Cuz hammy - Out for 3-4 weeks / I am shattered: Ben Cousins

[Mr Magic]

At the risk of sounding cynical, he could hardly say otherwise.

Exactly.
If it's not the medicos call, then quite simply it's not the medicos call.
As usual everyone wants to point the finger at someone else.

We selected him as last player in the draft for nix.
Everyone knew his hamstrings were in question.
That they have not stood up should surprise no one.

[Judge Roughneck]

I hope by round 12 Cogs, Cuz, Cotchin, Connors are all in the side ..

[one-eyed]

Cousins injury recovery on track
Samantha Lane | April 1, 2009

BEN Cousins walked and jogged laps of Punt Road oval yesterday. Next week Richmond hopes he will run. Within four weeks the Tigers hope he will play.

The 2005 Brownlow medallist has never been your average footballer, nor does he lead the average footballer's life, but when it comes to recovering from hamstring injuries Cousins' experience will be as mundane as the next bloke's.

"I would anticipate, and I'm always careful with these sort of things because it depends on what the doctors and physios want to do with him, but I think, based on what they've said, we'd expect to see him running this time next week," Tigers football operations manager Ross Monaghan said yesterday.

"Today was a walk-jog. He walk-jogged about four or five laps and that's sort of the start of it."

Behind the scenes, the angst Cousins has caused by his recent media dealings is yet to be formally addressed by club and player, but Richmond has decided a strategic meeting is needed between Cousins and his manager Ricky Nixon.

Tigers general manager of football Craig Cameron said yesterday he would not comment on what he described as an "internal" issue.

Club president Gary March gave the matter oxygen when he told a weekend radio program that the club was "disappointed" Cousins had failed to get absolute approval from his chief employer before agreeing to write newspaper columns.

It contravened the law of the land at every AFL side nowadays that such commitments require club sign-off.

Some at Richmond are also uneasy about the perception that the former Eagle will only agree to media appearances for money and the example that sets for the side's younger players.

After pulling out of a commitment to Channel Nine's The Footy Show before the season — something he was to be paid for — Cousins then protested about an unpaid interview he did with Channel 10 as part of its coverage of the Richmond v Carlton season opener.

Last Sunday, Cousins accepted a fee to appear on a Channel Seven football panel show.

While Nixon yesterday denied there was any need for a meeting between he, Cousins and the club, Richmond — which believes that the most attention-grabbing elements of Cousins' comeback are over — wants to address formally the player's longer-term plans and explain its disappointment in some of his recent actions.

The Tigers also intend to discuss which of Cousins' numerous advisors they believe he should listen to.

Though Richmond management will not force Cousins to withdraw from his commitment to write eight columns for News Limited this season — for which it is understood he is to be paid $4000 an instalment — it will stress that the club must give clear approval for any future media deals.

Even Nixon says he still does not know what the terms of Cousins' newspaper agreement are because it was reached with the assistance of Gerard Healy — one of Cousins' confidants — rather than his management, Flying Start.

Meanwhile, Cousins' documentary remains in the editing process, but it is believed a short sample of potential content has recently been sent around to prospective buyers. Richmond has stipulated it wants to see the finished product — expected within six weeks — before it is sold.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/cousins-injury-recovery-on-track/2009/03/31/1238261580140.html

[one-eyed]

Aker talks about how he did his hammy in only his second game after crossing to the Bulldogs.

Ben Cousins has been under pressure.

Watching him the past few months, I've found myself reflecting on my own move, from Brisbane to the Western Bulldogs, and when I played my first few games for my new club in 2007.

I felt for Cousins as his hamstring pinged - I remember the exact thing happening to me in my second game for the Dogs. In the third quarter, I bent down to pick up a fast-moving ball and, bang, my hammy went in two spots.

I had done the pre-season work, more than likely too much work. I missed two weeks, but it took me another three weeks to get my confidence back.

By then, the pressure had mounted in my own mind, as it had with the media and fans - yet one more thing with which Cousins must contend.

Full article at:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25271641-19742,00.html