Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin has been fined a match for beating Trent Cotchin of Richmond, leaving the 1000-goal hero out of the 12th round of his match. team with Melbourne at the MCG.
The incident occurred during the second quarter of the clash Friday night, when a frustrated Franklin attacked Cotchin after the Tigers midfielder paid close attention to the key striker in the Swans’ 50 offensive line.
Franklin initially received a free kick to hold the man while fighting Cotchin, before a couple of blows with his right hand on Cotchin’s jaw resulted in the free kick being reversed.
READ MORE: Broncos in the top four after an impressive comeback
READ MORE: Swans face nervous wait after Buddy strike
READ MORE: How close Symonds really was to the English race
Lance Franklin’s attack on Trent Cotchin resulted in a 50-yard free throw (AFL).
Match review officer Michael Christian rated the incident as intentional conduct with low impact and high contact, resulting in a one-match sanction.
Since Cotchin did not go ashore as a result of the Franklin coup, the incident left observers confused as to what the end result would be.
“Either (there was contact) or Trent should go to Hollywood,” Collingwood greats Nathan Buckley told Fox Footy.
“I have a furtive suspicion that there was contact. Definitely contact and he threw it, I don’t know how you can argue it’s not deliberate.”
AFLW star Daisy Pearce apologized.
Lance Franklin will miss Sydney’s clash with Melbourne next week. (Getty)
“I think he’s right, I think he pushed his chest and slipped a little high,” he told Seven’s coverage.
“They won’t like the look of the AFL, but he slipped up, one hand open, barely touched it and Cotchin played well.
“I think a fine at worst.”
The Swans enter the game with a record 7-4 record, while the top of the table Demons will look forward to recovering from their first defeat of the season against Fremantle on Saturday.
For a daily dose of the best breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!