Should Cousins stay on at Richmond as an assistant coach?

[one-eyed]

Should Cousins stay on at Richmond as an assistant coach?

Ricky Nixon: Ben Cousins a natural-born coach
Mark Robinson
Herald Sun
August 17, 2010

LONG-TIME manager and friend Ricky Nixon last night insisted Ben Cousins would be an ideal assistant coach at a footy club.

Labelling Cousins a natural leader, he doubted Cousin would become a drug counsellor for the AFL or any anti-drugs organisation.

"He's got a role in footy, he's learnt to keep himself occupied and, like any footballer, and not just Ben, when you've been at the highest level you need the adrenalin rush," Nixon said last night.

"Ben's shown quite clearly he has a major influence over every player at Richmond and if I was running a club, I would definitely take the risk in some sort of coaching role.

"His leadership is undeniable."

Life after football for Cousins will be a challenge, perhaps more challenging than his return to football after a 12-month ban given to him by the AFL for 2008.

Cousins is expected to remain in Melbourne.

"I'm always pleased when a player makes the right decision and it's the right decision," Nixon said.

"He should be proud of what he's achieved and excited about the future.

Nixon and Cousins split this year over contractual arrangements concerning Cousins' book and TV documentary deal, among other reasons, but it's understood their relationship has recovered in recent weeks.

Their relationship began when Cousins, the pin-up boy of Western Australia, joined Nixon's Club 10 player promotional group in 1997.

Their partnership became even more significant when Nixon, with Cousins' father Bryan, joined forces to helped Cousins resurrect his life and his career after the West Coast Eagles suspended him at the start of the 2007 season and sacked after it for drugs-related behaviour.

It later emerged Cousins was a drug addict.

"If I had my time again I would still do the same," Nixon said.

"You help someone who has been great to you. Football is about loyalty and respect and at the end of the day Ben needed that help."

"My job was to get him back into AFL because Bryan and I knew if we didn't ... well, we didn't know what the consequences were going to be and only Ben can answer how much footy has saved him."

Nixon praised the AFL, Richmond, former Richmond coach Terry Wallace and Tigers football manager Craig Cameron for having the courage to back Cousins.

"They have been great for Ben," he said. "And you know what's been missed in the story and, I don't want to be disrespectful to Ben, is his family has been sensational.

"To see the smile on Bryan's face and Ben's brother's face, to see them watching Ben run around, is what you get out of it all."

Nixon ranked Cousins with Greg Williams, Chris Judd, Michael Voss, Nathan Buckley and Robert Harvey as the best pure midfielders he had seen.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ricky-nixon-ben-cousins-a-natural-born-coach/story-e6frf9jf-1225906113038

[eliminator]

If he does retire would be good to keep him at the club in some sort of role

[Penelope]

I think the writing is already on the wall, but this seems to confirm it.

I'm always pleased when a player makes the right decision and it's the right decision," Nixon said.
He should be proud of what he's achieved and excited about the future

[Francois Jackson]

YES YES YES

This is the one thing that we should be striving for

Absolutely we should throw everything at Cuz to sign him up because im telling you know there will be a Melbourne club who will step right in if we dont move now.

[wayne]

Development coach for the mids.

[Francois Jackson]

Nixon on SEN now talking about the Cuz appointment

As much as i dont like him the tanned one should be applauded for having the guts for wanting Cuz, Nixon is right there.

[Stripes]

Development coach for the mids.

This is the exact role I would love to see him have at the club in 2011. The only issue is whether he should still have drug screening a coach. Something the club and himself would have to agree upon. He may very well request the screenings in a deluted form, to keep him on track - a sort of security blanket of sorts.

Anyway, regardless of testing, he would make a great skills/development coach and he then would not be lost from the club.

Stripes

[Penelope]

I think your right there stripes. He said himself that the constant screening is good for him. My biggest worry is where he will get his "buzz" from once he stops playing. I've believed that he should sky dive or similar for this reason, but read recently that he already does.,

If he was offered some sort of coaching role, perhaps he could still play with coburg?

[TigerLand]

Not sure if he'll be a full time assistance or development coach but I really believe at worst he'll be a mentor for all the young midfielder throughout the journey.

[Infamy]

We should be signing him up ASAP at least as a development coach who work with the midfielders and sit on the bench on match day to advise the players as they come off the ground and walk the boundary.

[Ramps]

If he doesnt want to be full time then give him a job as a skills coach and make him the club runner in 2011. the guys been a class act and helped our club enormously. Hope he sticks around.

[one-eyed]

The media asked Dimma about a coaching role for Ben and Dimma said they haven't spoken about that sort thing yet. Benny wants to follow some business interests first so it doesn't sound like he'll want to get into a full-time footy job straight away.

[mightytiges]

If he doesnt want to be full time then give him a job as a skills coach and make him the club runner in 2011. the guys been a class act and helped our club enormously. Hope he sticks around.

Agree Ramps.

[one-eyed]

Ben Cousins: I'll stick close to Richmond family
Michael Warner
Herald Sun
August 18, 2010

BEN Cousins says he calls Melbourne home, but won't be hurrying to take on a job in football.

The retiring Tiger said he would stay close to his Richmond family, but planned to pursue business interests.

"I'm looking forward to exploring a few opportunities, business-wise, with some people I've been involved with as friends over the last few years, that are going to give me an opportunity," Cousins said.

"I just really enjoy Melbourne. It's been really good for me. It's been like a fresh start."

Cousins said suggestions he could work as an AFL ambassador on drug education probably lay further "down the track" and joked that a media role would be a "last resort".

But coach Damien Hardwick, who revealed he had been prepared to give Cousins another season in the AFL if he had wanted it, did not rule out an off-field position at Punt Rd for the 2005 Brownlow medallist.

"When the dust settles ... we'll sit down. (But) I think he will be outstanding whatever he does,'' Hardwick said.

''He's shown the guys within our footy club how to prepare, how to commit to something and in essence, though we haven't won a lot of games, he's brought that winning element to our footy club, so whichever way he goes, he's gonna be a winner.''

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ben-cousins-announces-retirement-from-football-watch-it-live/story-e6frf9jf-1225906234701

[one-eyed]

Craig Cameron said today he doesn't believe Cousins wants an assistant coaching role as getting up for 7.30am meetings wouldn't be his go (laughs). Mentoring and going to watch the young guys at Coburg would be more his go. Richo joked Ben would really enjoy heading down to Frankston lol.