G’Day Folks
By now you would be all over Ben Cousins coming to Richmond.
I might have had reservations at the start,but I have jumped onboard with many
other Richmond supporters who are pleased to have a Brownlow Medal and Premiership Player
at our Club.
As has been correctly stated by some of you,you just don’t get this type
of player available in a Pre Season Draft.
I have had one person state that won’t follow Richmond whilst Ben Cousins is playing for the
Club and that is a shame,let’s hope he can make a red hot go of it.
The best thing about the Club recruiting Ben Cousins is that I reckon 90%
of the supporters wanted it,in fact demanded it,and for once they got what they wanted.
The other thing to come out of it is that for once the Richmond Football Club
was united in it’s decision.
The board gave the Football Division it’s full support,when was the last time this happened at Richmond.
(sorry to sound synical)
We have also earned praise from supporters of other Clubs for giving Ben Cousins a chance.
So plenty to look forward to next year,I am hoping to see many new faces at the Camelia
Grove Hotel to watch the Tigers go around.
There hasn’t been a great deal to cheer about for the last 28 years,let’s hope that changes
next year.
Here is a comment from Terry Wallace and below is a List of Players Richmond drafted today
RICHMOND Football Club coach Terry Wallace says the decision to take Ben Cousins with pick six in the 2008 NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft was entirely a football department decision.
The Tigers came to the Cousins party late but stayed until the end, finally drafting the former Eagle with its only pick in the pre-season draft and handing the Brownlow Medallist a lifeline that appeared unlikely less than 24 hours earlier.
“We had huge support from Monday’s decision onwards from our playing group, from our fans, and just genuinely from everyone involved with footy,†Wallace said from Punt Rd on Tuesday.
“At that stage, the football department believed it was within our rights to go back and speak to the board, and we tried to organize a phone hookup to have a chat with board members to be able to find out where they stood with the situation.
“It was pleasing for the footy division that we were unanimously supported, that it was the footy division’s final call on the matter, whether we wanted to continue and press ahead.
Wallace said Cousins’ attitude throughout what has become something of a saga was positive, and boded well for his future at the club. But the coach was also quick to point out the responsibilities that now lay with his new midfielder.
“At that time last evening (Monday) I spoke with Ben again, and once again, as he had done in previous meetings, he confirmed his commitment to the Richmond football club.
“At that stage, we decided that we were going to take Ben, and that the ball was now in his court to make the best opportunity he possibly can and get himself right as a person and get his football right”.
Richmond are aware of the conditions that come attached to Cousins following the AFL’s decision to allow him another shot at League football, and Wallace said the club would be doing everything in its power to support him on and off the field.
But it was the prospect of seeing a champion given a second chance that had the most impact on Richmond’s decision to take Cousins, according to his new coach.
“AFL footy is about the game itself, it’s about the players that play the game, and it’s about the fans that come along to watch the game,” he said.
“I think it’s more than Richmond fans this time around, I think it’s every football fan wanted to see Ben have another opportunity.â€
“There’s a lot of bad-news stories going around in the world, and there’s a lot of bad-news stories that go around in sport, and to be honest, the bad-news stories take up more newspaper room than the good-news stories do these days,†Wallace said
Richmond ended days of speculation today by selecting Ben Cousins with pick six in the AFL Pre Season draft. The 30-year-old Brownlow medalist became the final player to be put on a senior AFL list in the 2008 draft period and will officially don the yellow and black for his first training run tomorrow (Wednesday December 17).
In the Rookie Draft, the Tigers selected Robin Hahas (pick 8), Andrew Browne (pick 39) and Alroy Gilligan (pick 53). The Club also gave David Gourdis a lifeline, selecting the previously delisted player as a rookie with pick 24.
2008 PRE SEASON DRAFT
BEN COUSINS – PICK 6
The 30-year-old was considered one of the premier midfielders in the competition when at his peak with the West Coast Eagles. Cousins was a member of the Eagles’ 2006 premiership side and won the Brownlow medal in 2005. In 238 games with the Eagles, Cousins also achieved All-Australian honours six times, won the Club best and fairest four times and was captain between 2001 and 2005.
2008 ROOKIE DRAFT
ROBIN NAHAS – PICK 8
Nahas is a 21-year-old from the Port Melbourne Football Club. As an 18-year-old he played for Vic Metro in the National Carnival and represented Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC competition. He represented the VFL against SA in Adelaide this year where he kicked four goals. He had an outstanding season with Port Melbourne kicking 50 goals. He has very good defensive skills and is an excellent tackler.
DAVID GOURDIS – PICK 24
Gourdis was redrafted back Richmond after showing significant improvement over the course of the year. The 19-year-old was originally selected by the Club with its first pick in the 2007 Pre Season Draft. He was a standout at the 2007 Draft Camp, ranking first in the 20m sprint.
ANDREW BROWNE – PICK 39
Browne is a 204cm ruckman from Mansfield. He played for Murray Bushrangers in the TAC competition in 2008 and also represented Vic Country in the National Championships. He has very good skills for a player of his height and has the necessary attributes to compete as an AFL ruckman in a few years.
ALROY GILLIGAN – PICK 53
Gilligan has lived in Perth for two years and represented Claremont in the WAFL Colts competition. Gilligan is originally from Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberleys and has been training at the club for the last two weeks. He kicked 30 goals for Claremont in a midfield/forward role in 2008.
WATCH THE TIGERS TRAIN
Richmond is inviting its loyal fans to watch the Tigers’ new recruits, including Ben Cousins, Robin Nahas, Andrew Browne and Alroy Gilligan, as well as the returning David Gourdis, on the training track tomorrow (Wednesday December 17).
Richmond Open Training Session
Wednesday December 17
9am-11.30am
Limited parking available at Yarra Park from 8am ($8 per car)
2009 Memberships and Merchandise on sale
RICHMOND MEMBERSHIPS
2009 memberships are currently on sale. Click here to find out more about the packages available.
As at 15 December 2008, the Tigers had already signed up 12,135 match-day members and 3,326 non match-day members.
RICHMOND FC OFFICE CLOSURE
The Richmond Football Club offices will be closed for the Christmas and New Year period, from December 23 until January 4. The Club will re-open its offices on January 5. During this time, RFC memberships and merchandise can still be purchased online at richmondfc.com.au.
MARK MAUNDER PRESIDENT SYDNEY TIGERS