Kildonan
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Saints careful with Kosi
Michael Stevens
28jan06
ST KILDA'S Justin Koschitzke has not yet returned to full training after surgery to his right-knee patella tendon during the off-season.
Veterans Robert Harvey and Stephen Powell, along with Raphael Clarke, also were restricted to running drills as their teammates trained in sweltering conditions at Moorabbin yesterday.
Coach Grant Thomas said Koschitzke was no longer troubled by the right quadricep (thigh) tear that saw him miss the Saints' finals campaign.
"He's just had his knee cleaned up and he's very frustrated because he'd like to be out doing everything," Thomas said. "But we've learned a lot about Kosi, so we're just taking a very careful approach."
Thomas said Harvey was not being over-trained because of tightness in his legs after weight training, while Powell was working on his running technique with new fitness coach Bohdan Babijczuk, who was formerly at Hawthorn.
Thomas said the Saints were also being cautious with Clarke.
"He's just got a body that's had a full year of AFL and needs a chance to grow into itself," Thomas said. "He's probably an OP (osteitis pubis) case if we don't watch it."
The Saints are in no hurry to name a successor to Nick Riewoldt as captain. "We'd probably name him after a couple of weeks of the (pre-season) NAB Cup," Thomas said
Michael Stevens
28jan06
ST KILDA'S Justin Koschitzke has not yet returned to full training after surgery to his right-knee patella tendon during the off-season.
Veterans Robert Harvey and Stephen Powell, along with Raphael Clarke, also were restricted to running drills as their teammates trained in sweltering conditions at Moorabbin yesterday.
Coach Grant Thomas said Koschitzke was no longer troubled by the right quadricep (thigh) tear that saw him miss the Saints' finals campaign.
"He's just had his knee cleaned up and he's very frustrated because he'd like to be out doing everything," Thomas said. "But we've learned a lot about Kosi, so we're just taking a very careful approach."
Thomas said Harvey was not being over-trained because of tightness in his legs after weight training, while Powell was working on his running technique with new fitness coach Bohdan Babijczuk, who was formerly at Hawthorn.
Thomas said the Saints were also being cautious with Clarke.
"He's just got a body that's had a full year of AFL and needs a chance to grow into itself," Thomas said. "He's probably an OP (osteitis pubis) case if we don't watch it."
The Saints are in no hurry to name a successor to Nick Riewoldt as captain. "We'd probably name him after a couple of weeks of the (pre-season) NAB Cup," Thomas said
