Coburg in force
The Mercury
James Bresnehan
June 12, 2008
THE Tasmanian Devils will face a Coburg Tigers side bolstered by the return of Richmond rising star Andrew Raines and possibly Tiger veterans Joel Bowden, Greg Tivendale and Kane Pettifer in their VFL clash at Burnie's West Park on Saturday.
Add to the mix Tasmanian Tiger Jack Riewoldt, and Coburg will bring an awesome force to Burnie.
Between them, Bowden, Tivendale and Pettifer would inject 513 AFL games' worth of experience into the Coburg side.
Raines and Riewoldt are two of the rising stars in the AFL.
"We won't know exactly who's coming down until after the final match committee meeting tomorrow night -- it's all still in discussion at the moment," said Coburg's Tasmanian coach Jade Rawlings, who is a member of Richmond's five-man match committee.
However, Rawlings did guarantee that Raines would play.
"It's an important step on his way back from injury," Rawlings said.
Raines, 22, dislocated his knee in March and has been sidelined ever since.
He played in Coburg's reserves side last week, and Rawlings said the 2006 AFL Rising Star runner-up would put himself to the test against the Devils.
"Any game you play on the way back from injury is an important step on the road to recovery," Rawlings said.
"Andrew has been very diligent in his rehabilitation and he's now ready to progress through VFL football.
"It's up to him now in how his body adjusts and his form in how long it takes to get back in the Richmond side."
Raines, a hard-running defender, will be given numerous roles against the Devils.
"He's a natural defender, but I'll offer him an opportunity to play further up the ground so he can get involved around the ball," Rawlings said.
"But down back is the predominant position he'll be playing."
Riewoldt kicked four goals for Coburg in its win over Werribee last Saturday.
That put him in line for a promotion to Richmond's side for the Tigers' clash with Melbourne at the Telstra Dome on Sunday.
"He'll be in the mix," Rawlings said.
Richmond senior players Bowden, Tivendale and Pettifer face the axe after the Tigers' second-half fade-out to Adelaide at the MCG last Saturday.
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