Just the first step
Rebecca Williams | April 26, 2009 11:30pm
COMEBACK kid Mark Coughlan says it will take him time to re-adjust to the faster pace of the game after his long-awaited return in Richmond's breakthrough win against North Melbourne.
Coughlan was feted by his teammates in the rooms after the Tigers' 36-point victory against the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night - his first AFL match since Round 12, 2006.
Capped by the team's first win of the season, it was a successful return for the 2003 Tigers best-and-fairest winner, who had 16 disposals and five tackles and played 69 per cent of the match.
But the 27-year-old said the speed of the game had moved on during his time on the sidelines.
"I have got a little bit of work to do," Coughlan said after the match.
"It's just the quick ball movement. I felt OK in the legs, it's just the way the ball moves around.
"It's going to take some games, getting used to the pace again.
"Hopefully I'll improve over the next few weeks."
But just getting through the game was enough for Coughlan, who has had to overcome two knee reconstructions and chronic hamstring problems.
While he was thrilled to be back, he said there were times he had doubted if his body would let him return.
"You do think that over three years, for anyone that hasn't been out there for a while, you probably go through that," Coughlan said.
"But the support that I have got from the club has been great and it was great to get a win.
"It's just a monkey off the back and the result was excellent.
"I am usually staying in the suit all night rather than getting in the playing gear, so just to put the boots on was a buzz.
"I'm sick of the suit, I'm ready to throw it out."
Coughlan was told early in the week that he would be making his comeback against North, and said he waged a battle with his nerves before the match.
"I was pretty nervous, I just tried to relax for as long as I possibly could before the game," he said.
"I was just on the edge come game time."
Teammate Daniel Jackson said Coughlan, who received a round of applause for his first kick of the night, had been an inspiration for his teammates.
"It was fantastic to have Mark Coughlan back, he just epitomises how to go about your football," Jackson said.
"He does everything right on the track and when he's out there, he's always prepared to put his body on the line.
"If you saw us after the game we had him in the circle and everyone was pretty emotional and just rapt to have him back in the side.
"He does everything right off the field, he never complains or never puts a foot wrong and it's just great to see him back out there again."
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/sport/afl/story/0,26547,25388629-5016212,00.html
