RICHMOND caretaker coach Jade Rawlings says he faces a "delicate" situation with Nathan Brown as the veteran battles to force his way back into the senior line-up and also extend his AFL career.
Rawlings said he wouldn’t be the one to make the decision on Brown’s future beyond this season, but acknowledged the talented left-footer had been frustrated by his inability to get out on the field as much as he wanted.
Brown is now playing with VFL affiliate Coburg after overcoming a persistent groin injury and while Rawlings admitted that he would coach the 31-year-old on form, the club’s future was also a factor.
"That’ll be a list management decision more than me and that’s where it’s going to be delicate, to be able to coach Nathan according to how he’s playing for the now and also according to the club’s future," he said.
Rawlings said Brown hadn’t voiced any concerns about his future and that their communication remained as strong as ever.
"We chatted all the way through with his injury up until now when he’s playing and he just wants to know what he needs to do as far as the team ethos [and] his actual role within the Coburg side to give himself a chance to play AFL again this year," Rawlings said.
"I think he’s a little bit anxious about the fact that his body hasn’t been allowing him to do what he wants … but he’s very mature about it and he’s giving himself every opportunity.
"He needs to be able to prove he can pull up and recover and then play again.
"We’ll judge it on his form and how he keeps recovering from his groin injury but you’d expect to see him back fairly soon I would have thought."
This weekend Rawlings is shooting for his second win since taking control at Tigerland.
Richmond tackles North Melbourne at the MCG in Sunday's Eureka Game and Rawlings will front up against a couple of familiar faces.
While brother Brady will be wearing the Kangaroos jumper, he is also more than familiar with his counterpart, Darren Crocker, after spending a season as a player at Arden Street.
"Crock and I are good friends," Rawlings said.
"We had a year together at North in 2006 in which I had a ball but … as far as us myself against Crock, we couldn’t care less about that.
"It’s more about the footy clubs and trying to get four points on Sunday."
Brady, however, might prove to be a different story.
"It’s a unique situation," he said.
"I wasn’t aware until yesterday as to how long it had been since a brother had coached against a playing brother.
"When it comes to game day I’m sure he couldn’t care less about how I’m going in the coaches’ box, but manipulating his positioning on the ground might be a bit of fun.
"It’d be good to reverse his role and have someone run with him and see how he likes it. He’s annoyed enough people over his career."
