Tough young midfielder Mark Coughlan is the AFL Rising Star nominee for round 14. In what has been a disappointing second half of the season so far for the Tigers, the 20-year-old midfielder has been a shining light with his work in recent weeks.

‘It’s a big thrill,’ Coughlan said. ‘It’s something I certainly didn’t expect, especially at this stage of the year, but I’m really proud.

Given a greater responsibility by coach Danny Frawley as Richmond has begun to look to next year, Coughlan has responsed in emphatic fashion, particularly in the last fortnight.

‘Danny said he’d give me more of a chance on the ball, and you’re always a chance of getting a bit of the ball when you’re four quarters on the ball,’ he said.

Coughlan said he is comfortable with the physical side of the game, something he believes gave his coach the confidence to throw him into the middle.

‘He said he’s always wanted someone in there who doesn’t mind going in there and getting it,’ he said. ‘That’s certainly what I’m in there to do and I don’t mind the physical side of the game.’

Recruited from Perth in the WAFL with Richmond's number 25 pick in the 2000 national draft, Coughlan struggled with groin problems early last year before making his debut in round nine.

Four games for the season gave him a taste of league football and his role has grown to the point where he has taken on a central role in the centre square in recent weeks.

In Friday night's one-point loss to Carlton at the MCG, Coughlan gathered 21 possessions (13 kicks, eight handballs) and five marks, backing up the good work from his round 13 game against Geelong (16 kicks, six marks, 12 handballs and a goal).

The Tigers are trying to salvage as much as they can from a disappointing 2002 season but Mark Coughlan has been a young player to savour for the club.