Picture: Michael Klein
Nathan Brown returns to footy field
24 February 2006
Herald Sun
Damian Barrett
THE kicks lacked the usual penetration and the ball didn't follow him as it normally would, but it mattered little for Nathan Brown last night – he was back playing competitive football.
Brown's comeback, in a practice match for Richmond's reserves at Princes Park, put him ahead of schedule in his plan to be ready for Round 1. Nine months after snapping his right leg in one of football's most horrific incidents, Brown, with a 32cm titanium rod supporting his leg, had half a dozen kicks, a couple of handballs and a goal against the Kangaroos reserves.
He played the first half, and had showered and left the ground by early in the third quarter.
"It feels good. I could probably have played another two quarters but they didn't want me to," Brown said after his hitout.
"I asked them (at halftime), but they said, `No'. I still have a bit of fitness work to do and I didn't touch it too many times out there today."
"It was good to have a run and a kick and it felt good to be out there, but I've still got some work to do . . . looking to Round 1 now," Brown said.
From the moment Brown was carried off Telstra Dome on May 27 last year, the tibia and fibula bones in his right leg shattered, he set himself for a Round 1 2006 return.
Despite mental and physical setbacks along the way, he never deviated from his plan and there was a hint of pride after last night's hitout.
"I got told a few times I probably wouldn't make Round 1. I'm still a month away from Round 1 and I'm playing footy, so it's satisfying," he said.
Provided the Tigers defeat Hawthorn at Telstra Dome tomorrow, and then secure at least one more win in the knockout pre-season series, Brown will aim for a senior return in the NAB Cup.
"Hope so. I don't want to play too many games in the twos," Brown said.
"Hopefully I'll get up there and hopefully (coach) Terry (Wallace) liked what he saw today and hopefully the boys have a good win on Saturday."
Brown's touches last night were mostly typically assured, but there were moments when his absence from the game and his lack of match fitness were evident.
"I was happy with it, though," Brown said.
"The kicking was good and the ball-handling was good. I was a bit apprehensive a couple of times but I will learn to get in to the cut and thrust of it again.
"Hopefully that all comes back and comes naturally and by Round 1 everything is back to normal.
"I think that will come back when I play a real game."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18255626%255E19771,00.html
