Richmond AFL president Gary March has denied reports that Tigers midfielder Ben Cousins has a problem with binge drinking.

Cousins has been the subject of recent reports that he was spoken to by club officials about curbing his drinking during the pre-season.

But March, speaking before Thursday night's season-opener against Carlton, slammed the reports as "unsubstantiated rumour and innuendo".

March conceded the Brownlow medallist, a recovering drug addict, was "no angel" and came to the club "with baggage".

But he said Cousins did not receive a fair go from the media.

"The AFL has given him an opportunity, the Richmond Football Club has given him an opportunity, I call on the media to give him an equal opportunity," he said.

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