This time last year.....Cotchin on track for early return
Jon Ralph | March 11, 2008
RICHMOND'S No. 2 draft pick Trent Cotchin is just weeks from returning to football after a pre-season sitting on the sidelines with achilles soreness.
The highly-rated Cotchin took the first steps towards senior football on Friday when he ran for the first time as a Tiger after overcoming complications with a broken foot.
Now Richmond says he is on track for a return as early as Round 2 in the VFL, when Cotchin becomes eligible to play after being taken off the long-term injury list.
He will not be rushed into the seniors, but the news is a massive boost for the Tigers after speculation Cotchin might be put on ice for the entire season.
Rival recruiters said Cotchin was clearly the best midfielder in the 2007 draft.
The Tigers are building to full strength for their Round 1 clash with Carlton on Easter Thursday, when Richmond is determined to make a fast start against a Carlton side with Chris Judd making his Blues debut.
The Tigers have made a pre-season theme of derailing Carlton's momentum after a season of good vibes for the Blues.
Cotchin will need to build fitness, but football director Greg Miller said the club was buoyed by his progress.
"He ran on Friday and pulled up really well. He is progressing well and feeling really good. He has three or four weeks of preparation now before Round 2 in the VFL (Round 3 of the AFL season), which is when he is eligible to come back."
Miller said 18-year-old Cotchin had been immensely frustrated by sitting out the pre-season. "It's been a long road for him. He has high expectations of himself."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23353254-19742,00.html