IRYMPLE superstar Dan Coghlan is racing the clock in a bid to return from a broken leg for this Saturday’s SFNL senior preliminary final against Ouyen United.
The former Essendon VFL player faced a crucial fitness test at Swallows’ training last night as he battles to overcome a fractured fibula in his right leg, which he sustained in a clash with Imperials two months ago.
Coghlan said yesterday the training session later in the day would be the key test of whether he’ll be ready to line up against the Kangas at George Gordon Oval.
“I’d rather do more tonight, in terms of testing the leg, than at training on Thursday night,” he said.
He said the recovery process had been “a bit slower than we’d hoped, but I’m getting there”.
Asked if he felt he was close to being fit to play in a finals game, the 2019 McLeod Medallist said: “I’ll be pushing it.”
“It’s going to be a fine line. It’s just a case of whether it’s going to be too much, too soon.”
Sunraysia Daily put a scenario to Coghlan in which he played deep in the forward line to limit his usual hard-running effort in the midfield.
“It’s definitely been said, but a forward’s probably one of the hardest positions now where you have to work with the whole team,” he said.
“It’s not like I can hang out in the forward line and pretty much do nothing.”
Fellow club champion Nathan Hamence is also battling to be fit for the Kangas clash due to a calf injury.
Playing co-coach Coghlan is expecting a tough contest against the Kangas on Saturday.
“They are always a competitive team. They are not going to give us anything easy,” he said.
“I think they’re pretty even across the board. They don’t just rely on (Dallas) Willsmore, (Kaine) Stevens and (Cory) Gregson.”
