Tigers to take safe path with Cotchin
Greg Denham | January 26, 2009 | The Australian
YOUNG Richmond midfielder Trent Cotchin is facing a race against time to be fit for the start of the 2009 premiership season.
Cotchin, 18, is yet to resume full training because of achilles tendon and calf problems and has already been ruled out of early NAB Cup participation, which begins for the Tigers on February 15 against Fremantle in Perth.
Richmond football manager Ross Monaghan, who crossed from Melbourne in the off-season, said the Tigers could not be specific when Cotchin's soreness would subside and allow him to train without being restricted.
"It's hard to say when he'll be right, his body hasn't fully developed and we've been juggling his training program," Monaghan said. "We don't think there's any long-term detrimental effect, and hopefully he'll be right for the first round of the season proper in March. We've backed off his training and adjusting his program to best suit his body."
Monaghan said Cotchin's latest injury concerns were on the opposite leg to last year, when an achilles problem prevented the overall No2 national draft selection from making his debut until round eight.
So impressive were his first 15 games last season, averaging almost 17 disposals, the teenager finished third to Rhys Palmer and Cyril Rioli in the Ron Evans Medal, the AFL's rising star award.
The Tigers won 11 games in 2008, but finished strongly by winning nine of 15 when Cotchin played.
"He goes a few steps forward and then one back," Monaghan said of Cotchin's 2009 preparation. "It's irritating for him, especially with the expectation based on last year is that he'd be a superstar.
"It's hard to say when he'll be able to hit the track and train flat out."
Two "new" faces ready to resurrect their careers are Mark Coughlan and Andrew Raines, who are both likely to play against the Dockers next month.
Coughlan, who has been plagued by multiple knee reconstructions and hamstring problems, has not appeared for the Tigers since the middle of 2006.
After 46 straight games, Raines' season was halted early last year, first by a dislocated kneecap in round two followed by several other soft-tissue problems.
Kayne Pettifer is hoping to push for senior selection in the second half of the year after a knee reconstruction last season. Graham Polak, who was in critical condition last year after being hit by a tram, is in full training but the Tigers are yet to establish a time for his return.
Ben Cousins has been ruled out for the first official pre-season match, but could face his former club West Coast in the second round of the NAB Cup if results fall that way.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24961996-5012432,00.html
