Ben Cousins of no value as Tigers rebuild culture * Malcolm Conn
* The Australian
* April 13, 2010 BY suspending four of its players, including Ben Cousins, for inappropriate behaviour, Richmond has regained the respect it is unlikely to earn on the football field this year.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to utter Cousins and respect in the same sentence.
The recovering drug addict, who was forced out of West Coast in disgrace three years ago, has again kicked in the teeth all those who continue to show faith in him.
Only last Friday new coach Damien Hardwick raved about the leadership qualities Cousins brings to the team as one of the few experienced players among a bunch of kids.
The following night Richmond was given a 55-point flogging by Sydney at the SCG, its third hiding in as many games this season.
And just a few hours later Cousins, the oldest and most decorated player in the club, was part of a group responsible for waking international triathletes in Sydney's Intercontinental Hotel at 3am.
This raises the question - if Richmond is attempting to build a new culture should Cousins really be part of it given his history of disruption? The negative publicity to date surrounding his presence at Richmond has been enormous and is clearly on-going.
By suspending an intoxicated Daniel Connors for eight weeks and Cousins, Dean Polo and Luke McGuane for one match each, Richmond has probably cost itself the ghost of a chance it had of beating reigning wooden-spooner Melbourne on Sunday.
But the sacrifice of attempting to scramble four points against the improving Demons is no sacrifice at all given what Hardwick and his new team of helpers are attempting to achieve.
Fifteenth last season, Richmond is planted on the bottom of the ladder with a percentage of less than 48 and is overwhelming favourite to win its third wooden spoon in seven years.
After the most successful period in the club's history from 1967-82, when it won five premierships from seven grand finals, Richmond has a history of cannibalising itself with arrogance and infighting.
This has left the club with a disgraceful history of drafting young talent over more than two decades.
Despite making the finals just twice (1995 and 2001) since the first draft in 1986, the Tigers have failed to capitalise on the early picks their many lowly placings offered them over the years.
Indeed, most of Richmond's early draft picks disappeared without trace until Brett Deledio was chosen at the end of 2004. He has since won two club best and fairests in weak sides.
The jury is still out on 2008 choices Tyrone Vickery and Jayden Post, but it takes bigger players longer to develop.
After a clean out of a dozen players during the off season, Richmond is starting with a very low base, playing youngsters of varying talents propped up by a handful of senior players.
Richmond's dreadful recruiting contrasts with Sydney carefully selecting ready-made players from other clubs.
The Swans are heading towards their 12th finals series in 15 years, which includes two grand finals and a premiership, in 2005.
At Richmond, the long-suffering supporters can only hope that another new broom under Hardwick will indeed bring a new dawn, not another false one.
It will be so long in the making Cousins won't be a part of it, so what is his value now?
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/ben-cousins-of-no-value-as-tigers-rebuild-culture/story-e6frg7t6-1225852942366
