TonyK
CibbuanoTigers suspend quartet
April 12th 2010 07:40
RICHMOND has suspended promising youngster Daniel Connors for eight weeks and three other players - including Ben Cousins - for one match for misbehaving at the team hotel in the hours after the Tigers' 55-point loss to Sydney at the SCG on Saturday night.
Connors copped the harshest penalties from the club's leadership group because his 'unsociable behaviour' included being drunk.
On top of the eight-game suspension, the 21-year-old will also be banned from training with the club for the next six weeks and will also have to undergo alcohol counselling once a week for an indefinite period.
Cousins, Luke McGuane and Dean Polo will miss Sunday's clash against Melbourne at the MCG.
Richmond said that while the trio were not intoxicated, they had not 'acted responsibly or in a manner expected of them by the club'.
"The Richmond Football Club will not tolerate the behaviour shown by these players, and has acted accordingly," Tigers football operations manager Craig Cameron said.
"These actions go against all the values that we set for ourselves as a club."
"Every player at this club needs to fully understand the responsibility that goes with pulling on the yellow and black jumper," Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale added.
Connors said he was 'extremely disappointed' in his behaviour.
"I apologise to all Richmond members and supporters, my team-mates, club officials and the guests at the Intercontinental Hotel, who were subjected to my behaviour," Connors said.
"Over the next few weeks I will be doing everything I can to win back the respect of those who I have let down."
"This has been a massive wake-up call for me and I accept that I have a problem with alcohol which I need to address."
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