Ben Cousins has been taken by Richmond at pick six in the AFL pre-season draft.

The decision was a backflip from Richmond, which indicated it would only take the former Brownlow Medallist if injured Tiger Graham Polak was placed on the rookie list.

That request was denied yesterday by the AFL commission, but Richmond heirarchy clearly had a change of mind and decided the former Eagles champion, who has been fighting drug addiction problems, was a risk worth taking.

If Cousins is able to reach match fitness, he will come up against former Eagles teammate Chris Judd in a blockbuster round one game at the MCG between Richmond and Carlton.

In November 2007, Cousins was deregistered by the AFL for bringing the game into disrepute following a string of drug-related incidents and arrests.

Once he was cleared to play again in November this year, Brisbane, St Kilda and Collingwood were at various times expected to draft the dynamic midfielder.

All three turned away from the 2005 Brownlow Medallists amidst concerns from sponsors.

Richmond has been far from singleminded in its pursuit of Cousins, but strong supporter sentiment, and the encouragement of club legend Kevin Sheedy may have tilted the decision at the eleventh hour.

A Realfooty poll asking whether Richmond should draft Cousins received an extraordinary 5492 votes, of which 79% said Cousins should be drafted.

 The 2005 Brownlow Medallist has been one of the greatest players in the modern era, and was instrumental in helping West Coast to the premiership in 2006.

In other notable selections, Port Adelaide drafted their former premiership midfielder Josh Carr, who was delisted by Fremantle at the end of last season, and Essendon took ex-Adelaide player Hayden Skipworth.

But Melbourne and Brisbane took little-known youngsters - the Demons taking Liam Jurrah and the Lions selecting Murray Bushrangers teen Tom Rockliff.

That left ex-Swan Nick Davis and former Melbourne defender Nathan Carroll without AFL clubs for 2009.

Pre-season draft:

1. Melbourne Liam Jurrah

2. Josh Carr Port Adelaide

3. Hayden Skipworth Essendon

4. Chris Johnson Carlton

5. Tom Rockliff Brisbane

6. Ben Cousins Richmond

- with AAP