Tigers keen for injured Coughlan to take mentoring role
Steve Butler
West Australian
February 16, 2007
RICHMOND midfielder Mark Coughlan has been offered a match-day role in Terry Wallace's coaching box this year as part of his rehabilitation after a second season-ending knee injury.
The Tigers' 2003 club champion was devastated to learn last week that he would need his second knee reconstruction in eight months. It is believed the latest blow could have been caused by a slip in the shower before Christmas.
Coughlan met Wallace and Richmond football manager Paul Armstrong yesterday and was offered several roles within the club, including a match-day position and mentoring younger players.
The star 24-year-old is expected to visit his surgeon early next week and will have his latest reconstruction within a fortnight. He is then expected to tell the club of his decision on what role he will play during the season.
Coughlan had battled groin soreness for most of 2004 and was getting back to his best when he injured his right knee when playing against Hawthorn in round 12 at Launceston last year.
Armstrong said: "He was in this morning and his spirits were good. When we were down at the community camp we told him we'd have some opportunities to be involved if he wanted to be.
"We set those out for him today and if he wants to take them up, that's really up to him. We still want him to have a strong connection with the group, whether he's always doing his rehab here or elsewhere."
Coughlan has played 83 games in six seasons at Richmond since being recruited from Perth. His contract runs out at the end of the season, but Armstrong said that issue would not be discussed until after his operation.
Richmond has an intra-club match tonight.
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