BEN COUSINS [merged]

[one-eyed]

SEN rang up most of the VFL clubs and the answers were either not interested, not discussed it, or we enquired but he's unlikely to come to [insert club]. Williamstown said Cousins has already a club in mind and it's not them. Sandy (who'll be aligned with the Saints next year) sounded the most interested. The only VFL club they didn't talk to was Coburg. 

[mightytiges]

If Cousins is finally clean then someone like the Dogs would be favourites.

[Infamy]

I just can't find us making room for another 30+ year old

We probably won't be making wholesale changes at the end of the year, maybe 4-5 players departing. Do we really give up a place for another kid for a guy who will only offer a couple of years on our list while we aren't contenders?
Will the amount he can teach a guy like Cotchin or Lids be worth more than the AFL game time players will miss out on? Someone needs to step aside on game day to make room for him to play.

He should be going to a club like Hawthorn, Geelong or the Bulldogs who want some extra grunt for a premiership push. Personally I think the best place he could go would be somewhere like North Melbourne.

[one-eyed]

Herald-Sun tomorrow says Cousins is singing up with Port Melbourne.

[one-eyed]

From: AFL clubs baulk at Ben Cousins' age
June 25, 2008 - 6:50PM

... Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs, Richmond, St Kilda and Geelong would not rule out the possibility of recruiting the 2006 premiership player and four-time Eagles best and fairest.

Tigers assistant coach Brian Royal said while Richmond were also on the youth path, that did not necessarily mean a veteran of Cousins' ability could not aid that process.

"You just can't say: `No, we're not going to go after Ben Cousins,'" Royal told SEN.

"Probably we'll look at it two ways, as long as he's fully rehabilitated, does he come into our midfield? Does he take the spot of one of our up-and-coming developing midfielders? That could be the case.

"Or does he come into your midfield with his experience of being a Brownlow medallist, a premiership player, a captain, does he come in and actually teach your midfielders certain aspects of the game which have helped him over the years? So you can look at both sides of things."

Betting agency Sportingbet Australia opened a market on where Cousins would play in 2009, installing the Bulldogs as favourites, ahead of Collingwood. [Richmond are third favourite].

http://news.theage.com.au/sport/afl-clubs-baulk-at-ben-cousins-age-20080625-2wcu.html

[mightytiges]

A bit of an anti-climax. He's only going to train with Port. Richo said we'll have him but only with conditions (regular drug tests etc) because of our young list. 

[one-eyed]

Herald-Sun has a summary of what Cousins said on the Footy Show:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23929110-19742,00.html

Collingwood, Richmond, St Kilda and Geelong have not ruled out taking Cousins if he is available to return to the AFL in 2009. Essendon are "open-minded" while Hawthorn said leave the lad alone.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/vflbound-cousins-drug-fear/2008/06/26/1214472679155.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

[Tigermonk]

Skunks will get Cousins, lMO we should continue to breed our own culture, cause it could unsettle the playing group if someone like Cousins came in & was getting big money & all the focus put on him when others have gut busted to get where they are at present & donot carry such tags of the well achieved player in Cousins.
ln saying that,  l'm not saying that Ben Cousins has not busted his guts to get where he is cause his a fitness freak to no end, but the question everyone will ask is 

#1. can he fit into & play our gameplan along side our current playing group
#2.  is he returning to AFL football for his own glory in playing a rogue style that fits his attitude just to show he can still cut it at the top

#2 fits the style of a substance user when they are over-cocky & he shows that in his attitude at present

Ben Cousins is & always will be a champion footballer, his powerful, explosive pace & very footy smart & any club that dont try get him is crazy,  a year off football will give him a extra few years body wise lMO & freshen his hunger for the game if he is substance free
with our current list & our club should be playing finals next year,  l would go against my judgement here & hope Richmond pick Cousins up to push for a premiership within the next 2-3 years or help the club stay in finals contention while blooding games into our young club

remember this is just my own opinion to what l think today
anyone caught with drugs in thier system should get a automatic 2 year ban nationwide on 1st offence
Cousins is not the only substance user in the AFL

[bushranger]

A big no thank you to him.

[julzqld]

I don't want him and his cockiness at Richmond.

[wayne again]

 He could bring speed to our midfeild.

[Mr Magic]

Looks a fair way off from being re registered to play to me.

[one-eyed]

Cousins not playing this year, says management team
West Australian
25th July 2008, 14:45 WST
 
Ben Cousins will not play any football this year, according to reports this afternoon.

The former West Coast Eagles ace flew from Perth to Melbourne yesterday, sparking rumours he was about to start training with VFL club Port Melbourne.

But a statement issued by his Flying Start management company today has rejected the speculation and says the former Brownlow Medallist, who flew to Melbourne with former girlfriend Sam Druce, was in Melbourne for discussion on a TV documentary about his drug addiction.

The statement says: “Ben Cousins and his management company, Flying Start met in Melbourne today. Cousins will be in Melbourne over the next week for a series of meetings surrounding his documentary.

“While Cousins will not be playing in 2008 he will return to Perth shortly and commence training with WAFL clubs East Fremantle and Perth as he keeps his options open in the hope of a return to the AFL in 2009.

“Cousins will not be training with VFL club Port Melbourne while in Melbourne over the next week.”

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=87085


Ben Cousins to return to Perth
Sam Edmund | July 25, 2008 05:50pm

BEN Cousins will return to Perth next week to start training with WAFL clubs East Fremantle and Perth in a latest step towards a potential AFL comeback.

The former West Coast captain and confessed drug addict met with his management company Flying Start in Melbourne today and will hold a series of talks over his documentary in the coming days.

Cousins, 30, who arrived on Thursday with friend Samantha Druce, did not appear at Port Melbourne training this afternoon.

But Borough coach Gary Ayres remains hopeful the 238-game veteran will make an appearance next month.

"I believe Ben will go back to Perth in the next few days and then come back sometime in August and will look to maybe train with us then," Ayres said.

Cousins is serving a 12-month AFL ban after he was found guilty by the AFL Commission last November of bringing the game into disrepute.
 
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24077195-19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Hutchy says Cousins is certain to return to AFL. He's made that decision in the last fortnight. If he passes the AFL checks he'll be cleared to play in October. He has to nominate for the National draft. That will mean he'll be available in both National and, if not picked up, PSD drafts. The contract terms must be a minimum 2 years. St Kilda are favourites but 3 other clubs interested too. Pies have shown no interest.

[Judge Roughneck]

Cousins would be handy on a forward flank me thinks.