BEN COUSINS [merged]

[one-eyed]

Cousins tells all to sway Tigers
By Kim Hagdorn | Daily Telegraph | December 14, 2008

RICHMOND coach Terry Wallace was not scared off by stark confessions from fallen AFL star Ben Cousins in a warts and all confrontation last week.

Cousins revealed explicit details of his illegal drug troubled past for a first time to Wallace who is investigating whether to recruit the controversial former West Coast champion on Tuesday and revive his AFL career at Tigerland.

Following a series of telephone conversations with Cousins pleading with Wallace for one last shot at a return to football's biggest stage, the 2005 Brownlow Medallist met the Tigers boss and his staff in Melbourne last Thursday.

Cousins, 30, made a direct plea for a shot at rejuvenating his playing career to Wallace after another no-holds-barred discussion with footy great Kevin Sheedy a fortnight ago.

Sheedy, who coached Essendon for 27 years and is a three-time Tigers premiership hero, instructed Cousins to personally take charge of his own revival hopes.

The former Eagles captain and premiership rover also made desperate unsuccessful attempts to plead his recall case with AFL heavyweights Andrew Demetriou, Adrian Anderson and commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick last week.

Extensive investigations into Cousins' mental and physical capacity to return to AFL playing ranks and his often controversial social life by Collingwood, St Kilda and Brisbane all amounted to abandoned plans to recruit him in a blunt rejection of one of the finest AFL players of the modern era.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24795664-5001023,00.html

[Judge Roughneck]

Wouldn't it be hilarious if the AFL approve the Polak request, and we receive a 2nd pick in the PSD.
Then just to stick it up the likes of Eddy and co, we take Ben with pick 6 and a kid with pick 7.
LOL ! That would be a classic !

lol

 

[JammatheTIGER]

RICHMOND appears to have headed off a fan revolt after late last night deciding to give Ben Cousins a second chance.

After a series of meetings and phone calls between Richmond directors, coaches and officials, the club decided to use its only selection in today's pre-season draft to take the fallen champ.

The Herald Sun was told the club finalised its decision after 10pm and some key Richmond players were immediately told.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24806112-661,00.html

[Judge Roughneck]

bed time. 

[one-eyed]

In the Australian as well....

Ben Cousins to be drafted by Richmond Tigers 
Stephen Rielly | December 16, 2008

BEN Cousins is expected to become a Richmond player today, with the Tigers deciding late last night to recruit the fallen Brownlow medallist and former West Coast captain with their sole pick in the pre-season draft.

The decision amounts to an extraordinary reprieve for the 30-year-old and something of an embarrassing about-face for the Tigers, who had categorically ruled out the prospect of taking Cousins on unless their appeal for a second pre-season draft selection was granted by the AFL Commission.

That application was refused yesterday.

For Cousins, Richmond’s decision means that his exile from the game which threatened to be permanent will end just over a year after it began.

In November 2007 the once/brilliant midfielder was sacked by the Eagles and deregistered by the AFL after a string of wayward incidents that have since been attributed to an escalating illicit drug addiction.

Cousins never failed a drug test and was never charged but was nonetheless removed from the game for conduct the AFL described as having brought the game into disrepute.

It was this history, coupled with his age and the memory of a hamstring injury that dogged his last season with the Eagles, that saw every club other than the Tigers ultimately baulk at offering him the second chance that appeared to materialise when the commission agreed to readmit him to the game last month.

Collingwood, North Melbourne, Brisbane and St Kilda all investigated and then abandoned the idea of recruiting Cousins and even the Tigers were cool on the idea until 10 days ago, when the prospect of moving the injured Graham Polak on to the rookie list and creating an opening for Cousins arose.

Polak suffered serious head injuries in the middle of the year when hit by a tram and is unlikely to play in 2009, if again.

It is understood the Richmond board changed its mind on the issue at an eleventh-hour meeting held last night, which also involved coach Terry Wallace and senior coaching staff. Cousins was informed as was the AFL, which needs the Tigers to commit to a specific drug recovery and rehabilitation program before they can call out his name this morning.

The AFL commission, when it agreed to allow Cousins to play in 2009, imposed its own strict drug testing conditions upon the 2005 Brownlow winner and 2006 premiership player.

He has had to agree to urine testing up to three times a week and as many as four hair tests a year, on top of the competition’s regular testing program.

The abrupt change of course by the Tigers will require some explaining from the likes of president Gary March who declared unequivocally last Friday that if the club had only one selection in the pre-season draft it would not be used on Cousins. Yesterday afternoon Richmond football operations manager Craig Cameron said it was “highly unlikely” that Cousins would be selected today.

It is an about-face that will doubtlessly please the club’s faithful, who gave the idea overwhelming support when it first emerged last week. It is understood that a posse of fans confronted Wallace last night at the Punt Road headquarters demanding that Cousins be drafted.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24806892-2722,00.html

[one-eyed]

A reminder of the good and bad sides of Cousins...

Cousins and controversy
Will Brodie | December 15, 2008

Previosuly a poster-boy for the league, handsome, super-fit, and a brave, skilful leader on the field, the reputation of the three-times Eagles best and fairest winner Ben Cousins degenerated after a series of scandals.

September 2002
After altercations at  Perth nightclub with teammate Daniel Kerr, Cousins suffers a broken arm.

May 2005
Cousins and then teammate Michael Gardiner face scrutiny for their links to underworld figures allegedly involved in a shooting. The Eagles stood by their players, and refused to strip Cousins of the captaincy.

However, club chief executive Trevor Nesbitt warns that "... They have had chances before, they have had opportunities before, they have made mistakes before. It gets to the point where those mistakes can't be tolerated any longer. This hurts us. It hurts our brand. It hurts our image."

12 February 2006
Cousins runs from his car (and crosses a river) to avoid a booze bus, and following police. On 20 February, Cousins resigns the captaincy of the Eagles. After being charged with obstructing traffic and obstructing police, Cousins pleads guilty and is fined $900. The West Coast Eagles fine Cousins $5000.

December 2006
Cousins is arrested after being in a distressed state at Crown Casino in Melbourne. He spends four hours in a police holding cell before being released. There are no charges from police, or measures taken by the Eagles.

20 March 2007
Cousins is suspended indefinitely by the West Coast Eagles are being absent from training sessions.

22 March 2007
Bryan Cousins states that his son Ben has a substance abuse problem.

April/May 2007
Cousins undergoes rehabilitation in Malibu, California and Perth.

September 2007
Former Eagles great, and much-loved West Australian media figure Chris Mainwaring dies. Cousins was a companion in the former wingman's final days.

16 October 2007
Cousins is charged with possession of a prohibited drug, and refusingith a police ordered drug assessment.

17 October 2007
Ben Cousins has his playing contract terminated by the West Coast Eagles.

27 October 2007
Reports of a cocaine binge involving Cousins in Los Angeles, after he is admitted to hospital. Cousins had failed to arrive at a rehabilitation facility.

19 November 2007
After an unprecedented, seven-hour meeting, the AFL commission bans Cousins from playing for 12 months, stating that he had brought the game into disrepute.

Cousins the footballer
238 games, 1996-
captain 2002-2006

1996 In his first season with West Coast, he wins the Rising Star Award

1998 Named All Australian; runner-up in West Coast best and fairest

1999 Plays his first final; named All Australian; selected to play for Australia in the international rules series.

2000 Signs a new three-year contract worth an estimated $1mil over three years.

2001 Named co-captain with Dean Kemp. Wins West Coast best and fairest

2002 Named sole West Coast captain; wins West Coast best and fairest

2003 Wins West Coast best and fairest

2005 Plays 200th game (youngest Eagle to reach that mark); wins the Brownlow Medal (after five previous top 10 finishes); runner-up, player's association Most Valuable Player Award; runner-up coaches player of the year award; West Coast are runners-up.

2006 premiership winner with West Coast

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/cousins-and-controversy/2008/12/15/1229189514162.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

[one-eyed]

Tigers favour Cousins pick
Jake Niall | December 16, 2008

While the club's official line was that it was "highly unlikely" to pick Cousins in today's pre-season draft, sources last night suggested that Cousins was a better-than-even-money chance to be selected.

Key officials were discussing the issue last night, including coach Terry Wallace, general manager of football operations Craig Cameron and chief executive Steve Wright.

The club's board, which had already given approval to recruiting Cousins, had largely left the decision to the football department and executive last night.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/tigers-favour-cousins-pick/2008/12/15/1229189535056.html?page=fullpage

[mightytiges]

Until Cousins is sitting down at a press conference with Terry and co. I ain't assuming he's a Tiger yet.

Sheesh Cuz' doco is going to be as long as War and Peace, have more twists and turns than a Hitchcock novel, and most of all make Benny a mint.

It is understood the Richmond board changed its mind on the issue at an eleventh-hour meeting held last night, which also involved coach Terry Wallace and senior coaching staff. Cousins was informed as was the AFL, which needs the Tigers to commit to a specific drug recovery and rehabilitation program before they can call out his name this morning.

That's going to be fun  .

[WilliamPowell]

Sheesh Cuz' doco is going to be as long as War and Peace, have more twists and turns than a Hitchcock novel, and most of all make Benny a mint.

I wonder if Damien Barrett will make a cameo 

[Darth Tiger]

I wonder if Damien Barrett will make a cameo 

Hopefully as a prop in Joe Fazio's boxing gym.

[Francois Jackson]

Sheesh Cuz' doco is going to be as long as War and Peace, have more twists and turns than a Hitchcock novel, and most of all make Benny a mint.

I wonder if Damien Barrett will make a cameo 

one thing has come out of all this.

i cant stand damien barret.

up there with Eddie

[one-eyed]

Our footy dept is meeting behind closed doors right now on whether to draft Cousins. The playing group won't have a say either. Everyone is expecting us to draft Benny.

[Chuck17]

I wonder if Damien Barrett will make a cameo 

Hopefully as a prop in Joe Fazio's boxing gym.

Or as a prop in Boy George's house

[one-eyed]

Cousins in Melbourne btw.

[Chuck17]

LOL, isn't that a contrast between the good and the bad