Former Richmond footballer Daniel Connors says he now wants to re-ignite his career after battling his drug and alcohol problems. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun
Still close: Daniel Connors and Dustin Martin Source: Herald Sun
RICHMOND has banned superstar midfielder Dustin Martin from socialising with former teammate Daniel Connors.
The Tigers have become increasingly concerned with Martin's behaviour and recently ordered him to stay away from Connors, who was sacked last July when the pair took sleeping pills and slept through a training session.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, Connors broke his silence and revealed his hopes of resurrecting his career in tomorrow's national draft.
The 24-year-old, whose ability has never been questioned, says he has changed his life and would repay a club prepared to take a punt with a late pick.
But he admitted the fallout from the sleep-in that cost him his job at Richmond and saw Martin suspended for two weeks, was ongoing.
"`Dusty' is my best mate, but I don't think the club is real keen on him hanging out with me,'' Connors said.
"They told him he's not allowed to hang out with me, but I can still speak to him on the phone. I still speak to him every day.''
Connors, speaking for the first time since that fateful July night, also revealed:
HE had taken the powerful anxiety and insomnia drug diazepam _ prescribed to him by a club doctor _ before going to bed.
THE only reason he and Martin, who took a sleeping tablet after drinking two bourbons, failed to wake was because Connors' phone went flat in the middle of the night and the alarm didn't go off.
HE eventually woke to find assistant coach Wayne Campbell in his living room looking for answers.
COACH Damien Hardwick stormed into a Punt Road office "ranting and raving'' that Connors was finished at the club.
Connors said his best footy was still ahead of him and was desperate to continue playing at the top level.
"I'm only 24 and I think I'm just starting to get my body right. I feel I can play forward, back, on a wing, anywhere,'' he said.
He admitted life without football had been more difficult than he thought.
"I didn't think I'd miss is that much, but I've been out of the system for a while now and I'd definitely rather be in there than not,'' Connors said.
"I'm just hoping that somewhere down the line I get another chance. Being out of the game and missing it, you see how lucky you are to be in the system.
"I feel all right, I'm fit and healthy. I had a bit of a break and had a lot of time to think about what I wanted to do going forward.''
Connors, who is interested in enrolling in a university surveying course, has been training on a daily basis in preparation for next season. Failing any AFL interest he will set his sights on the VFL.
Richmond would not comment yesterday.
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