By Sam Lienert
July 12th 2009 @ 6:46am
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Cousins’ emergence from the Blues boosts Tigers
Last time Ben Cousins played against Carlton it could not have ended more miserably.
The Richmond recruit’s much-hyped AFL comeback helped draw a crowd of almost 87,000 to the season-opener at the MCG, but he limped off with a hamstring injury as the Tigers were thumped by 83 points.
By the time he returned to fitness, his new club’s season was all but over, at least in terms of finals prospects, along with coach Terry Wallace’s career.
But, while Richmond again lost to the Blues at the MCG on Saturday, things are looking much brighter for the former West Coast star.
After picking up his first 30-disposal haul of the season against Adelaide in the previous round, Cousins starred with 35 touches against the Blues.
His 19-disposal second half helped the Tigers seize the midfield advantage over their highly-rated counterparts and, if not for some wasteful work in attack, would have given them a decent shot at a comeback win.
Tigers caretaker coach Jade Rawlings said while it was important for Cousins’ own sake that he has struck form, it was also having a big positive effect on his young midfield colleagues.
“It’s been great for him, it’s been great for the footy club,” Rawlings said.
“… It’s been half a dozen games he’s played on end now and he’s influencing games of footy.
“Unfortunately that hasn’t translated into too many wins but he’s having a really big influence on how we’re playing a lot of games.
“He consistently gets blokes running with him, it doesn’t faze him and he’s played well.”
Rawlings said with young gun Trent Cotchin also having regained fitness after early season injury troubles, Daniel Jackson having a breakout season and last year’s best and fairest Brett Deledio also in solid form, there were some good midfield signs.
“It’s not just about Ben Cousins, we’re starting to get a few support acts as well,” Rawlings said, praising Cousins’ value as a football model for the younger players.
“His running capacity to win it in close and then spread from those situations is as good as I’ve seen.
“I think our young mids will learn and derive a lot from having played alongside him.”
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