Tigers offered bonus to recruit Ben Cousins
Tony Sheahan and Jackie Epstein | Herald-Sun| December 14, 2008
A MILLIONAIRE Tigers fan has offered the club a $300,000 bonus if it recruits recovering drug addict Ben Cousins.
As AFL chiefs assess Richmond's controversial bid for an extra pick in order to secure the Brownlow medallist in Tuesday's pre-season draft, football's Dimattina family made the offer.
Frank Dimattina, who played 42 games for the Tigers and is the father of former Bulldog Paul Dimattina, has offered the rich carrot.
"If Richmond is prepared to take Ben, we'll up the ante and make a substantial contribution towards the football club," Paul Dimattina said yesterday.
The family - which owns a string of restaurants including Society in Bourke St - declined to put a figure on the bonus, but the Sunday Herald Sun understands it could be as high as $300,000.
It has also emerged that the 30-year-old former Eagle has offered a heartfelt thanks to former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy for trying to save his career.
Sheedy met Cousins and his father in Perth early this month and was convinced that he deserved a go.
On Friday night, Sheedy received a voice message from Cousins saying: "Thanks for all your help and for meeting me. I really appreciate everything you've done."
The patriarch of the Dimattina family, which owns a number of restaurants and a coffee franchise, confirmed he made the Tigers a cash offer, but would not say how much.
Paul Dimattina said yesterday: "If Richmond is prepared to take Ben, we'll up the ante and make a substantial contribution to the club."
Dimattina played 131 games for the Western Bulldogs after being drafted by Richmond, though he never played for the Tigers.
The latest play in the Cousins saga came as former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said Cousins was determined to get a second chance.
Sheedy said he urged Cousins to contact Richmond coach Terry Wallace after meeting the former West Coast champion and his father in Perth this month.
He left them convinced that Cousins deserved a go.
On Friday night, Sheedy received a voice message from Cousins saying: "Thanks for all your help and for meeting me. I really appreciate everything you've done."
The Tigers hope to secure a second pick in Tuesday's pre-season draft in order to secure Cousins, but AFL clubs are divided about the issue of injured Tiger Graham Polak being placed on the rookie list.
The AFL will hand down its decision tomorrow.
If Richmond picks Cousins, Paul Dimattina said the drug-addicted former West Coast Eagle had a responsibility to the club.
"Don't go and do the wrong thing," Dimattina said. "If he (Cousins) is given the opportunity, hopefully he makes the most of it."
The financial enticement is a major boost to Richmond, though the Tigers last night did not wish to discuss the offer.
"The club has not received any formal representations in relation to Ben Cousins," a spokeswoman said. "We don't want to comment on hypotheticals."
The spokeswoman added the club expected in the next couple of months to secure a co-major sponsor to join Dick Smith Electronics.
A conglomerate of family members makes up the Dimattina Group, which owns Carlton restaurants Il Gambero and Dimattina's and Southbank cafe Blue Train.
The group, run by Paul Dimattina since October this year when Frank handed over the reins, also owns Bourke St restaurant Society and the Dimattina Coffee company.
It is understood Terry Wallace is aware of the Dimattina offer.
Wallace first contacted Cousins and his management about three weeks ago while Brisbane and St Kilda debated the 30-year-old's future.
Cousins flew to Melbourne on Thursday, pleaded his case to Wallace and returned to Perth.
The Dimattinas, who said they would not impose conditions on how the club spent the donation, have also criticised corporate sponsors who have publicly interfered in Cousins's bid to return to football.
"From a sponsorship perspective, all the other sponsors have too much to say in a negative aspect," Paul Dimattina said.
"There's been a lot of people who haven't supported the guy from what I've been reading. Everyone deserves a second shot in life.
``You would hate to see how his life may spiral out of control if he isn't given another chance."
Mr Dimattina said he would consider making the funds available to any club that took on Cousins.
"I'm sure the family would look at it," he said.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24796271-19742,00.html
