Courtesy of the Courier Mail
By Marcus Ashcroft
BEN Cousins has emerged from the darkness of a period of drug abuse to become a shining example of the positive role the AFL plays in the development of so many young men. While the former Eagles captain was once banned from the league for bringing the game into disrepute, he is now doing the exact opposite. I was fascinated watching Cousins' open and honest responses to some pretty tough questions about his drug addiction on Fox Sports program On the Couch this week.
Particularly fascinating was his description of how crucial his return to football and a team environment at Richmond was in his rehabilitation from drug addiction. Cousins believes drug abuse is a major problem in society andthe fact the AFL has been largely untouched by it was a testament to the role clubs played as support networks for their players.
The 2005 Brownlow Medallist even admitted he was unsure how he would fare once his playing days were over and he was left to battle his demons without the support of teammates and coaches. It reaffirmed to me just how important is the role we at the GCFC play in the development of our young players, not just as athletes, but as people within the community.
The Gold Coast has been called the party capital of Australia and we'd be naive if we thought that the temptations teenagers face in general society were not there for our young players. We often say that of the 168 hours in a week, football really only occupies about 25 hours and it is imperative our athletes find constructive ways to spend their spare time. At the GCFC we have a rule that every player must be involved in some form of external mentalstimulation, whether it be school, AFLPA apprenticeships, university studies or part-time work.
In addition to the compulsory education sessions that the AFL and AFLPA provide at the GCFC we have ensured we go above and beyond these sessions with extra life skill programs. We have local police detectives regularly talk to our players on the
pitfalls that may be present on the GC, as well as etiquette and chivalry courses. One of the promises we made to the parents of the talented youngsters who have formed our playing list over the past two years was that a major focus in the early stages of their careers was their off-field development.
Our other rule is that all first-year players must live with a host family. These families are heavily screened to ensure they provide the right sort of environment for these young men in their first time away from home. As Cousins said, football clubs can be a haven and we certainly intend to make the GCFC an environment that allows young men to flourish and be upstanding citizens within our community during and after their football careers.
