Author Topic: Ben Cousins to call it quits / Media conference Tuesday 10.30am [merged]  (Read 4159 times)

Offline one-eyed

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits on Tuesday [merged]
« Reply #15 on: August 16, 2010, 08:42:11 PM »
Richmond great Matthew Richardson is confident Ben Cousins' impending AFL retirement is the right move for the controversial midfielder.

Richardson, who retired from playing at the end of last year, said the 2005 Brownlow Medallist was making the correct decision.

Richardson said the move allowed Cousins to depart on his own terms while playing well and having won back some admirers after his 12-month suspension for bringing the game into disrepute amid his much-publicised drug problems.

"He's got a lot of support out there now in the public. It's been a really good two years for him," Richardson told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

"A lot of people have got a real soft spot for Ben. He'll have no trouble getting work in football. In the media he's a good talent. He's got a lot to say and people will like listening to him.

"He's finishing on top, he's in good form, he was probably their best player on the weekend.

"At that age, another six months on another pre-season, the body takes another hit and it could end badly for him next year."

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=7945923

Offline Chuck17

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits on Tuesday [merged]
« Reply #16 on: August 16, 2010, 09:02:26 PM »
It will be intetersting to see how we play in Bens last game.

After the notable exceptional finals for Bowden and TW's last games you would hope we may put in for Cuz's last game

Offline TFL

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits on Tuesday [merged]
« Reply #17 on: August 16, 2010, 10:20:57 PM »
Excluding Richo, has there been a more influential player at our club in the last 10 years?

I am not saying this is correct, but something worth discussing.

Hopefully Cousins has left a legacy with our young brigade that will deliver our next flag.

Well done Ben, its only been 2 years but i love ya mate. He has done so much for our club in the last 2 years. I hate to think how bad we could have been last year without the publicity and money he attracted to the club.

It has certainly been a win-win here. As mentioned i hope he stays on in some capacity.

Offline one-eyed

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits on Tuesday [merged]
« Reply #18 on: August 16, 2010, 10:46:08 PM »
Cousins future revealed on Tues
richmondfc.com.au
8:23 PM Mon 16 August, 2010


Richmond will announce the future of midfield veteran Ben Cousins at a press conference at 10.30am tomorrow morning (Tuesday) at Punt Road Oval.

Cousins, 32, is in his 15th year in the AFL, after making his debut with the West Coast Eagles in 1996.

After spending a year out of the game, the Tigers threw the Brownlow Medallist a lifeline after the 2008 season, selecting him with the last pick (no 6) in the pre season draft.

He has played 30 games for Richmond in two seasons, and kicked 12 goals.

For full coverage of the press conference, visit richmond_fc.com.au tomorrow.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/100502/default.aspx

Apparently Ch 9 will be screening the press conference live.

Offline mightytiges

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits on Tuesday [merged]
« Reply #19 on: August 17, 2010, 02:24:15 AM »
Given it was Cuz's choice to retire and go out on top then you can only congratulate the RFC and Ben on a win-win relationship. The RFC gave Cuz a stable supportive environment through footy to get his life back on track and Ben hopefully will see his teaching legacy with our young cubs come to the fore in 3-4 years time. All the best in the future Benny and if you're interested in sticking around in some development coaching role then hopefully the RFC will consider it.
All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be - Pink Floyd

Offline one-eyed

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits / Media conference Tuesday 10.30am [merged]
« Reply #20 on: August 17, 2010, 02:57:48 AM »
Classy poll on the Herald-Sun site  ::)

"Will Ben Cousins be remembered more for his drug problems than his football career?"

Offline eliminator

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits / Media conference Tuesday 10.30am [merged]
« Reply #21 on: August 17, 2010, 07:05:14 AM »
The media are certain he will retire. If he does retire it is a sad day for the club. Glad he came to Richmond. Played some fantastic footy at the club and made a very positive contribution to the club

Offline 2JD

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits on Tuesday [merged]
« Reply #22 on: August 17, 2010, 09:40:05 AM »
Given it was Cuz's choice to retire and go out on top then you can only congratulate the RFC and Ben on a win-win relationship. The RFC gave Cuz a stable supportive environment through footy to get his life back on track and Ben hopefully will see his teaching legacy with our young cubs come to the fore in 3-4 years time. All the best in the future Benny and if you're interested in sticking around in some development coaching role then hopefully the RFC will consider it.

Great post!  :clapping I will miss "Our Cuz" , he bought interest,spark and excitement back to our club, and a hell of a lot of supporters.
I agree with OE tho, it would be great if he came out this morning and said he was going to play on just to stick it up caro and hutchy, then give the scoop to some no name reporter tomorrow

    Farewell Ben! :gotigers



Offline Penelope

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits / Media conference Tuesday 10.30am [merged]
« Reply #23 on: August 17, 2010, 10:07:11 AM »
Just received an email from the club. No real surprise.

Quote
COUSINS TO ANNOUNCE RETIREMENT

Richmond midfielder Ben Cousins will today announce his retirement from AFL Football.

Cousins will play the final two games of the 2010 season, with his last match being played at Etihad
Stadium against Port Adelaide on Sunday 29 August.

Cousins will conduct a press conference at Richmond Football Club this morning where he will confirm
his decision to retire.

Cousins has played 268 games of AFL football since making his debut in 1996. The same year he was an
AFL Rising Star nominee.

He was a six-time All Australian and won the best and fairest at West Coast four times. He was a
member of the West Coast Eagles' 2006 Premiership side. He was also the winner of the 2005 Brownlow
Medal.

Cousins joined Richmond at the start of the 2009 season and has played 30 games.  He finished fifth
in the Richmond best and fairest last year.

Watch Ben Cousins' press conference live at 10.30am
 
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways my ways,” says the Lord.
 
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are my ways higher than your ways,
And my thoughts than your thoughts."

Yahweh? or the great Clawski?

yaw rehto eht dellorcs ti fi daer ot reisae eb dluow tI

bushranger

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits / Media conference Tuesday 10.30am [merged]
« Reply #24 on: August 17, 2010, 10:53:45 AM »
Ben was really good through what we seen of the interveiw.
He held his head up high and came out on the other side looking good.
We all should be pleased with him and his choice to go.

Offline eliminator

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits / Media conference Tuesday 10.30am [merged]
« Reply #25 on: August 17, 2010, 11:23:35 AM »
Good luck to him. Leaving on his own terms. Made a good decision although of course I would have wanted him to stay

Offline mightytiges

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Re: Ben Cousins to call it quits / Media conference Tuesday 10.30am [merged]
« Reply #26 on: August 17, 2010, 11:33:48 AM »
The media said that was bigger than Richo's departure. Stacks of people there.

Well said Bushy. Cuz spoke very well. Thanked Richmond for taking him on in a pivotal time in his life and said he'll remain a supporter and follow the club.

Dimma said he wanted Cuz to stay on but understood Cuz wanting to retire as Cuz told him he wanted to do what was best for the RFC and Cuz will always be welcome in the RFC.
All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be - Pink Floyd

Offline one-eyed

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Cousins puts club first (RFC)
« Reply #27 on: August 17, 2010, 12:10:01 PM »
Cousins puts club first
By Pat Devery and Matt Price
Tue 17 August, 2010


BEN Cousins has put the interests of the Richmond Football Club ahead of his own in calling time on his decorated career as an AFL footballer.

Cousins will play the final two games of the season against St Kilda and Port Adelaide to end with a career tally of 270 games.

But he said the decision meant ignoring the "selfish reasons" which would have otherwise seen him play on next year with a club he believed was moving toward an era of success.

"The tough part about making this decision is I believe that we, as a foot club, are heading in the right direction," Cousins said.

"For my own selfish reason I'd love to hang on for another year ... and try to enjoy some of the spoils that are headed our way."

Despite believing he had more games "left in the gun", Cousins said now was unquestionably the right time to end his career.

"I'm happy and content with what I have achieved in footy," he said.

"The thing that I'll miss the most about playing at this club is game day.

"Rocking up in anticipation of the contest and running out that race and looking over my shoulder and walking taller because of the bloke standing next to me.

"Football is an emotional game and that's the way I've played it."

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick echoed Cousins' mixed feelings.

"From a coaching perspective, we would have liked him to stay another year. Obviously it's very hard to replace players of Ben's calibre," he said.

"From a personal point of view, I can understand what he's feeling."

But the Cousins' story has had low points. Before the Eagles redeemed their one-point loss to the Swans in the 2005 grand final with victory in 2006, Cousins had been stripped of the West Coast captaincy following an incident in which he ran away from a booze bus.

West Coast sacked him in 2007 after his arrest on charges of possessing a prohibited drug.

The charges were dropped, but the AFL deregistered him for 12 months for bringing the game into disrepute.

He praised Richmond for providing him with a second chance in football and in life.

"There were associated risks with picking me up," he said. "Back at the time when I got drafted was a really pivotal time in my life."

He thanked both sets of supporters and said of the support he got from the Tigers and Eagles fans was the highlight of his career.

He also thanked his family, Kevin Sheedy and Gerard Healy who were instrumental in his move to Melbourne and his development on and off the field.

Cousins revealed no definite plans for the future but said he would stay in Melbourne and hopes to remain involved with the Tigers.

He is the subject of a documentary to be screened on Channel 7 later this month, entitled 'Such is Life: The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins'.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/100505/default.aspx

Offline one-eyed

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Cuz could have gone on: Hardwick (RFC)
« Reply #28 on: August 17, 2010, 12:11:10 PM »
Cuz could have gone on: Hardwick
By Mic Cullen
Tue 17 August, 2010


RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has admitted the club would have liked Ben Cousins to stay another season, saying the organisation was better for having had him there for two years.

Cousins announced his retirement on Tuesday morning before one of the biggest media conferences in recent football history, saying he knew the time was right.

Cousins is set to take his games tally to 270 before his career ends, saying a corked thigh from the weekend wouldn’t keep him out of the side.

He played 238 games for West Coast, including the 2006 premiership, and has played 30 for the Tigers in his two seasons at Punt Rd.

Hardwick not only gave the 32-year-old’s current football a tick, but he also gave a glowing personal reference.

“From a coaching perspective we would have liked him to stay another year,” Hardwick said.

“It’s very hard to replace players of Ben’s calibre, but from a personal point of view, I can understand what he’s feeling.

“I reckon Ben Cousins the person, in my books and I think in a lot of people’s books, has come out looking outstanding in this.

“The Richmond Football Club opened its doors to Ben, and the Richmond Football Club is better as a whole for having Ben through our environment.

“It’s disappointing, but we can see why Ben came to the decision.”

When asked if he would like the Brownlow medallist to remain at Richmond in some capacity, perhaps as an assistant coach - Cousins interjecting with a laugh: “I’d be good with the video work, I reckon”, a reference to his upcoming documentary - Hardwick said he had already brought an enormous amount to the club in his time there.

“We’ve still got two games to go; we’ll sit down, but the world’s Ben’s oyster, to be honest - I think he’ll be outstanding whatever he does.

“He’s shown the guys within our footy club how to prepare, how to commit to something, and in essence, I know we haven’t won a lot of games, but he’s brought that winning element to our footy club.

“So whichever way he goes, he’s going to be winning in whatever he does.”

But Hardwick was in no doubt as to his evaluation of Cousins the player.

“He came in a star at the age of 18, and he’s going to leave a star at the age of 32.”

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/100531/default.aspx

Offline one-eyed

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