Tigers enjoy Coughlan's return
Martin Boulton | February 8, 2008 | The Age
MARK COUGHLAN jogged onto the ground 10 minutes into Richmond's intraclub match in Moama yesterday and his performance, while hardly disturbing the statisticians, put a big smile on the face of coach Terry Wallace.
The 2003 best and fairest winner had an early handball in his first competitive game since badly injuring a knee in round 12, 2006, and Wallace said he was not about to start rushing the 25-year-old now.
"At the moment, it's about building him up to be ready for the season proper," he said. "We're not going to be rushing him into the NAB Cup series; he'll play when he's ready. We won't be seeing him next week (against St Kilda), but we'll certainly keep progressing him along."
After his initial foray, Coughlan was used sparingly, as were many of the Tigers, whose ranks were filled by 10 players from the local district. But the almost 2000 spectators at the home of the Echuca-Moama Barbarians Rugby Club enjoyed the action.
The midfielder had spells on the bench during each quarter.
"He's still finding his footy feet and all he wants to do at the moment is be out there and know he's pulling up well," Wallace said. "I'm not even concerned whether he's getting hold of the ball very much at this stage … it's getting the confidence to be able to mix it again and the other bits will layer on as we go along."
Forward Matthew Richardson provided plenty of thrills and finished with two goals for the day, but could have had five, except for some inaccuracy due to a ferocious wind.
In his move forward, Brett Deledio proved a valuable exercise, kicking three goals and providing another alternative to Richardson, who stayed deep.
"What it showed (moving Deledio forward) is that with supply of the ball, he's going to be a dangerous forward," Wallace said after the game.
Wallace said he was pleased with the hitout, the club's last before next week's round-one NAB Cup clash with St Kilda.
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