Essendon assistant coach Robert Shaw says there are a number of very good young players going around at the moment but says one who is as good as any of them is getting under everyone’s guard – Richmond centreman Mark Coughlan. The 21-year-old Western Australian is already a star according to Shaw and statistics back up his assessment. Coughlan has had 130 possessions to this stage of the season, leading the Tigers’ goalkicking with nine and has laid 34 tackles – 11 more than any other teammate. He is a key to this Saturday’s game, according to Shaw.

“I keep reading about Chris Judd, Jared Brennan, Brendan Goddard and a number of other blokes but I reckon Mark Coughlan has got under everyone’s guard. I love seeing these other young players come through and watching them play but in my opinion Coughlan is as good as any of them – he is a gun,” Shaw said. “I’m sure Richmond will be very pleased that all these other blokes are getting pumped up while this young man goes about his business.”

Shaw made no bones about the fact that Coughlan had been identified as a key player in Essendon’s planning for this match. “One of our blokes will go and shake hands with him at the start of the match and that is as far away as they will be from him for the entire game,” he said.