Footballers' extracurricular activities

[Moi]

With Ben Cousins and those of a similar ilk in mind, how much of a leash should we put on footballers.  Should we demand they don't go out and celebrate after games and/or have some sort of normal life like their peers do?  I've always been of the opinion that they should have as balanced a life as possible, including those activities, but to a degree.  You can't be talking and living footy 24/7 IMO, but that's what we supporters seem to expect them to be like.  I think they need to celebrate their wins - give them some enjoyment for their efforts.  I look at the players who come back to the social club sometimes after a win and they don't look happy at all some of them. 

Ben Cousins is an idiot and should be dumped.  If it was his first lapse, i'd say no, but he is a serial pain in the bum to his club and shows no leadership.

[mightytiges]

As far as the players themselves it should come down to personal responsibility. Having one or two quiet drinks the night after a game with your teammates, friends, partners, club officials etc to celebrate a win should be fine as long as no one goes overboard and gets plotto. Cousins and now Gardiner (told by Worsfold after his latest misdemeanour if he doesn't lift his act he won't play again for the Eagles) only have themselves to blame. Not sure how you handle what other idiots do when they are near footballers. Virtually only the social club or possibly a venue owned by an (ex-)player can you control who is allowed in to stop a drunken idiot(s) harrassing a player(s).