IT WAS a tale of two Tigers at Richmond training on Tuesday morning as youngster Trent Cotchin was restricted to light duties while Nathan Foley joined the main group in running drills as he steps up his recovery from ankle surgery.

Cotchin is on a modified training program after having his 2009 cut short by a hip injury and was kept away from the main group at the Punt Road skills session.

The No.2 selection in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft has been plagued by pre-season injury concerns in his short career, having his first two summers wrecked by achilles troubles. 

On Tuesday Cotchin only participated in handball drills and did not undertake any running duties but Richmond's elite performance manager Matt Hornsby said this was all part of a plan to ensure the emerging star made it through his third pre-season unscathed.

"Because Trent has had some injury problems in the past, his training program is very individualised, to minimise the risk of any reoccurrence," Hornsby told richmondfc.com.au.

"At the moment he is injury free, and he will continue to follow his training program in the lead-up to the start of the season.

"He has been heavily involved in most training sessions since the pre-season began late last year.

"There have been sessions where he has been involved in everything, including match simulation, and others where he has been on lighter duties."

Cotchin participated in handball drills in a breakaway group that initially included Foley, Alex Rance and Will Thursfield.

Foley later joined the rest of the team for some light running exercises and appeared to be moving freely despite still undergoing rehabilitation for an ankle injury he sustained late last season.

Ben Cousins was an early no show but made an appearance about an hour into the session but did not take part in any of the drills.

The only notable absentees were new draftee Dustin Martin and ruckman Tyrone Vickery.