Coughlan with plenty to prove
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
Mon 24 March, 2003
He may have run third in Richmond's best and fairest in only his second AFL season last year but Tigers' hard-nut Mark Coughlan feels he still has plenty to prove in 2003.
The tough on-baller was one of the few bright spots of the Tigers' dismal 2002 season - as he collected 20 or more touches in the last 10 games of the season.
But now Coughlan is desperate to prove he did not just stand-out last year because the Tigers' were struggling.
"That's the main goal for me this year is just to back it up and prove it (last year) wasn't just because we were struggling in the midfield and I got a chance," Coughlan told afl.com.au
Coughlan is already aware he will be under more pressure this year - particularly from opposition clubs.
"I looked through the Rising Star nominations the year before I was nominated (2001) and there were a few that went on and had good years in 2002 but there were quite a few that didn't and I really don't want to be one of them this year," he said.
And it is not just more pressure from opposition clubs that Coughlan will have to face in 2003 but also more pressure from within his own club for a place in the midfield.
With premiership players Justin Blumfield and Kane Johnson joining the Tigers in 2003 - combined with skipper Wayne Campbell, Joel Bowden, the return from injury of Rory Hilton and the improving David Rodan - Coughlan knows he is no certainty to maintain his place in the Tigers' midfield.
"After the year finished last year and we recruited those two (Blumfield and Johnson) I thought 'well there is bit of competition there now in midfield and I've really got to lift my game this pre-season to consolidate a spot in there."
The 20-year-old from Perth was taken at pick 25 by the Tigers in the 2000 national draft and managed just five games in his first season in 2001.
And when Coughlan was dropped for round seven last year - after having played only three games (all on the bench) for the season to that stage, his career appeared to be heading nowhere.
It was then that Tigers' coach Danny Frawley had a heart-to-heart chat with Coughlan - a chat which made the youngster realise it was time to start delivering.
"I just woke up to myself and realised I needed to lift as a player," he said.
"We were struggling a bit as a club and Danny got me into the office and pleaded with me to have a go."
"He gave me a chance and I took it."
So dominant was Coughlan in the second half of the season that he stormed home in the club's best and fairest to finish only behind skipper Campbell and superstar spearhead Richardson in the Tigers' Jack Dyer Medal voting.
"Halfway through the year I would have been happy to get a vote in the best and fairest," Coughlan said.
"But to then run third in the best and fairest, it was probably the biggest thrill I've had in my football career."
Now Coughlan is determined to prove last year was no fluke - starting with Friday night's opening round blockbuster against Collingwood.
"I have been injured the past couple of pre-seasons and I am just looking forward to playing early on in the year," he said.
"I have put on a little bit of weight but at the same time improved my fitness and I am probably in the best position I have been in at the start of a season."
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
Mon 24 March, 2003
He may have run third in Richmond's best and fairest in only his second AFL season last year but Tigers' hard-nut Mark Coughlan feels he still has plenty to prove in 2003.
The tough on-baller was one of the few bright spots of the Tigers' dismal 2002 season - as he collected 20 or more touches in the last 10 games of the season.
But now Coughlan is desperate to prove he did not just stand-out last year because the Tigers' were struggling.
"That's the main goal for me this year is just to back it up and prove it (last year) wasn't just because we were struggling in the midfield and I got a chance," Coughlan told afl.com.au
Coughlan is already aware he will be under more pressure this year - particularly from opposition clubs.
"I looked through the Rising Star nominations the year before I was nominated (2001) and there were a few that went on and had good years in 2002 but there were quite a few that didn't and I really don't want to be one of them this year," he said.
And it is not just more pressure from opposition clubs that Coughlan will have to face in 2003 but also more pressure from within his own club for a place in the midfield.
With premiership players Justin Blumfield and Kane Johnson joining the Tigers in 2003 - combined with skipper Wayne Campbell, Joel Bowden, the return from injury of Rory Hilton and the improving David Rodan - Coughlan knows he is no certainty to maintain his place in the Tigers' midfield.
"After the year finished last year and we recruited those two (Blumfield and Johnson) I thought 'well there is bit of competition there now in midfield and I've really got to lift my game this pre-season to consolidate a spot in there."
The 20-year-old from Perth was taken at pick 25 by the Tigers in the 2000 national draft and managed just five games in his first season in 2001.
And when Coughlan was dropped for round seven last year - after having played only three games (all on the bench) for the season to that stage, his career appeared to be heading nowhere.
It was then that Tigers' coach Danny Frawley had a heart-to-heart chat with Coughlan - a chat which made the youngster realise it was time to start delivering.
"I just woke up to myself and realised I needed to lift as a player," he said.
"We were struggling a bit as a club and Danny got me into the office and pleaded with me to have a go."
"He gave me a chance and I took it."
So dominant was Coughlan in the second half of the season that he stormed home in the club's best and fairest to finish only behind skipper Campbell and superstar spearhead Richardson in the Tigers' Jack Dyer Medal voting.
"Halfway through the year I would have been happy to get a vote in the best and fairest," Coughlan said.
"But to then run third in the best and fairest, it was probably the biggest thrill I've had in my football career."
Now Coughlan is determined to prove last year was no fluke - starting with Friday night's opening round blockbuster against Collingwood.
"I have been injured the past couple of pre-seasons and I am just looking forward to playing early on in the year," he said.
"I have put on a little bit of weight but at the same time improved my fitness and I am probably in the best position I have been in at the start of a season."
