Lance Franklin and Trent Cotchin were charged with misconduct, but Eddie McGuire had a bigger problem with the lawyers in the courtroom.
Eddie McGuire has targeted legal representatives from Lance Franklin and the AFL after the sanction of a Swans star match for attacking Trent Cotchin was confirmed on Wednesday night.
Sydney challenged Franklin’s accumulated suspension for an incident during his team’s thrilling victory over Richmond last Friday, but could not overturn the original decision.
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Duncan Miller, who represented Franklin, said Cotchin’s reaction to being beaten was “a bit exaggerated” and added: “I’m tempted to say that this year I could be invited to the Lodges and not the Brownlow.
“The exaggerated backward movement and the rest of the images show exactly what it was: there’s an ironic smile on Mr. Cotchin’s face.”
AFL attorney Andrew Woods said Franklin’s act was “cheeky” and “cowardly” and “the opposing player doesn’t expect this to happen to him.”
“It’s AFL, not a wrestling club or a combat sport,” Woods added.
McGuire disagreed with the way the two lawyers behaved during the hearing.
“I would respond by saying that it was actually Cotchin who stopped and instigated contact,” McGuire said. Footy Classified in response to Mr. Woods.
“I can tell AFL lawyer Andrew Woods, fellow, pull up, that’s safe. Attracting a cowardly player and cowardly act is almost defamatory.”
The former Collingwood chairman also criticized Miller ‘s accusation against Cotchin for staging, saying: “I don’t know if Buddy Franklin pushed him in the head.
“They (Cotchin and Franklin) are two of the best people in football in terms of their reputation.
“One QC report of one cowardly act and another (by staging) … please. QCs, that’s enough.
St Kilda and Fremantle ex-coach Ross Lyon also said the jokes were not good.
“They (the lawyers) may feel good about it, but I think it’s offline,” he said Footy Classified.
“Trent Cotchin, threw himself in front of a furious freight train at Lance Franklin.
“I think it’s cumbersome, I think it’s unnecessary.”
When asked during the hearing if he wanted to hit Cotchin high, Franklin replied, “Absolutely not.
“It simply came to our notice then.
“It’s not in the spirit of the game; I definitely wouldn’t have done it.”
Franklin will miss Sydney’s next game against Melbourne on Saturday night.