Tigers vs Eagles - Cuz versus his old side

[one-eyed]

West Coast gear up for clash with Ben Cousins
Michael Washbourne
June 08, 2009

IT'S the clash football fans from all over the country have been waiting for - Ben Cousins is finally set to face off with the club he left in tatters almost two years ago.

West Coast take on Richmond at Ethiad Stadium on Saturday night in a mouth-watering clash that will see the Eagles confront Cousins for the first time since he was sacked from the club in 2007.

But the Eagles are determined not to let Cousins soak up all of their focus.

“Certainly Cuz is not the focus, but going to Ethiad Stadium and maintaining our intensity of performance is our total focus,” coach John Worsfold said.

“We’ve got some good challenges in the Richmond side and Ben is certainly one of those.

“Players will get the opportunity to match up on him and test themselves out.”

Cousins’ sacking came after a tumultuous year in which he was suspended from the club for continual breaches of his contract, including a very public arrest in Northbridge on suspicions of drug possession.

The charges against Cousins were dropped soon after due to a police loophole.

The 2006 Brownlow medallist’s actions prompted an AFL inquiry into the off-field behaviour of the club, which resulted in the Eagles being threatened with large fines and loss of premiership points if they did not change their culture.

Cousins was also suspended from the AFL for 12 months following his sacking, but was thrown a lifeline by the Tigers in last year’s pre-season draft.

The 30-year-old returned to Perth last week as an integral member of Richmond’s win over Fremantle, but again left his home state in controversial fashion after giving a television camera the finger prior to the game starting.

Young Eagles midfielder Brad Ebert, who was drafted to the club after Cousins was sacked, said the players were not talking about the prospect of playing against their former captain.

“We haven’t really talked about playing against Ben Cousins or anything like that,” he said.

“I know that will be the hype around the game, but on a personal note, I wasn’t at the club when Ben was here so it’s really just going into another game and he’s just another opponent.

“He’s starting to play some good footy again. He’s been a great of the game over the past few years so you’ve got to show him respect because he’s such a good player.”

Ebert said he grew up watching and idolising Cousins and the dominant West Coast midfield from early this decade, which also included Carlton skipper Chris Judd.

Veteran Andrew Embley is in doubt for the clash against Richmond due to an ankle injury, but David Wirrpanda may return from a groin strain.

The match will also be the first for new Tigers coach Jade Rawlings, who takes over from Terry Wallace.

“I can’t imagine them changing too much in terms of their game plan, but it will be just another challenge, another game and we’ll try to take it up to them,” Ebert said.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25604322-5005401,00.html

[wayne]

We should beat them, but it will all depend on how quickly the players can adapt to Rawlings' game plan.

The players are going to have to get their heads around sheparding, tackling and long kicking.

They might be mentally drained by the time Saturday night comes around 

[1965]

We should beat them, but it will all depend on how quickly the players can adapt to Rawlings' game plan.

The players are going to have to get their heads around sheparding, tackling and long kicking.

They might be mentally drained by the time Saturday night comes around 

wouldn't it be nice...

where's the Cadburys?

[one-eyed]

Naitanui may debut for the Eagles this week.

[HD]

At least one good thing about this game - no build or major expectations. We had that with Carlton and it failed -badly- and i don't think anyone is going to build this game up so we might actually see a real contest. One can only dream!

[Chuck17]

I wonder how much game time he will get.  It was limited against the Bulldogs and he was still very impressive.

I hope he can get about 80% busting his hump like last week, should be a treat.

[mat073]

I dont think its no accident that Naitanui is going to make his debut against the tigers.

Its a big statement to all the disgruntled Eagles supporters still living in the past (Benny). They are taking the opportunity to showcase their future.

[one-eyed]

Bookies and 'experts' have us as favourites

The Age:  16-1
Herald-Sun: 8-6..... Mike has tipped the Eagles

Luxbet.com:
Richmond   $1.67 
West Coast $2.20

Despite the new coach punting theory, Richmond is an easing ($1.60 to $1.65) favourite against West Coast, but Darwin Sportsbet has taken $5000 at $1.65 on the Tigers to win tomorrow night.

TAB Sportsbet has also opened betting on whether Ben Cousins will kick a goal against his old team -- he's $2.50 to kick one and $1.50 to miss out.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25622418-19742,00.html
 

[Smokey]

I dont think its no accident that Naitanui is going to make his debut against the tigers.

Its a big statement to all the disgruntled Eagles supporters still living in the past (Benny). They are taking the opportunity to showcase their future.

I think both teams have included their latest 'next big thing' as a distraction to the Cuz show (which is bound to happen regardless).  Trying to shift the focus - we all know what happened to one particular team last time. 

[one-eyed]

West Coast may run off Richmond midfielder Ben Cousins
By Jay Clark
June 13, 2009

West Coast could deliver Ben Cousins a surprise instead of the heavy tag he would almost certainly expect at Etihad Stadium.

As Cousins prepares to meet his old club for the first time in one of the biggest games of his 248-game career, the Eagles have been urged to run off their former champion captain, rather than try to nullify him.

Former West Coast assistant coach Tony Micale said the Eagles were likely to use their knowledge of Cousins' game to explore gaps in his defensive skills, rather than employ a standard heavy tag.

"What Ben wants more than anything else is to play on one player over the course of a game because he knows he can run them into the ground and that's how he really gets on top," Micale said.

"The only time I've seen him really hurting or struggling - and Fremantle did it particularly well - is when they played a few players off him and forced Ben to work hard the other way.

"So, I don't think they will tag him. It's a punt, no doubt, but if you put an outside player on him to sit outside the contests, Ben is such an offensive player and such a ball magnet that he will be drawn to the stoppages.

"But if he misses, it leaves his man free and that is how you can get him working the other way."

Cousins is renowned for his offensive skill and gut-running, rather than his defensive application.

Micale, who helped guide Cousins through the prime of his career between 2003-2007, said the reformed Tigers midfielder looked to be running as well as ever.

"In his first couple of games at Richmond his body looked quite tight and tense but last week I thought it was more the old Ben, where he just looked like he was moving really smoothly again," he said.

"It's a credit to him that he keeps himself in such great condition, because it allows him basically to be able to out-run anybody."

West Coast taggers Adam Selwood and Tyson Stenglein are usually assigned the opposition's premier ball-winners, but Micale tipped 14-gamer Scott Selwood to get the chance on the 2005 Brownlow medallist.

"I reckon it is a challenge that you would really look at throwing to a kid and Scotty has the temperament and the attitude to meet the challenge," he said.

"Some of the other guys have been there and done that on a very good player, but with someone like Scott the coaching staff will view it as a win-win sort of a situation.

"If Scotty gets beaten, well it's a great learning experience for him and if he can go well, what a fillip for someone to beat a real icon of the game."

Full article at:
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25629396-5018851,00.html

[Ramps]

he'll probably kick 3 playing on a hff tonight

[Go Richo 12]

Im working tonight and didnt catch the game one eyed, but heard the 3aw wrap up and they said we played more direct, moved the ball quicker and seemed to be not so concerned about maintaining possesion but more on movement. Did you find this to be accurate and if so, did you like it?

[one-eyed]

Im working tonight and didnt catch the game one eyed, but heard the 3aw wrap up and they said we played more direct, moved the ball quicker and seemed to be not so concerned about maintaining possesion but more on movement. Did you find this to be accurate and if so, did you like it?

First and most of the last quarters we certainly did. Particularly the first quarter where we were running all over the Eagles and applying excellent forward pressure to force them into mistakes as they were coming out of defence. We should've been 7-8 goals up at quarter time but we missed sitters in front of goal. I thought we dropped off in our intensity and run in the middle quarters though. It was more mark and kick and stagnating footy. It picked up again in the last and we kicked the first two goals to seal the game. The team we were playing was pretty ordinary to be honest. We've got the Saints in a fortnight which will test whether we can play more direct and more quickly against quality opposition who want to win. One last thing I thought our tackling pressure was much better and we at least applied some shepherding.

[Go Richo 12]

Thank You, i was hoping that with all the hype surrounding the two undefeated teams by round 14 that a spanner would get chucked in the works, a massive upset by the Tiges on the Saints!

[WA Tiger]

Good win Tiges well done, my boys team won yesterday as well so good weekend all round..