Concussion puts Cousins in hospital
Ben Cousins spent time in hospital after suffering concussion during Richmond's AFL pre-season loss to Collingwood.
The Tigers revealed on Friday Cousins was taken to the emergency department at Epworth Hospital a few hours after his encouraging performance.
Playing against another club for the first time since the 2007 finals, the controversial onballer picked up 21 possessions on Thursday night.
He also suffered a knock to the head and Cousins apparently does not know how it happened.
"One of our football department guys drove him home, and his sister and a friend of the family stayed with him," said football manager Craig Cameron in a story on the club's website.
"And they decided during the night that he needed further attention, so he went to hospital somewhere between 2 or 3am.
"Our club doctor was notified and he got discharged this morning."
Speaking soon after the game, coach Terry Wallace had said Cousins would probably sit out next weekend's NAB Challenge game.
The seriousness of the concussion will ensure Cousins misses the match.
"With all players that have suffered a knock to the head, we make sure there's someone with them that night," Cameron said.
"Because things like knocks to the head and concussion, they don't all act uniformly in terms of the symptoms they bring about, so it's important they've got someone looking after them.
"This morning he's just recovering from a concussion he's a little bit washed out."
Cousins was back at Richmond's Punt Road headquarters on Friday and Cameron added the Tigers would be cautious with his training.
"We won't push him, if he shows any signs of it causing him any distress," Cameron said.
Cousins' next big goal will be round-one game against Carlton, where he will go up against his former West Coast team-mate and fellow Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd.
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.