Coughlan begins quest to return to Richmond

[one-eyed]

Coughlan begins quest to return to Richmond
Carley Jellett | May 10, 2008

RICHMOND star Mark Coughlan's long road back from injury starts today, with the 26-year-old midfielder set to take the field for the Tigers' VFL affiliate Coburg.

After two serious knee injuries — both of which required full reconstructions — Coughlan returned to competitive football during the pre-season competition but was again struck down, this time with a hamstring complaint.

Richmond assistant and Coburg coach Jade Rawlings said the clubs will welcome Coughlan back "with open arms".

"He will definitely play," Rawlings said. "He would have played last week but due to the split round, we weren't able to accommodate him with a game.

"So, he's been able to get an extra week of conditioning under his belt with his training."

Coughlan has not played an AFL match since round 12 of the 2006 season, when he first injured his knee, but Rawlings said he expects Richmond's 2003 best-and-fairest winner to play most of the game.

"I would have thought he would be looking to play three quarters of the game and I would rather put him into the action where he does his best work, which will be on the ball. We would like to think that he will be able to have a strong contribution for us (today).

"I would have thought he would need a few (VFL matches). He played a few (matches) in the pre-season series and then started being troubled by a bit of soreness. It's been quite a bit of time since he played senior AFL football, so you would think he would have to put a few together before he would be put into consideration for the senior side."

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/coughlan-begins-quest-to-return/2008/05/09/1210131268473.html

[one-eyed]

Injury-plagued Coughlan finally makes return
Jon Pierik | May 10, 2008

LUCKLESS Richmond midfielder Mark Coughlan will make yet another return from injury when he lines up for VFL side Coburg today against Collingwood. Coughlan has recovered from hamstring soreness that derailed his return last month.

On the comeback trail after his second successive knee reconstruction, the Tigers hope Coughlan will be able to finally have an extended run at returning to form and fitness at Coburg City Oval.

"He is right to play this week," Tigers football manager Paul Armstrong said yesterday.

Coughlan has not played an AFL game since he first injured his knee in Round 12, 2006.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23674184-19742,00.html

[tigersalive]

Cmon Cogga, let's hope you've still got it.     

[Tigermonk]

  yeah cause if he dont l be yelling out from the fence wasted money & space  l been told his superfit so he shouldnot have any problems
If he suceeds it should take him about a season to recoup reading the play,  cause he aint played since round 12 2006  thats nearly 2 years alone.  l be very unhappy if he go a senior game this year cause he dont warrant it & l'm sure some of the kids wouldnot appreciate it losing a spot to a player who everyone lives of 2003 which is so long ago

[richmondrules]

yeah cause if he dont l be yelling out from the fence wasted money & space 

LOL. Yeah 'cause that would be real helpful TM.

Perhaps even poor old Cogs could be let off the hook in his first game back after 2 knee reconstructions.

Lets hope he gets through the game unscathed with a couple of touches. 

[bluey_21]

Good positive step forward. Still has a great ability at the stoppages and a quick mind and hands to dispose of the ball. Needs to build up his fitness and replace Tuck.

[Tigermonk]

if you think Cogs is going to replace Tuck your deluded
Tuck is in the side to protect the likes of Cogs
& after seeing Cogs today he wont be playing any senior games this year 
Then again Wallet does some stipid things who knows
unhappy that Hughes went off injured 

[mightytiges]

The main thing for Cogs this year is to get through the year unscathed. He's got through today first of all so that's a positive.

[TFL]

I still dont think Cogs is right.

Hope he goes well though.

[one-eyed]

Tiger returns, Coughlan pulls up unscathed
Carley Jellett | May 11, 2008

RICHMOND midfielder Mark Coughlan took the first step to returning to senior football yesterday, playing a half of football in Coburg's 53-point win over Collingwood at ABD Group Stadium.

After undergoing two knee reconstructions, Coughlan's comeback was again disrupted due to hamstring soreness, but the 26-year-old got through yesterday's match unscathed.

Limited game time and close checking by Collingwood's Paul Licuria kept Coughlan to 10 possessions, but it was enough for Coburg coach, Jade Rawlings, who said he was happy to see the injury-plagued midfielder playing again.

"I thought it was just good to see him get out and play," Rawlings said. "It has been a while since he played. I thought he tackled well and put himself into a position to get the ball a few times and he was solid."

After the match Coughlan said he was happy to get through his first game back. "It was just good to get out there and get through it," he said. (The knee) has been good for a couple months now. I was just more worried about getting through the game and (I) did that. I played about a half and it felt all right.

"I'll probably be tested a bit more in the next couple of weeks when I play a full game but generally I felt all right. Obviously the match fitness is a bit behind but that will take a couple of games."

Coughlan is eager to return to the Richmond line-up but said he was expecting to play a few more matches at VFL level. He added, at best, he could be back in the Richmond squad within a month.

"Realistically I have got to get a couple full games under my belt and feel really good during the week. The boys are playing really well, mind you, and there was some pretty good players playing down at Coburg today, so it's certainly not going to be a walk-in."

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/richmonds-coughlan-pulls-up-unscathed/2008/05/10/1210131341945.html

[one-eyed]

After 99 weeks, Coughlan returns
Tony Sheahan | May 11, 2008 12:00am

MARK Coughlan yesterday got through his first game of competitive football in almost two years and has earmarked a return to the Richmond seniors within a month.

Coughlan, 26, lined up for Coburg Tigers against Collingwood yesterday - his first hit-out since Round 12, 2006, when his right knee buckled in the Richmond match against Hawthorn.

He played about 60 per cent of yesterday's match at Coburg City Oval.

"The knee was fine. It's been good for a couple of months now. I was just more worried about getting through the game and i did that and felt all right," Coughlan said after the game.

"Nerves weren't too bad actually . . . I was just pretty keen to get through the game. I went straight into the middle and didn't get my hands on it too much, but the movement felt all right."

Coughlan is one of several big-name Tigers pushing for a return to the seniors in coming weeks.

"I'll be tested more in the next couple of weeks when I play full games," he said.

"The match fitness will take a little bit of time, probably a couple of games. I'm hoping to be back within the next month, realistically, I've got to get a couple of good games under my belt and feel really good during the week."

Joel Bowden, Graham Polak, Kayne Pettifer, Jay Schulz, Trent Cotchin and Greg Tivendale were among the players being watched closely by Richmond fans yesterday.

"It's definitely not going to be a walk in (to the seniors)," Coughlan said.

"I've got to put some pressure on the guys in the seniors who occupy the midfield. I like playing in the midfield so I'll be pushing for that in a few weeks."

Coburg coach Jade Rawlings was pleased with Coughlan's performance.

"He was hard in and under on ball," Rawlings said.

"I thought he chased and tackled well and used the ball well when he got it."

Pettifer said that before the match his teammates were "pumped up" about Coughlan playing yesterday.

"It's obviously been a long time for 'Coggs'," Pettifer said.

"He's a much-loved player down at the club, as well as being a Jack Dyer medallist and it's just great to have him back down there. It won't take him too long to get back to the seniors."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23677624-19742,00.html

[Tigermonk]

Cogs done hardly anything worth mentioning yesterday
people can go on dreaming about him but from what l saw he didnot warrant a game in the Coburg seniors even

[mjs]

I still dont think Cogs is right.

Hope he goes well though.

Hey TFL - what did you think?

He only spent a short time on the ground but he showed something in my opinion - I tried to watch him closely, he got some tough clearances and classy handballs. He's been out a long time and just to get through half a game was surely enough first up?

[Smokey]

Cogs done hardly anything worth mentioning yesterday
people can go on dreaming about him but from what l saw he didnot warrant a game in the Coburg seniors even

Is that what you saw or what you wanted to see?  Seems to conflict with the observations of many others that were there.  And just what did you expect first up after missing nearly 2 seasons?  Whether you like it or not, the club are going to give it's ex-Jack Dyer Medallist every possible chance to recover his form and place in the seniors before making any decision to keep or cut at season's end.  That is unless further injury decides it for them - and surely even you TM, don't wish that on him?

[jezza]

Some encouraging signs, mainly in close. Struggled to stick with his man when we didn't have the ball and was generally not running hard enough, but that will come.