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- RICHMOND
Mark's in the swim
January 06, 2008
MARK Coughlan expects to be ready for Richmond's season opener as he continues to recover from two knee reconstructions.
The Tigers' gun midfielder has not played for 18 months and admits he is starting to feel anxious.
He did a time trial on grass on Friday while his teammates ran the Tan and Saturday he completed the Lorne Pier to Pub 1.2km swim.
"The nerves are starting to come up a bit," Coughlan said. "It will be like playing my first game again.
"Each week is a big step for me and a big step in my confidence. I'm on track to be fully training in a month and I'm hoping to play a pre-season game or two which will then lead into the start of the season.
"Ideally, I'd love to play Round 1, but it's a week by week thing.
"I need to get a few games under my belt. I need to prove myself again.
"I've been out of footy for a while and I'll need a few games to get used to the pace of the game."
Coughlan's enforced break began in Round 12, 2006, when he snapped the anterior cruciate ligament against Hawthorn. Last February he had to have a second operation.
"I will have had 13 months before the start of the season which is more than enough for a knee reconstruction," Coughlan said.
"I'm slowly coming out of all the swimming and bike riding, and cross training-type things and getting more into footy stuff now.
"My preparation has been much better than it would have been coming back last year. I've had a lot of time to get over it."
Coughlan said he couldn't wait to join teammates such as Brett Deledio, Nathan Foley and recruit Trent Cotchin in the midfield group.
The best and fairest winner's return will be welcome news for coach Terry Wallace.
Last year the Tigers were without most of their leaders as Coughlan was joined on the sidelines by Nathan Brown - still recovering from his broken leg - and ruckman Troy Simmonds, who was diagnosed with a blood clot on the lung.
Brown and Simmonds are also back and training well.
But neither was up for the challenge of swimming in yesterday's hot conditions.
Coughlan was joined by Foley, Andrew Raines, Angus Graham, Will Thursfield and Danny Meyer.
Sunday Herald Sun
I hope Cogs' anxiety is just the sign of a real professional setting the bar high for himself!
As a sidenote, it was great to see Danny Meyers name listed along Foley, Raines and Thursfield in the Pier to Pub race. At least his attitude cant be questioned at this stage of the year and that it translates onto the field during the season!
January 06, 2008
MARK Coughlan expects to be ready for Richmond's season opener as he continues to recover from two knee reconstructions.
The Tigers' gun midfielder has not played for 18 months and admits he is starting to feel anxious.
He did a time trial on grass on Friday while his teammates ran the Tan and Saturday he completed the Lorne Pier to Pub 1.2km swim.
"The nerves are starting to come up a bit," Coughlan said. "It will be like playing my first game again.
"Each week is a big step for me and a big step in my confidence. I'm on track to be fully training in a month and I'm hoping to play a pre-season game or two which will then lead into the start of the season.
"Ideally, I'd love to play Round 1, but it's a week by week thing.
"I need to get a few games under my belt. I need to prove myself again.
"I've been out of footy for a while and I'll need a few games to get used to the pace of the game."
Coughlan's enforced break began in Round 12, 2006, when he snapped the anterior cruciate ligament against Hawthorn. Last February he had to have a second operation.
"I will have had 13 months before the start of the season which is more than enough for a knee reconstruction," Coughlan said.
"I'm slowly coming out of all the swimming and bike riding, and cross training-type things and getting more into footy stuff now.
"My preparation has been much better than it would have been coming back last year. I've had a lot of time to get over it."
Coughlan said he couldn't wait to join teammates such as Brett Deledio, Nathan Foley and recruit Trent Cotchin in the midfield group.
The best and fairest winner's return will be welcome news for coach Terry Wallace.
Last year the Tigers were without most of their leaders as Coughlan was joined on the sidelines by Nathan Brown - still recovering from his broken leg - and ruckman Troy Simmonds, who was diagnosed with a blood clot on the lung.
Brown and Simmonds are also back and training well.
But neither was up for the challenge of swimming in yesterday's hot conditions.
Coughlan was joined by Foley, Andrew Raines, Angus Graham, Will Thursfield and Danny Meyer.
Sunday Herald Sun
I hope Cogs' anxiety is just the sign of a real professional setting the bar high for himself!
As a sidenote, it was great to see Danny Meyers name listed along Foley, Raines and Thursfield in the Pier to Pub race. At least his attitude cant be questioned at this stage of the year and that it translates onto the field during the season!
