The troubled career of Ben Cousins is close to over, according to AFL Hall of Fame coach Robert Walls.
The former Carlton premiership coach and prominent AFL commentator says the Brownlow medallist is no use to a Richmond team on course for another dire season.
The Tigers and Cousins endured another torrid start to the season against Carlton, slumping to a 56-point loss to the
Blues after the ex-Eagle had entered the game under a fitness cloud.
Hospitalised twice in the build-up to the game with a mystery stomach ailment, Cousins had a serviceable game, with 19 possessions and a goal.
But Walls said it appeared the powers of the six-time All Australian were finally on the wane and questioned whether his presence in the Tigers team would benefit the club.
"You have got to worry about where Richmond is going," Walls said.
"They are definitely bottom two with Melbourne, and I would question whether Ben Cousins is any value to a team that is going to finish bottom two.
"It looks to me whether he has a lost a little bit too, in terms of pace and strength and zip.
"Cousins is only going to play this year and it is all over.
"They will be bottom four for the next two, three or four season most likely.
"They had a kid called Matty White on the emergency, he is a rover, he has played quite a few games. I would rather play the young blokes and give them opportunity."
After more lurid headlines over Cousins' reported binge drinking causing concern at the club, Richmond president Gary March and CEO Brendon Gale both defended Cousins, with the latter saying the 31-year-old had become a national obsession.
Speaking before last week's clash, March conceded the Brownlow medallist, a recovering drug addict, was "no angel" and came to the club "with baggage" - but also said Cousins did not receive a fair go from the media.
Walls however said any more headlines for the wrong reasons might convince Tigers' coach Damien Hardwick to cut Cousins loose.
"If he was playing for a team that was some chance of playing in a grand final, I think you could argue it was a punt worth taking," Walls told radio 5AA.
"But a team at the bottom of the ladder, they just need to get games into young players with a young coach.
"If he mucks up, then I think Damien Hardwick might say that is it let's hope he doesn't for his own sake.
"I just question whether Cousins in a team that is on the bottom of the ladder is of any use."
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