Richmond could this week dump veteran defender Joel Bowden, who is "second-guessing" himself and must regain his ability to read the play in AFL games.

Tigers coach Terry Wallace said Bowden, the club's second-most experienced player with 238 games, had lost his knack of deciding between playing tight and getting the ball which earned him back-to-back best and fairest awards in 2004-05.

Bowden was disappointing in Richmond's 44-point defeat to Collingwood last Sunday and is one of six players who could face the axe before Sunday's game against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.

Wallace admitted Bowden, 29, was playing like he was low on confidence and unsure.

"I don't think there's a player playing (who) hasn't gone through that at some stage, where they start second-guessing themselves about `Do I go for the footy or do I stay with my man?'," he said.

"Joel more than any has been a really natural player, he reads the game as well as most and that's why he's been able to rack up massive possessions in the past.

"If you start second-guessing yourself in that reading game, that's going to have an impact on your footy and that's the case that Joel is at the moment.

"But he's a very professional person on and off the field and I'm sure he'll work his way through that."

The Tigers are aware dropping Bowden could provide the backman with the kick-along he needs, as he was omitted early in the 2004 season but returned after a game in the VFL to win the Jack Dyer Medal.

Wallace said Richmond would consider potential match-ups against Fremantle for Bowden, but admitted the match committee would not focus solely on one player.

"That discussion won't just be about Joel. It will be about half a dozen guys who played in the senior side that we'll have exactly that same discussions about this week," he said.

In better news, young gun Trent Cotchin and 2003 best and fairest Mark Coughlan could both return this weekend and play in the VFL.

Cotchin, the No.2 pick in last year's national draft, is returning from an Achilles injury but is still six weeks away from making his AFL debut given his long lay-off, while Coughlan (knee) could return to the top flight in a fortnight.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP