EXCITING Richmond teenager Trent Cotchin says over-eagerness at training was the main cause of the achilles injury that has sidelined him for the start of the home-and-away season.

Midfielder Cotchin is not expected to play football at any level until at least round three after battling for much of the summer with the injury in his left leg.

After being taken by the Tigers as the No.2 pick overall in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft, this is Cotchin’s second interrupted pre-season, after his right achilles kept him out of football until round eight last year.

 “I think the injury I had (last year) needs routine and probably two or three runs a week. I was doing four or five at times in the off-season.,” he said.

“That’s probably where it’s come from and it’s my fault and I’ve learnt that now. I won’t be doing that in another off-season anymore.”

Cotchin said the injury first flared in a beach run in the first week of the pre-season and that he did not manage his body well when he experienced soreness in the area before Christmas.

“They were a little bit precautious and took me back but it just got worse and worse. I tried to run in early January and got sore again,” he said.

“I’ve done a lot of strength work since December and feel really strong through the legs - it’s just the matter of the tendon coping with the load.”

The 18-year-old says he has still managed to build his fitness base, despite being sidelined. After a late start to his debut season in 2008, Cotchin still managed to play the last 15 games.

‘I was pretty positive when it (the injury) first happened, thinking I’m probably ahead of last year, and it is the opposite leg and hopefully won’t take long,” he said.

“I’ve learnt from last year but to keep on getting setbacks has been quite frustrating. There’s a lot of frustration in the game and I’m just trying to cope as best I can.

“Last year in the off-season I was on crutches, so I’ve got a fair base behind me. The training I have been doing I’ve got a fair bit of confidence in.

"You’d much prefer to be running but I feel I will be able to cope pretty well. I seem to pick up the pace of the game reasonably quickly so, once I get three or four matches under my belt, that will be the match fitness I need.”

Dream Team watch – Trent Cotchin is rated a $304,100 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.