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Cousins deems himself fit for opener

By Mr Dandalooa

Midfielder Ben Cousins reckons he’s fit to play in Richmond’s AFL season opener against Carlton at the MCG tomorrow night after several weeks of medical complications.

The troubled former West Coast Eagles skipper has played just one preseason matches this year.

But the 31-year-old is now back in full training and has declared himself fit.

The long-suffering Richmond supporters will be hoping Cousins can stay fit long enough this season as the Tigers rebuild, although they are starting from a long way back.

Cousins was been hospitalised twice in recent weeks with a stomach complaint.

“I am going to be available and I’d like to think I can play,” Cousins said.

“It is whether the match committee think I have done enough. I only played one preseason game, I was expected to play the last preseason game but it wasn’t good timing.

“There is a fair bit of depth there, and some young guys who could do the job quite comfortably. But I would love to play.”

Carlton have had the make significant changes this year after losing Brendan Fevola to his namesake condition, The Fevola Effect.

The Blues have to rebuild their forward line and while their midfield is one of the best, questions have been raised as to where they kick the ball to.

Former Docker Robbie Warnock could be an option, or perhaps Matthew Kreuzer, or Jarrad Waite, but the Blues are playing an uncertain game this season until they can sort out a solid forward line.

Rising star Kane Lucas is poised to make his AFL debut against Richmond on Thursday night after the Blues’ most recent first-round draft pick impressed since arriving at Visy Park.

Lucas looks set to join mature-age recruits Brock McLean, Lachie Henderson and Warnock in the navy blue for the first time.

Assistant coach Brett Montgomery labelled Lucas a clever kid who knows Aussie Rules.

“Every time we’ve put him out against AFL opposition he’s looked up to the class,” he said.

On the Blues’ website, Montgomery said Lucas’s debut would be sooner, rather than later, in coming even if he was not selected to take on the Tigers tomorrow.

Jarrad Waite and Marc Murphy will are poised to play after overcoming injury, while Kade Simpson, Andrew Carrazzo and Michael Jamison are in line to skipper the team in the absence of suspended captain Chris Judd.