STAR Irymple midfielder Dan Coghlan could miss the rest of the 2022 SFNL season as he battles to recover from a serious injury suffered in a game last month.
The Swallows’ playing co-coach fractured the fibula in his right leg in the round 8 clash with Imperials.
Coghlan this week recalled limping off with the leg injury early in the game.
“I didn’t think it was that bad at the time,” he said.
“I just landed on (my right leg) awkwardly and rotated it.”
A month later, he still has a plaster cast on his leg ahead of his next doctor’s appointment in a few weeks.
The 31-year-old said he was facing the prospect of remaining sidelined for the rest of the Swallows’ 2022 campaign.
“They don’t know if I’ll make it back this season,” he said, in a gloomy prediction.
“I’ll just concentrate on coaching for now and do what I can to help the boys.”
The second-placed Swallows host third-placed Ouyen United in the match of the round at Henshilwood Oval this afternoon.
Coghlan said he was expecting a tough battle against the Kangas.
“They always come and give it their best,” he said. “It’s always a hard contest against them.
“They’ve got some good recruits who are leading them well.”
The Kangas’ triumvirate of Crow Eaters, Kaine Stevens, Dallas Willsmore and latest recruit Cory Gregson, will pose a big threat to the Swallows’ chances of victory.
Coghlan this week recalled the first time that he and ex-Geelong player Gregson faced off in a football game.
It was in a VFL clash on May 7, 2016, when Coghlan’s Essendon Bombers beat Gregson’s Cats by 21 points at Windy Hill.
Captain Coghlan was listed among the Dons’ best players and kicked a goal in the game.
Gregson said he couldn’t recall the game in a season when he also played for the senior Geelong side.
In all, the 25-year-old played 39 AFL games for the Cats and booted 20 goals across three seasons (2015-18).
He had his first hit-out for Ouyen United in last weekend’s six-goal victory over Merbein.
It was also the Adelaide-based ace’s first game of footy for 2022.
“It was pretty tough,” he said. “Football fitness is quite a unique fitness.
“But it was really easy fitting in for the first game. They didn’t expect too much of me.
“They had quite a lot of on-field leaders, which helped me.”
One of those leaders is good mate Stevens, who he has played against previously in the SANFL.
“It was nice receiving a few kicks and handballs from him instead of trying to tackle him,” Gregson said, with a laugh.
He is set to bring his long-term partner and two young children with him for the Kangas’ games.
He’s also expecting to spend more time in the Mildura district in the coming weeks, not just flying in for games.
“I’m going to have some work up in Mildura (with Manheim Auctions) so that’ll allow me to train with the team a bit more,” Gregson said.
“Work is going to start getting busier in the Mildura area now.”
He said he would be looking to help guide the Kangas alongside his SA mates and co-coaches Brad Vallance and Scott Grigg.
“It’s quite a young team and hopefully I can bring some more leadership and experience to the group,” Gregson said.
“And I want to play to my main strength, which is running.”
He said the Kangas were expecting a fierce contest against the Swallows today.
“I’ve heard from the boys that they are quite a strong midfield team, so we’re expecting a tough game,” he said.
