Troubled Aussie footballer Ben Cousins seeks redemption with new team, outlook

Photo credit: Jessie Fanthorpe

When Ben Cousins turned out for his first training session with the Richmond Tigers, his new football club, there were 2,000 in the stands.

Afterwards, it felt like there was at least that many in the press pack.

At times the troubled star looks bemused, at times weary. The 30 year old says the travelling circus doesn't concern him but it's hard for his family. "I feel sorry for them. They have had to deal with my drug addiction in public."

Twelve months ago Cousins was sacked by his former club, the West Coast Eagles, and banned by the AFL because of his drug problems. There was an infamous L.A. blow-out, an awkward televised apology, failed spells in rehab, the overdose of a close friend and a career threatening hamstring injury.

When he was arrested on a Perth highway, paparazzi photos showed him handcuffed and bare-chested in the back of a patrol car. Ned Kelly's last words - 'such is life'- tattooed garishly on his stomach, looked ill chosen, ill fated. Cousins looked washed up.

Now he says: "The last twelve months have been long and humbling. I'm really proud of the time and effort I've put into my rehabilitation and I feel more confident now that I can contribute on and off the field, and try to get the best out of myself without the use of drugs."

He was passed over in last month's national selection though; no club was willing to risk him. Cousins, arguably the greatest player of his generation, admits that he wondered if would ever play again.

Then with the last pick in the final draft, Richmond handed him an eleventh-hour shot at redemption. It was an extraordinary day. A computer glitch delayed proceedings by fifteen minutes and it seemed like the whole of Melbourne was holding its breath. Cousins coming to town is a big deal. He remains an intoxicating figure.

There are plenty of people who think he has had enough chances. Jim Stynes, director of the Melbourne football club and a charity supporting disadvantaged young people, says Cousins has been let off lightly:

"People are too forgiving. He has to realise that he has a responsibility as a player and someone who is in the media, regardless of whether he wants it or not. Young people look up to him and he needs to pay attention to that."

Melbourne was one of the clubs to turn Cousins away.

Photo credit: Jessie Fanthorpe

Cousins says:"In the early part of my career I resented the fact that people expected me to be a role model. It didn't sit well with me, especially because I was leading a bit of a double life. It sits better now. I'm not the first person to find himself in troubled times."

Ricky Nixon, Cousin's manager, believes attitudes are changing:"Look at one stage I wasn't sure if everyone wanted to stone him in Federation Square but there's been a turnaround in the last 48 hours. People have been really positive about wanting to see him play football again."

Cousins knows it is going to be tough."I come to the footie club with no reputation as a footie player. I've got a hell of a lot of work to do to fight my way into the side."

The media are unlikely to leave him alone either. Richmond has imposed a minder on him but stories regularly appear linking him to controversial figures. Police recently named Cousins as a known associate of Angelo Vendetti, the drug dealer and accused mobster.

Cousins speaks frankly about these associations.

"A lot of my associations with people who [the press] calls untoward are nothing like that. I am a drug addict. Part of my rehabilitation is addicts helping other addicts. It's not like I'm not going to put myself in that situation."

That is the endearing thing about Cousins. Despite the narcissism and the hubris and the controversy, he remains an open book. Read what you will. He is a Tiger now, trying to stay fit, trying to stay clean. There are plenty of people hoping that the next chapter will be happier than the last.