Cogs pencils in a comeback date
3 June, 2004
Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
Reigning Jack Dyer Medallist, Mark Coughlan, is aiming for a return to the playing field with Richmond’s VFL affiliate, the Coburg Tigers, on the AFL bye weekend (June 26-27).
Coughlan, who has been rested since Round 5 with a groin complaint, is determined to still have an impact on the 2004 season, but will not rush back into action.
“I’ve missed five games now, which has been frustrating, but we’ve just been pretty conservative with it (the rehab.),” Coughlan said on ‘Tigers’ Club Corner’ (Sport 927) this week.
“I will come back fully fit – as in fit and ready to play. But it’ll take me a couple of games to get match fit.
“At this stage, I hope to play half a game in the VFL the week the senior team’s got a bye – just to make sure that it’s 100% -- and, all being well, go from there . . .”
Coughlan is looking forward to stepping up his training regime with some more ball-work after the monotony of running in recent weeks.
“I haven’t done a heap of ball-work as yet . . . I’ll graduate into that this week,” he said.
“But in terms of running, I’m doing a fair bit to keep my fitness up.
“If you’ve been down at training in the last month, you would have seen me straight-line running, which isn’t much fun, but something I’ve got to do to keep my fitness up.”
Amid the frustration of being sidelined from doing what he does best – playing footy – came a major positive for Coughlan (and the Tigers) late last week. He agreed to terms on a new three-year deal with Richmond, which will tie him to the Club at least until the end of the 2007 season.
“I was absolutely rapt to sign back up again,” Coughlan said.
“It wasn’t a very long procedure at all – it was only one or two weeks of negotiating and that was it.
“I’m very happy to be staying with the Club because I believe the future here is really bright and I want to be part of it.
“Now I’m just looking forward to getting back out there . . .”
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