Ben Cousins at crossroads Mike Sheahan
Herald Sun
May 25, 2010 EVENTS off the field have distorted the broad view of Ben Cousins the footballer in recent years. Disguised the fact he has been one of the great players of the modern game.
In the period 1998-2006, Cousins won four best-and-fairest awards at West Coast, and finished top four in another four years.
In teams that contained McKenna, Jakovich, Judd, Cox and Kerr. Testament to extraordinary class and consistency.
Cousins, though, has reached the point where his future as a player is up for debate.
Now at Richmond, the veteran of 258 games is merely a shadow of his former self. He cobbled together 17 possessions against Essendon at the MCG on Saturday night, but had no influence on events.
The best spin that can be applied to his numbers is that he had eight contested possessions and five clearances, and played only 68 per cent of the game.
He scored an efficiency rating of 53 per cent, kicked no goals, registered no score assists.
He looked slow, got caught and lacked penetration with his kicks. None of those observations was legitimate in his West Coast days.
His five games this year have netted 43 kicks, 55 handballs and one goal.
As much as most of us want to see him complete his career in style, and we genuinely do, they're the facts.
Yes, the game against the Bombers was his first back from a back injury that still troubles him. It has been an interrupted season for him, but, as he knows better than most, it's a tough, uncompromising game.
There are no concessions for injury or past deeds.
The dilemma for coach Damien Hardwick and company at Richmond is a sense of responsibility to Cousins against an over-riding commitment to the club's long-term future.
Richmond is winless after nine rounds with only occasional flashes of progress.
Saturday night's game effectively was over after Essendon kicked the first seven goals.
While Cousins has much to offer in terms of attitude and experience and, in the main, is good with the younger players, his primary responsibility is to set an example on the field and, maybe, help the team to (a) be competitive and (b) perhaps pinch a win or two.
At 31 (32 on June 30), patience runs thin. He will be under fierce pressure if he goes to Adelaide for the Port Adelaide engagement on Saturday, which is likely.
His future has to be on the line and that's never a pleasant realisation, particularly when he wants to do two things: complete the year and make Richmond think long and hard about giving him one more.
Hardwick has to convince all his players games are awarded on form. Cuz's form is modest, at best. No good sending him back to Coburg, either. What's the point?
If he performs at VFL level, do you bring him back at his age and at the expense of a youngster?
Why, though, would he endure the indignity of toiling away at VFL level in the hope of regaining a spot in an AFL team that's going to win the wooden spoon?
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