Cousins set to see out seasonJON PIERIK
June 6, 2010TROY Simmonds is gone but Richmond is likely to keep the faith with fellow veteran Ben Cousins until the end of the season.
While Simmonds said goodbye to the Tigers' faithful in a 38-point loss to St Kilda on Friday night, club chief executive Brendon Gale said Cousins' future was unlikely to be resolved until the end of the season.
''I would have thought that would be a matter for list management towards the end of the season, if not the end of the season,'' Gale said.
Cousins was named among the Tigers' best after gathering 24 possessions against the Saints, although only five were kicks, suggesting a lack of confidence and penetration in this area of his game.
While Cousins is unlikely to be at the club next season, despite recently claiming he wants to play on, Gale said the player still had a lot to offer this year.
''He has had a number of minor sort of little injuries and afflictions that have set him back so he hasn't been able to get that good, sustained run of football to get the run, penetration run,'' he said.
''His defensive work, his team work, his pressure, his anticipation, his support, direction, [he] still has a very important role to play at our club.''
While Cousins, who turns 32 this month, does not figure in coach Damien Hardwick's long-term plans, the Tigers hope young midfielder Dustin Martin will be a plank for future success.
Gale dismissed reports Martin, the No. 3 pick in last year's national draft, had been offered $800,000 a season over three seasons to join Greater Western Sydney.
''My understanding from two or three credible sources is that there hasn't been much activity at all,'' Gale said on ABC radio.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/cousins-set-to-see-out-season-20100605-xlwm.html
