How Cuz helped put Connors back on trackThe West Australian
March 21, 2011Daniel Connors wants desperately to be known as a key cog in the Richmond revival, not as the boozer who boxed on with Ben Cousins.
Fitter and stronger than at any point in his four-year career with the Tigers to date, Connors has pursued compelling measures to balance his life following his alcohol-fuelled folly with Cousins that cost him eight matches last year.
But while the 22-year-old partly credits a Cousins punch that blackened an eye during their Sydney episode early last year with his revitalisation, he said the 2005 Brownlow medallist's friendship and teaching in life's pitfalls had also been significant.
Tarnished with a wide reputation of having problems with the demon drink, the self-confessed lad from Echuca, in country Victoria, has found a place of contentment in his off-field life which he claims will help drive his on-field resurgence.
His potential for was hinted at in the round 15 clash with Fremantle last season.
Having returned from his club-imposed purgatory, he delivered a 35-possession effort which earned him three Brownlow Medal votes.
Connors has now inscribed both mental and written triggers to ensure against the errors of his past. He said he had relented during the off-season on his strict no-alcohol policy, but his now responsible drinking was kept in tight check because of his suspension last year.
"I think about it all the time, it was a fair chunk of the season," a clearly remorseful Connors said.
"Having that scare that being an AFL footballer can be taken away from you so easily, the shock and wake-up call that it gave me made me realise it's not going to be around forever.
"I've got to make the most of it and by doing the things I was doing, it wasn't going to be a very long career. It was a matter of saying it wasn't the time or place to have a beer, there's plenty of time for that at the end of the year.
"I haven't got anything stuck on the mirror, but I've got a few things that I've got in mind and written down. I've got the feeling in my head about how I felt when I was in trouble and that's something I don't ever want to feel again.
"I was disappointed that I missed so many games due to what happened, but I walked away positive and confident that I can play and impact at the top level. I'd like to repay the club now.
"Football is everything to my life and I want to make the most of it while I'm here."
Connors speaks openly about the embarrassment of having to confront the fallout of the drunken Sydney incident with his family in the face of intense public scorn and scrutiny.
He said Cousins, who was also suspended for his role, had remained a stable plank of support.
"Even then, he was still looking out for me and had my best interests at heart," he said.
"Cuzzy has been one of my real good mates over the last year. He's been someone I've looked up to as a footballer and I've seen a lot of traits in him as I do in myself - a bit of a lad who likes having fun with the boys.
"He opened up to me and looked after me. He rang me all the time to make sure I was all right and we caught up for a few feeds to talk about footy and stuff like that.
"He's gone the hard way and had a few troubles and it's pretty easy to fall into those traps. I've still got to watch out and be mindful of going down the wrong path.
"I'm obviously proud to be able to call him a mate of mine, but I've told him we're going to even the score up. I just hope my form in the last half of last year was the thing people remember, not the fact that I had that run-in with Ben."
Through his childhood friendship with Geelong's Joel Selwood, Connors sought out Cats star Steve Johnson, who also bid farewell to alcohol-related problems by winning the 2007 Norm Smith Medal.
He has also watched his younger brother, Eljay, fall out of the AFL system after being drafted by St Kilda in 2007 and then de-listed without playing a game two years later. Former Richmond teammate Graham Polak is another source of inspiration after surviving a life-threatening collision with a Melbourne tram to return to the AFL and now back to the WAFL with East Perth.
"Polly's another one of my good mates and I'm very proud in the way he came back and got through the things he did," he said. "It was an amazing effort to play footy again from where he was. He's certainly another person I can draw experience from to show how you've got to cherish it while you've got it."
Connors has heeded with vigour a call from Richmond coach Damien Hardwick to slide up from the half-back flank to a midfield role on the wing for season 2011.
Two kilograms heavier at 84kg, his improved fitness was illustrated when he slashed 50 seconds off his best time on the 3.8km track around Melbourne's Botanical Gardens.
He was optimistic his increasing strength and size would ultimately give him more impact at stoppages, in a similar mould to Fremantle clearance gun David Mundy.
His return to the wing was a throwback to his TAC Cup days with the Bendigo Pioneers.
"I've moved back up on to the wing, which is a bit of a change, but my fitness base has allowed me to do that," he said.
"Mundy's a very good stoppage player now and that's what I aspire to be. Everything's going well, I'm feeling good and I've had a good summer. I'm in a pretty good place at the moment."
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