TonyK
CibbuanoTigers: Coughlan still a chance for round one
February 11th 2009 04:18
RICHMOND midfielder Mark Coughlan could still be available for the start of the home-and-away season in late March despite requiring further surgery on the right knee which required two full reconstructions in 2006 and 2007.
The 26-year-old suffered his first major knee injury in his last AFL match in round 12, 2006.
The 2003 best-and-fairest winner then underwent a second knee re-construction on the same knee after breaking down again during the 2007 pre-season while last year he battled ongoing hamstring problems
Coughlan, who has played 41 games in five seasons, impressed in an intra-club match last week and was on the verge of returning to the Richmond side in this weekend's NAB Cup clash against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.
Richmond assistant coach Wayne Campbell said the surgery was only a 'minor setback' for Coughlan.
"It's a small meniscus tear in the (right) knee he has had re-constructed a couple of times," Campbell said.
"It sounds worse than what it is and hopefully he will be back in training in a couple of weeks."
"Mark Coughlan and knee (surgery) doesn't sound great but we think it's only a minor setback for him."
"After two knee re-constructions he has been through enough hell in the past and while this is not ideal for him it's certainly not catastrophic by any means."
Campbell also said Coughlan is still a chance to be ready for the round one clash against Carlton on March 26.
"If all went well he could play in the third week of the NAB Cup but whether that happens or not I don't know but round one versus Carlton is not out of the equation."
"He was going unbelievably well before this and the improvement in him since he came back (for the start of pre-season training) on October 17 has been remarkable to the point where it was going to be a fairytale story and we probably think it still will be but this is just a couple of weeks' setback."
The 26-year-old suffered his first major knee injury in his last AFL match in round 12, 2006.
The 2003 best-and-fairest winner then underwent a second knee re-construction on the same knee after breaking down again during the 2007 pre-season while last year he battled ongoing hamstring problems
Coughlan, who has played 41 games in five seasons, impressed in an intra-club match last week and was on the verge of returning to the Richmond side in this weekend's NAB Cup clash against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.
Richmond assistant coach Wayne Campbell said the surgery was only a 'minor setback' for Coughlan.
"It's a small meniscus tear in the (right) knee he has had re-constructed a couple of times," Campbell said.
"It sounds worse than what it is and hopefully he will be back in training in a couple of weeks."
"Mark Coughlan and knee (surgery) doesn't sound great but we think it's only a minor setback for him."
"After two knee re-constructions he has been through enough hell in the past and while this is not ideal for him it's certainly not catastrophic by any means."
Campbell also said Coughlan is still a chance to be ready for the round one clash against Carlton on March 26.
"If all went well he could play in the third week of the NAB Cup but whether that happens or not I don't know but round one versus Carlton is not out of the equation."
"He was going unbelievably well before this and the improvement in him since he came back (for the start of pre-season training) on October 17 has been remarkable to the point where it was going to be a fairytale story and we probably think it still will be but this is just a couple of weeks' setback."
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