Psychologist attacks clubs for bringing game into disrepute
Mike Sheahan | December 04, 2008
THE AFLPA's psychology expert says the "Cousins affair" has brought the game into disrepute, and she doesn't blame Ben Cousins.
AFL Players' Association psychologist Dr Pippa Grange has told clubs Cousins has her sympathy as the victim of a "circus".
"I believe that the 'Cousins affair' has brought the game of AFL football into disrepute," she wrote.
"At the whim of a fearful, baying public, fuelled by panicked and over-zealous politicians and a steamrolling media, the industry has bent and buckled, demonstrating that the human beings that are the hub of the AFL industry wheel are disposable, dismissable and quickly disregarded."
The emotive tirade continued: "We have allowed it to become a circus and a problem bathed in apathy that everyone just wants to be resolved.
"The self-congratulatory pats on the back that we in the AFL industry give ourselves on the creation of supportive, harm-minimisation policies such as the illicit drugs policy must seem ultimately ironic to Ben Cousins and his family when the collective power and informed wisdom of such are brushed aside for the 'greater good' of the game, the AFL engine, and the sweet taste of brand management."
Dr Grange's letter carried an endorsement of sorts from AFLPA chief executive Brendon Gale, who sent an accompanying note saying: "I support Pippa's letter . . . her willingness to share her thinking with key AFL industry decision-makers."
The letter sparked a blistering response from Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett.
In a written response to clubs, Kennett said: "I am tired of the allegation and inferences that it was the clubs' responsibility to provide Ben with a second chance.
"Ben made a choice at some time in his life to use drugs. He was not a child, but an adult. His family, club, AFL was not able to help him, nor was Ben prepared to help himself.
"Successful football outcomes will be more than ever the result of team efforts, both football (departments) and administrations working professionally together.
"Where any club allows one or more person to become bigger than the club I suggest will lessen that club's opportunity of success.
"Had any club selected Ben, Ben Cousins would have become the issue for that club for as long as Ben was part of that club.
"The whole concept of team would have been subsumed by the media's interest in Ben, the resources of the club consumed in protecting/dealing with issues relating to Ben.
"AFL clubs have a duty of care to all their employees. If the addition of one person, in the view of the club, puts at risk all or part of the rest, the club must act accordingly.
"Maybe he is getting his second chance at life, and let's hope he takes it. But it might not be at AFL level.
"For all of us again, the message is clear. If we make the wrong choices in life, we may pay a heavy price."
Dr Grange said Cousins had paid a crushing price.
"We offer support to a point then struggle with our feelings of betrayal and disappointment when the inevitable relapse or ingratitude shows up.
"It may have been more acceptable had he gone to rehab in Mansfield not Malibu, had his public face been contrition not cockiness.
"At the bottom of the scrapheap is a human being; a man whose story remains unfinished and whom we as a society and an industry have a responsibility to at least look in the eye and learn from rather than passively allow to unravel in front of us.
"To anyone who is really paying attention, this is a missed opportunity of great proportions.
"I encourage you (the clubs) to reflect on the role-modelling we have really offered to the interested observer."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24747925-19742,00.html
