TonyK
CibbuanoI will be clean: Cousins
December 17th 2008 03:13
BEN Cousins says he is determined to repay the faith that Richmond has shown in him by leading a clean life.
Speaking at a press conference at Punt Road on Wednesday the day after the Tigers selected the confessed drug addict with pick six in the pre-season draft, Cousins said he is 'very grateful' to Richmond for being given a chance to add to his glittering 238-game career.
"It's fantastic, I am very grateful to (coach) Terry Wallace and the Richmond Football Club for putting their faith in me," Cousins said.
"The last 12 months have been very humbling for me but to be given another opportunity is fantastic."
"And it's now very much up to me to fit in the playing group."
The 2005 Brownlow medallist admitted he isn't 'out of the woods yet' but said he felt that he is getting his life back on track.
"I am very proud of the efforts I have put into my rehab over the last 12 months and I am more confident than ever I can contribute on and off the field and try and get the best out of myself without using drugs," he said.
"In the early part of my career (at West Coast) I probably resented the expectations on me to be a role model and it didn't sit well because I was leading a double-life," he said.
"But now I feel I am able to better relate to kids because of the hard things I have been through."
"I am not out of the woods yet, I am a drug addict and I can't dust myself off and automatically say it's left in the past."
The 30-year-old also said he was confident that his body could cope with the rigours of AFL football.
"I understand I'm 30 and I've had 12 months off ... I put a lot of time and work into my body," he said.
"I'm confident it's going to hold up but I guess the rigours of AFL football, you never know how it's going to hold up until you get into it."
Speaking at a press conference at Punt Road on Wednesday the day after the Tigers selected the confessed drug addict with pick six in the pre-season draft, Cousins said he is 'very grateful' to Richmond for being given a chance to add to his glittering 238-game career.
"It's fantastic, I am very grateful to (coach) Terry Wallace and the Richmond Football Club for putting their faith in me," Cousins said.
"The last 12 months have been very humbling for me but to be given another opportunity is fantastic."
"And it's now very much up to me to fit in the playing group."
The 2005 Brownlow medallist admitted he isn't 'out of the woods yet' but said he felt that he is getting his life back on track.
"I am very proud of the efforts I have put into my rehab over the last 12 months and I am more confident than ever I can contribute on and off the field and try and get the best out of myself without using drugs," he said.
"In the early part of my career (at West Coast) I probably resented the expectations on me to be a role model and it didn't sit well because I was leading a double-life," he said.
"But now I feel I am able to better relate to kids because of the hard things I have been through."
"I am not out of the woods yet, I am a drug addict and I can't dust myself off and automatically say it's left in the past."
The 30-year-old also said he was confident that his body could cope with the rigours of AFL football.
"I understand I'm 30 and I've had 12 months off ... I put a lot of time and work into my body," he said.
"I'm confident it's going to hold up but I guess the rigours of AFL football, you never know how it's going to hold up until you get into it."
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