Tigers on the prowl Jackie Epstein
Sunday Herald Sun January 31, 2010 BEN Cousins is a happy man.
In life and in footy.
The Richmond midfielder has predicted a big year for himself and the club.
"At this stage of my career, it's very much a year-to-year proposition so, with that in mind, I'm just trying to get as much out of my footy as I possibly can," Cousins, 31, said.
"At my age I'm probably not quite the player I used to be. As you get older you get a little bit smarter about when to push your body and when not to. It's a long year so I think I'm timing it pretty well to hit my straps as the season gets closer.
"I'm pretty happy with the work and the foundation base I've put in. The reality is one minute you're there and the next minute it passes you by, and at the moment I'm not taking it for granted."
Cousins's return to football last season was a highlight in an otherwise forgettable year for the Tigers.
After playing 15 matches and averaging 25 touches, he was rewarded with another one-year deal.
"I obviously had a hamstring injury at the start of last year and after I overcame that I was lucky enough to get into the routine of playing week in, week out, so I'm hoping to start this season where I finished last year," Cousins said.
"Just before Christmas I had a tidy up in my shoulder and my hand which has allowed me, over the past month especially, to put the work into my body that hopefully will hold me in good stead to have a good year."
With new coach Damien Hardwick, Cousins feels refreshed and excited about the team's finals prospects.
"You'd be crazy to go into the start of any footy season not thinking you can make finals," he said.
"We're in a situation not dissimilar to a lot of sides where we're going to need a few things to go our way, but I think from the very moment we started pre-season, and knowing the work we've put in, I think progress is definitely taking place and hopefully that'll show in the win-loss ratio this year.
"I think some of that stuff sometimes builds resolve among the footy club and I know the group have hit pre-season hard.
"We're really looking forward to making amends and have put in a hell of a lot of work. When you do that, I've been around footy long enough to know that ultimately it'll pay off."
Cousins gave little insight into his off-field life, but he admitted his documentary was keeping him busy.
"I'm not really commenting too much other than to say that it is a work in progress and it's certainly giving me something to throw my spare time into," he said.
"I love Melbourne and it hasn't taken me long to get into a routine. I enjoyed my time in Perth, but because of football I hadn't had the opportunity to move away from home.
"It's been really good, not from just a footy point of view, but life in general."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-on-the-prowl/story-e6frf9jf-1225825078433
