Cousins fronts WA Tiger crowd / Cuz believes Richmond can break finals drought

[one-eyed]

Ben Cousins fronts WA crowd as a Tiger for first time
Glen Foreman | February 14, 2009

NEWLY striped Tiger Ben Cousins fronted a crowd in excess of 500 West Australian Richmond fans for the first time on Friday night.

It was Cousins' WA debut in his new colours and he was quick to win over the Tigers' faithful.

"I think back to my days when I played Richmond - it's certainly got the best theme-song in the competition," Cousins said to a roaring reception.

"I used to find myself singing it, at least until half-time."

Cousins only spoke briefly on the drug-addiction that caused his glittering 238-game career with West Coast to come to a widely-publicised end.

The 30-year-old remained philosophical and said he was thankful for all the support he had received from fans - both old and new.

"Some unforeseeable things happened. But I think that's the way life works," Cousins said.

"The footy public in general has been fantastic.

"It surprised me in a way. And I couldn't ask for anything more, from the average football follower on the street to the Richmond faithful that made me feel welcome."

Richmond coach Terry Wallace said he felt overwhelmed walking into the room of fans, many of who had defected from West Coast.

President Garry March said earlier the club was close to 1000 WA members - a leap of about 600.

"Obviously Ben's had a big impact on our West Australian membership, but we'd also like to think that winning eight of our last 11 games, and being the last team to beat Hawthorn, also contributed to that," March said.

"We're about 25 per cent up overall on membership and I would think that's one of the best in the competition at the moment."

Wallace told the fans they would not have to wait much longer before the new midfield attribute was called into action.

"He's done everything that we've asked," Wallace said of Cousins' preparation.

"We've put him on a program that might have him available NAB two, maybe NAB three.

"But we'll give him another fortnight's training just to make sure his body's right."

The coach said Richmond would look to build on its momentum from the last half of the 2008 season and Cousins' addition helped to strengthen the core group of veteran players.

Club veteran Matthew Richardson echoed the call and said 2009 was shaping up to be one of the Tigers' best years.

"I'm feeling very optimistic, probably the most optimistic I've ever been at the club," Richardson said.

"When you're young, you think you'll play in the finals all the time. Now I've realised you don't.

"But the list that Terry and the club have built over the past four years, we know is focused with the results from last year. Now it's important we continue this on."

Cousins said it would take some time for his body to be match-ready, but he looked forward to getting back on the field.

"I'm still a little bit behind the guys," he said.

"Joining the group in December probably wasn't the ideal preparation but I think, looking towards a season that's six weeks away, barring any injury I should be Cherry Ripe."

Cousins will likely make his return to Subiaco Oval in round 10 when Richmond take on Fremantle.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25052899-5005401,00.html

[one-eyed]

Ben Cousins back in Perth with his new club
Tim Clarke
February 14, 2009 - 8:39AM WST

Speaking to his new fans in his old city, Ben Cousins says he feels he is at the right club at the right time as he prepares to make his long-awaited AFL comeback with Richmond in their next pre-season outing in a fortnight.

Cousins received a warm reception from 500 Tigers faithful in Perth, as he took the stage at Burswood last night in his first public appearance in WA since being dumped permanently by the Eagles and then temporarily by the entire game.

Back in the state where he made his name, both good and bad, Cousins thanked the football public for backing him after many inside the game shunned him.

And the Brownlow medallist said while he felt he was still playing catch-up in his preparation for a first game since 2007, the future was bright for him and the club that took a chance on him when Brisbane, Collingwood and St Kilda wouldn't.

"It's been great to get back into training and the Richmond footy club couldn't have done anything more to make me feel welcome," Cousins said.

"The footy public in general have been fantastic. It surprised me in a way.

"And I couldn't ask for anything more, from the average football follower on the street to the Richmond faithful that made me feel welcome.

"They're a developing side, an improving side. I think I'm arriving at the club at a good time where they've been together for a number of years now and they're ready to take the next step.

"I'm still a little bit behind the guys. Joining the group in December probably wasn't the ideal preparation.

"But I think, looking towards a season that's six weeks away, barring any injury I should be cherry ripe."

Cousins will watch on at Subiaco on Sunday as a strong-looking Richmond take on Fremantle in the NAB Cup first round.

Both coach Terry Wallace and club president Gary March said the six time All-Australian is likely to play in the Tigers' next pre-season match, wherever that may be.

And referring obliquely to his public downfall, Cousins said he was happy to out of Perth and in an environment, both football and social, that will offer him new experiences.

"Some unforeseeable things happened but I think that's the way life works," Cousins said.

"But I'm happy to be at a Melbourne side with a good atmosphere and there's aspects of footy that I haven't experienced yet, that hopefully aren't too far away."
 
Saying all the right things in front of the WA branch of the Tigers, Cousins he always had an affinity with the yellow and black.

"I think back to my days when I played Richmond - it's certainly got the best theme-song in the competition," Cousins said

"I used to find myself singing it, at least until half-time."

And Wallace said his new star recruit to Tigerland had done all the right things since his arrival.
 
"He's done everything that we've asked," Wallace said.

"We've put him on a program that might have him available NAB two, maybe NAB three. But we'll give him another fortnight's training just to make sure his body's right."

http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/soccer/ben-cousins-back-in-perth-with-his-new-club-20090214-87d2.html?page=-1

[Stripes]

I don't think we'll see the best of Cousins until halfway through the year but what he will bring to the table from the start will be exciting no the less. I'm predicting the club will use him at HFF or wing it begin with and throw him in the guts in patches until he regains his match fitness. Regardless he, Hislop, Thomson and our up and coming young players are only going to add to the foundation of last year.

One thing is sure with Cousins, he leaves nothing out there on the ground.

Stripes

[one-eyed]

Ben Cousins believes Richmond can break their finals drought
February 14, 2009

BEN Cousins, still overwhelmed by the support he has received since joining Richmond, says he feels at home at the Tigers and believes the club is ready to "take the next step".

Richmond have reached the finals just once in the past 13 years but Cousins, who has been thrown a lifeline by the Tigers, despite spending more than a year out of the game battling drug addiction, is confident the club has the right mix of youth and experience to give the top eight a shake in 2009.

"They're a developing side, an improving side," Cousins told a Richmond function in Perth on Friday night "I think I'm arriving at the club at a good time where they've been together for a number of years now and they're ready to take the next step."

Cousins, who notched 238 games in a glittering 12-year career at West Coast, said he had been blown away by the support he had received from football fans since coming clean about his addiction to drugs.

"The footy public in general has been fantastic," Cousins said. "It surprised me in a way. "I couldn't ask for anything more, from the average football follower on the street to the Richmond faithful that made me feel welcome.

"Some unforeseeable things happened (earlier in my career) but I think that's the way life works." Richmond coach Terry Wallace said the 30-year-old could make his Tigers debut as early as round two of the pre-season competition.

"He's done everything that we've asked," Wallace said. "We've put him on a program that might have him available NAB two, maybe NAB three. But we'll give him another fortnight's training just to make sure his body's right."

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25053186-23211,00.html

[Moi]

I think there will be a large contingent of West Coast fans there tomorrow - well, I hope so - and they'll be supporting us, even if they're not members.  Be good to have a bit more support for our WA games