Tiger Cotchin likely to miss NAB Cup opener

RICHMOND midfielder Trent Cotchin's left achilles injury is likely to keep him out of the first round of the NAB Cup, but he could be available after that as he prepares to play his first full season in the AFL.

A broken right foot and achilles caused the 18-year-old to miss all of his first pre-season 12 months ago, but he debuted later in the year and finished third in the 2008 NAB AFL Rising Star on the back of just 15 games.

Richmond's football manager Ross Monaghan said on Tuesday afternoon: "Trent is dealing with an achilles tendon issue.

"He is expected to make a full recovery but is not expected be available for round one of the NAB Cup."

Matt Hornsby, Richmond's elite performance manager, said Cotchin was progressing nicely, and that the injury was not something that would dog him for the rest of his career.

"He's actually going quite well; he's had some issues with his achilles which he had when he was drafted to us, and obviously he had the broken bone as well," Hornsby told richmondfc.com.au.

"It's just part of his young body still developing, and he'll grow out of it.

"He's an 18-year-old, and we have such high expectations on young players these days – he's only six weeks older than (eighth pick in the 2008 draft) Tyrone Vickery."