Should Coughlan Continue Next Year?

[_RT_]

Early next season he would be 27 years old and would have missed the best part of 3 seasons at AFL level. While there is no doubt he still would have the skills to play would it be the best thing for the club and himself to cut our losses and focus on bringing another player on in place of him.

So the question I ask is: Should Mark Coughlan continue on next season if he fails to play a game at AFL level this year?

For the record, as long as he can get out and play at AFL level this year I would like to see Cogs give it a go next year.

 

[tugga]

needs to come back and play this season for at least 3 games and show that he can still handle it.
Tall order IMO. I think he's finished.

 

[RichosGuns]

I also think he may be done, however as he is contracted to 2009, there is no point axing him.

Casserly would also have questions raised over his ability to play by now aswell. Soft tissue injury, after soft tissue injury. I doubt he has every struck more then 6- 8 weeks together. He hasn't played an AFL game and is now well down the pecking order after a solid pre-season

 

[astro_toby]

since he is contracted till 2009 - i hope he does. It is going to be very hard for him to get back - even near impossible - but i want both himself and the club to honour their contract and try everything possible to get him back in a richmond jumper, playing footy and helping richmond succeed. if it cost us a spot on our senior list for one season, so be it.

somethings in footy become more important that the win/loss record. cogs story is one of them - could have been one of richmonds modern day greats, but injury has hampered his life. very sorry tale, but lets give him every chance possible to be a hero once again, we need players to inspire our young players - to be proud of the club and the jumper and there teammates - and cog working till the very end to "come back" and the club believing in him till the very end is how that is created

 

[cormick]

If he wants to continue, he should be allowed

 

[CoggaRules]

needs to come back and play this season for at least 3 games and show that he can still handle it.
Tall order IMO. I think he's finished.

gotta feeling you are on the money there tugg.

 

[NQTIGER]

unfortunately i think he is gone, as the recepient of two recos here, i suffered from groin and soft tissue afterwards, admiteddly it was playing soccer but it was also at a high level.....it finished me at 27


i feel for him.....similar to dragacevic

 

[Vonsche]

Sad to say it but I think he is gone. I think 2009 will be his last season will be traded or delisted unfortunatly even if he gets back to playing. I hope I'm wrong though.
Poor bloke.

 

[Rayzorwire]

Give the time he's contracted for to get right and reassess at the end of '09.

Fact is, with all this time out and his natural game style - ball reading and hardness over pace and skill - he could play well into his 30's IF he gets his body right.

It's worth the risk.

 

[Tiger67]

needs to come back and play this season for at least 3 games and show that he can still handle it.
Tall order IMO. I think he's finished.

I have a similar opinion but at the same time I don't think the club would be taking him halfway around the world if they didn't think he could make it back.
In my playing days I had 2 recos although not on the same leg, but both by the time I was 20.
I didn't play again until I was 22 but played until I was 34 and only missed a handful of games in the whole 12 years.
I hope it works out like this for Coggo because he really deserves to get back and kick some butt.

 

[cotcha now]

good point. why are we sending him to germany if we dont think he'll play again??? why havent we taken casserly??

no1 in this servey has sed no,yet
no1s giving up on him, he may have the best return ever in the afl!

 

[Strawbs]

We have to give him every opportunity to get back on the field. His work ethic will see him through I reckon.

 

[sante]

We need to show faith him in because he had a great chance to leave the club when he was uncontracted but stuck with us, now we need to stick with him.

I hope like hell that he does return.

 

[richoatthedisco]

Even if he only has a 10% chance of playing again he's better value on the list than some of the spuds we've still got. Potential benefits of a successful return are worth it. A return would boost the side enormously. Could still have 5 years left. And we owe him.

 

[telsor]

I think we need to face up to the idea that he probably wont be back.

That said, the upside if he does return to somewhere near his best is worth keeping him around until the end of his contract, so let's reassess at the end of next year.

 

[tigers_of_old_08]

I think we need to face up to the idea that he probably wont be back.

That said, the upside if he does return to somewhere near his best is worth keeping him around until the end of his contract, so let's reassess at the end of next year.

NO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O ! ! ! ! ! ! !

 

[PHX]

He's contracted, therefore he plays on.

 

[Goldust]

Sadly, no!

I look at Luke Darcy at the Doggies. Good player, but a shadow of his former self after being out for near two seasons. The game had quickened considerably in the time he was on the sidelines. And give you the hint, the game has lifted a notch in tempo again this season.
By the time he returns, Cogs would have missed two to three years of football virtually.
I think the time might be nigh. Only hindering the development or opportunity of a younger player.
I remember the good ol' days when teams had 52 listed players. You could afford to carry one or two long term injuries, or unpredictable types.
At 38, you simply can't afford to do that. Teams know that..look at St Kilda...you really think they have any intention of playing Fraser Gehrig again? No way! But the rules are such he can't be replaced yet. St Kilda know that, but won't that extra player on the list!

Can't agree that a Cogs at three quarters or even half of what he was would be of value. Game is simply too quick!