Ben Cousins' 2010 contract with Richmond to double (Herald-Sun)

[Ramps]

No point playing him now, I agree put him away for the season. Its been a successful 1st year. And yes he deserves his pay rise and his new contract.

What?? there is no way Cuz would give up on us trying to achieve another illustrious ninth place finish.

tiga- Its about developing that winning culture

[one-eyed]

Cousins said he was happy to sign another one-year deal to stay at the Tigers.

“I think at 31 I’m still a year-to-year proposition. Not bad way to play footy, play each year as if it’s your last. It’s one way to stay hungry and get the best out of yourself," Cousins said.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25891399-19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Richmond legend backs Cousins in 2010
Tim Clarke
August 6, 2009

Richmond legend Tom Hafey has strongly backed Ben Cousins to continue his rehabilitation at the Tigers, admitting the former Eagles' redemption had won over many at Tigerland - including him.

After suffering a hamstring injury in his first game for the Tigers in round one, and a broken bone in his hand midway through the season, Cousins has excelled in the past month, averaging 31 possessions a game.

Cousins' efforts to come back from a year off has been one of the stories of the year, and Hafey has been impressed.

"I go to schools and talk very strongly against drinking and smoking to the children, and I talk about playing sport and loving your parents, doing the right thing. So you can imagine how I was (when he joined)," Hafey said.

"But once he came to our club, I am very supportive of what the club has done and I just hope he succeeds.

"He has been really marvellous, the people love him, the players and the supporters love him. It has been fantastic."

Hafey said he was in no doubt the club should extend Cousins' stay in 2010.

"I hope that he continues … I am over the moon about that. He is in with a big chance to rehabilitate," Hafey said.

http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/richmond-legend-backs-cousins-in-2010-20090805-ea0q.html

[one-eyed]

Cousins likes keeping hungry
Tim Clarke, Perth | August 8, 2009

MILESTONE man Ben Cousins has revealed he wants only a one-year extension to his contract at Richmond, saying that playing for his footballing life is bringing out his best.

This weekend, Cousins reaches an AFL landmark that looked nigh-on impossible this time last year, playing his 250th senior game when the Tigers take on Sydney at the MCG on Sunday.

And, with the controversial midfielder's recent form seemingly making a contract extension at Tigerland a certainty, Cousins admits he likes being a year-to-year proposition.

''You play good footy and you hope those things take care of themselves.

''I am really enjoying my footy and hopefully there is an opportunity to sit down with the club at the end of the year and go around again,'' Cousins told radio station Nova on Thursday.

''At 31, I am a year-to-year proposition and it is not a bad way to play your footy - playing each year as if it is your last. It is certainly one way to stay hungry and get the best out of yourself.''

With a reunion with former coach Mick Malthouse to come next week - and then an emotional clash with the Eagles at Subiaco in round 22 - Tigers' midfield coach Wayne Campbell had nothing but praise for Cousins this week.

''I don't think we realised how good he was going to be in terms of leadership stuff,'' Campbell said.

''That was only because of the other issues, I suppose, it wasn't because we hadn't thought he was going to be a good leader, it was because it would get clouded by some of the other stuff.''

And while the milestone was important enough for father Bryan and mother Stephanie to fly from Perth to Melbourne for the game, Cousins said he was treating the clash as the 12th of his second career as much as the 250th match of his career.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/cousins-likes-keeping-hungry/2009/08/07/1249350685990.html