and its that kind of attack on the ball that has Richmond playing in a grand final. The problem is that the MRP put themselves in a corner by handing out ridiculous outcome based suspensions, which frankly would be unlawful in any genuine trial. Then, predictably, they take the easy way out and let him off because he would have missed a grand final which (rightly) would have been a disgrace.
The system needs to change immediately, firstly by ensuring that it is the illegal action that is assessed first, not the outcome, and secondly to allow precedent so that players actually have a chance when challenging. And this system needs to be consistent, not allowing tribunal members to pick and choose. I reckon the best way to do it would be to take the likes of Bartel off the panel, and make it purely assessed by lawyers and analysts within the pre-determined rules laid out by the AFL. Its the only way I can see to ensure consistency and fairness.