In: Cousins, Riewoldt, Thursfield
Out: Raines, Coughlan, Connors
Star has fully recovered, Tigers sayBy Mic Cullen 5:00 PM Thu 28 May, 2009
RICHMOND has brought back Ben Cousins and left out Andrew Raines and Mark Coughlan ahead of their match against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.
Cousins has recovered from the broken hand he copped in the first quarter against Port Adelaide in round eight, and is set to revisit Subiaco Oval as a player for the first time since West Coast sacked him in late 2007.
Raines has struggled for the last couple of weeks with an increasingly bad knee injury, and inflammation of the joint has got to the stage where he won’t play again until he’s right.
Coughlan had just 10 disposals against the Bombers, and he and Daniel Connors will play for Coburg this weekend.
Jack Riewoldt returns on the back of two good games for Coburg and Will Thursfield, who was selected last week but had to withdraw with a virus, is also in.
Richmond football manager Ross Monaghan told richmondfc.com.au that Cousins had fully recovered from the injury.
“Cuz got through the training session without any problem at all, so we’re happy to have him back in the side,” he said.
“Will would have played last week, because he was selected in the side, but had a virus on the day of the game that stopped him from playing, but he’s fully recovered and mad keen to get out there.
“Jack Riewoldt’s had the past two weeks back with Coburg – he went back with a great attitude to run into some form, kicked six in both games and did everything possible that was asked of him, so he deserves his spot back.”
Monaghan said Coughlan just needed to find a bit of form back in the VFL, while Raines was battling injury.
“Rainsy’s managed to get through the last couple of weeks, but has just struggled a little bit with some inflammation and soreness after the game, and the decision was made to make sure he’s absolutely 100 per cent before he plays again.”
Promising ruckman Angus Graham is still out with the hamstring tightness that sidelined him last week and Monaghan said the 22-year-old was being put in cotton wool, a long return flight to the West – and the wide open spaces of Subiaco Oval – not being seen as ideal.
“Gus is still a little bit sore and had we attempted to play him this week, with a six-day break between this game and the Bulldogs next week, he probably would have struggled to come up.
“But next week he should be 100 per cent.”
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/77772/default.aspx
