Controversial Richmond midfielder Ben Cousins says he has given ammunition to his critics and let the Tigers down in the hotel episode that ended in him and three teammates being suspended.

Rebounding defender Daniel Connors was banned for eight games and ordered to undergo alcohol counselling over a drunken rampage at Sydney's Intercontinental Hotel in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Tigers sanctioned Cousins, and defenders Luke McGuane and Dean Polo, for one match - Sunday's encounter with reigning wooden spooners Melbourne at the MCG.

The trio were punished for first letting Connors get out of control, then mishandling efforts to restrain him.

Cousins admitted to giving Connors a black eye in a bid to subdue him.

"I got involved and forcibly tried to slow him up a little bit and I have found myself in a situation before where I have needed the same thing," he told Nova 100 radio.

"It's disappointing that we have found ourselves in this situation and let the footy club down."

The incident came hours after the Tigers copped a 55-point thumping from Sydney at the SCG, their third huge defeat in as many games this season.

Cousins' involvement has prompted questions over whether the 31-year-old recovering drug addict's value to the club still outweighs the risk, in a young team that is so far from premiership contention.

The former West Coast skipper and Brownlow medallist - banned by the AFL for the entire 2008 season before being drafted by Richmond - said he was tired of scrutiny of his off-field behaviour.

But while denying he was drunk on the weekend, he admitted he had opened himself up to a fresh wave of criticism.

"This incident and finding myself in the situation doesn't help it," he said.

"It probably fuels a lot of the arguments that have been thrown against me. I have to learn not to find myself in these situations."

Richmond football manager Craig Cameron said Cousins could still offer something to the many young players at the club, despite having acted irresponsibly.

"In some ways, he probably felt he was doing the right thing in trying to subdue Daniel. Obviously we felt he could have handled it better," Cameron told sports radio network SEN.

"But I think he still has a role to play for us on-field and he has certainly helped some of our younger players in terms of their football nous and their football ability.

"We're a very young group and it's important we have older players with good voices on the football field.

"... So yes he still has a role to play at our football club, but it's important that he makes the right choices going forward."

Cousins, who has already missed one match in 2010 due to a knee injury, will play for Richmond's VFL affiliate Coburg this weekend.

The suspensions might provide an opening for former basketballer Matt Dea to make his AFL debut, after he was among the best for VFL affiliate Coburg in defence last weekend.

Defenders Will Thursfield and Mitch Farmer are other possible inclusions, after missing the Swans match through injury.

The Tigers' troubles have prompted bookmakers to ramp up the odds of them beating the Demons on Sunday, and open markets on whether they will have the first winless AFL/VFL season of any team since Fitzroy in 1964.

Sportingbet Australia chief executive Michael Sullivan said punters had been keen to take their $8.00 odds of the Tigers failing to notch a victory, while Sportsbet.com.au is offering $5.00.

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