Coughlan, Stafford in doubt
8:35:42 PM Fri 23 May, 2003
Mic Cullen
afl.com.au
Richmond could be forced to play replace key players Greg Stafford and Mark Coughlan for Saturday’s clash with the West Coast Eagles, with both Stafford and Coughlan in doubt after training at Subiaco Oval on Friday.
Stafford hyper-extended his right knee in the last quarter of Saturday’s win over Melbourne at the MCG, while Coughlan left the track early with a possible ankle injury.
Stafford spent Friday’s training session doing handball drills, and was clearly in pain when putting weight on his right leg, and went wading in salt-water after the session.
Football manager Greg Hutchison said that while the club was hopeful that Coughlan would play, Stafford’s fitness would be assessed on Saturday morning.
Emergencies Craig Biddiscombe and Clinton King travelled West with the Tigers and are likely to take the field against the second-placed Eagles, who are just one place above Richmond.
Both Stafford and Coughlan have been key components in the Richmond machine that has locked a position near the top of the AFL ladder, after the team finished a disappointing 14th last season.
With Brad Ottens and Ben Holland both missing with injuries, Stafford has been vital in the ruck and as a key forward for the Tigers, while Coughlan’s improvement has married beautifully with the addition of two-time Adelaide premiership player Kane Johnson to the midfield.