Cousins ruled out for Freo (RFC)

[one-eyed]

Cousins ruled out for Freo
richmondfc.com.au
11:57 AM Thu 08 July, 2010


DESPITE declaring himself available on Wednesday, Ben Cousins will not play for Richmond against Fremantle on Saturday night.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick revealed that Cousins would not be selected when he spoke ahead of Richmond training on Thursday morning.

"No, he won't play," Hardwick said at Victoria Park.

"He's had a far from ideal preparation; he's been in intensive care on Monday and Tuesday."

Cousins spent time in Epworth hospital after experiencing a reaction to sleeping tablets he took on Sunday night. He later said the incident was due to an incorrect dosage and stated his intention to swear off the tablets.

Hardwick said the hospitalisation, combined with the short break, meant his veteran on-baller was never in the mix to face Freo.

"At Ben's age with a six-day break ... it's not the ideal preparation so he won't play this week.

"He'll suit up against the Kangas in a week's time."

Cousins has been in solid form over the past month, a run that has coincided with Richmond winning three out of four games.

A win against fourth-placed Fremantle would take the Tigers to five wins and within striking distance of what would be one of the most unlikely finals campaigns in AFL history.

Cousins did train with his teammates on Thursday and appeared to moving normally.

Hardwick says the 2005 Brownlow medallist was disappointed when he was told he would miss this week.

“He is a competitive animal, there’s no doubt about that. He was eager to play," he said.

"He was very disappointed when I told him he wasn’t going to play but for the good of the Richmond football club and the good of Ben’s health, physically-wise, it wasn’t a hard decision to make."

The Tigers coach admitted he struggled to comprehend the series of events that played out on Monday that led to Cousins being hospitalised.

“No I couldn’t [believe it]; that was the scary thing about it.

"To know that one of your players has gone into intensive care you just want to drop everything and find out what the hell is going on and go and see him. We couldn’t at that stage. It was a massively concerning time for the footy club.”

Hardwick said the Tigers discouraged their younger players from using medication to pump themselves up and then calm them down after games, but accepted that some of the more experienced players were set in their routines.

 “It’s a personal decision because it is legal within AFL circles,” he said.

“We just give them all the facts and say this is the research we’ve got and they’ll make a decision.”

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/97739/default.aspx

[mat073]

"HE WILL SUIT UP AGAINST THE KANGAS IN A WEEKS TIME "

After reading the above article I would suggest that (A) this is just a Safety first policy and (B) Ben is still part of our best 22 and very much part of our plans in 2010.

Enjoy the week off Ben .....Then its time to make roo stew.

[eliminator]

Wise decision by the club.

[TigerLand]

Clever decision.

Glad Bens long term future is put first instead of short term

[the_boy_jake]

I would have loved to see him play, get 30 touches, the last being the matchwinning goal that sails through post high and slaps right into Caro's sour bonce making it instantly easier on the eye.

Having said that, it was always going to b difficult to get up for this one.

[Hes My Hero]

I would have loved to see him play, get 30 touches, the last being the matchwinning goal that sails through post high and slaps right into Caro's sour bonce making it instantly easier on the eye.

Having said that, it was always going to b difficult to get up for this one.

I would have like to see him Sat night also.

Above all else i think this is another example of how Dimma and the playing group have established and are instilling a set of values and requirements which cannot be compromised no matter what.

E.g. not completing a required recovery session especially on a 6 day break is not the best thing for the club moving forward.
Having Ben play could have been a bad thing, not only increasing the chance of Cuz picking up an injury due to lack of recouperation but also the match commitee shown in a bad light, looking like hypocrites.

Good move RFC.  

[Mr Magic]

Hardwick has made the right decision.
Cousins health is one reason, the other which has less focus, is for missing training.