State your draft preferences

[Goodvibes 3,596]

He loves playing on the MCG

I heard he doesn't like playing on Sundays.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

Just dope him up before the game and he'll be right.

I know of a few mates that have played their best games after a big night on the turps lol

[Pipefitter 2,139]

Look to me the whole not taking cousins for free absolutely boggles me. Look how quickly someone like judd had turned carlton around. I know the players would stand taller with cousins going into the centre bounces.

[Bails 0]

Watts

Shoenmakers

Swift

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,390]

Look to me the whole not taking cousins for free absolutely boggles me. Look how quickly someone like judd had turned carlton around. I know the players would stand taller with cousins going into the centre bounces.

I 300% agree with you champ!

I'll take 2 exciting Ben Cousins years that brings the fans through the gate, over a speculative Isaac Weetra/Heath Neville like pick.

Imagine the membership drive with Jack Watts and Ben Cousins as your poster boys.

People are too conservative around here. We have plenty of draft picks for the kids already.

Cousins is desperate to play footy again (to overcome addiction) so the MFC would not be an issue here.

Pick 51 for Ben Cousins thanks!

**Dream on BBP**

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I 300% agree with you champ!

I'll take 2 exciting Ben Cousins years that brings the fans through the gate, over a speculative Isaac Weetra/Heath Neville like pick.

Imagine the membership drive with Jack Watts and Ben Cousins as your poster boys.

People are too conservative around here. We have plenty of draft picks for the kids already.

Cousins is desperate to play footy again (to overcome addiction) so the MFC would not be an issue here.

Pick 51 for Ben Cousins thanks!

**Dream on BBP**

Wake up is probably more appropriate.

The issue is not a Ben Cousins vs speculative pick.

There is no doubting Cousins football ability but there are other issues. Firstly, I dont believe he wants to play at MFC. Secondly given we are tight on the salary cap I doubt if we can afford him.

Cousins desperation for football has nothing to do with overcoming his personal addictions. If anything his previous career added to it. The state of his mind something you can only speculate about and clearly most clubs that are interested will have this totally roadtested. I noticed Sydney backed off. Why?

Finally, given Cousins destroyed his career and public standing and is in the process of rebuilding from the shame I am not sure he wants to be a "poster boy". I dont read any plans of St Kilda to do likewise.

And there is reasonable arguments both for and against about the worth of Cousins to side where MFC is. It is not cut and dry.

And the matching of public profiles of Judd and Cousins could not be further from reality.

Its not a matter of conservatism but more understanding that there are more issues than just "bright lights" with Cousins and given them due and proper consideration.

[Bails 0]

i feel like the MFC needs to do something different/exciting to spice things up a bit and give us supporters something to laugh/cheer/jeer about!!!

Cousins would certainly add that!!

if we can get 5 quality young kids then why not get cuzzo.......??

i reckon he might have got his s%$t together.. and he would certainly bring people to the games!!!

[drdrake 3,124]

No way to the Cuz, 2-3 years keeping guys like Jones out of the team. We need to be realistic there is every chance we will be bottom three next year and hopefully 8-12 the next, no point having a 30+ new recruit running around. We need to draft 3 tall forwards and 2 highly skilled quick midfielders. Pick 1, 17, 51 for the talls pick 19, 35 for the midfielders.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

No way to the Cuz, 2-3 years keeping guys like Jones out of the team.

Which sometimes isn't a bad thing.

If the kid has his head switched on it'll make him even more desperate to cement a spot when he is given a shot.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

The guy was our No 1 midfielder at the age of 20. I dont think desperation to cement a spot is an issue. There are other players in the gun before him.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

I meant more in a general scope ie someone made to earn their spot will appreciate ate it more.

Twas Cupido's greatest shortcoming.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Jones is nothing like Cupido. Its a strange analogy.

[mo64 5,505]

I meant more in a general scope ie someone made to earn their spot will appreciate ate it more.

Twas Cupido's greatest shortcoming

What, that he ate too much?

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,390]

No way to the Cuz, 2-3 years keeping guys like Jones out of the team. We need to be realistic there is every chance we will be bottom three next year and hopefully 8-12 the next, no point having a 30+ new recruit running around. We need to draft 3 tall forwards and 2 highly skilled quick midfielders. Pick 1, 17, 51 for the talls pick 19, 35 for the midfielders.

I'm looking at Cousins as more of a PR idea.

The MFC would (finally) be the talk of the town from a footy perspective rather than a financial perspective. Could you imagine the hype surrounding his debut for Melbourne. A new exciting chapter would begin with the best 18 year old in the land and a superstar making his comeback. Membership would increase by 5,000!!

With regards to money, I was under the impression that it wouldn't be a factor. Isn't Cousins making a return to footy to overcome his addiction rather than suck a club dry of money.

On the subject of Jones, I'd like to see him play part time in the forward line, to add a another string to his bow. The kid knows where the goals are.

[drdrake 3,124]

The Cuz is no Chris Judd, footy wise he was a good footballer but I think we are kidding ourselves if we thing he can pull 5,000 members, the only way the club can do that is to start winning. Will the Ben improve our team short term yes would we win more games with him in our team, IMO no.

[Pipefitter 2,139]

My whole cousins swipe is not entirely directed at the MFC but pretty much all the clubs that have so quickly dismissed him. If the saints pick him up next year and he continues on his fantastic footy journey im sure alot of people would have reconsidered this decision.

[Demon_Tingles 211]

I agree with the statement about Cousins bringing in members. IMO that would work as he was a genuine superstar of the game he won a brownlow medal played in a premiership won a rising star award and was a great player. I mean the way to measure this was his first game back last year and he comes out and gets 38 posessions.

He would be a fantastic addition to the club and if he is over his addicton would be very useful for the younger guys to talk about stuff like that and how it affects your life to stop the young ones from letting their career slip away like say Nathan Carrol.

IMO it would be benificial to recruit Cousins to the club, however I doubt that we will make a play for him unfortunately.

[e25 5]

I'm looking at Cousins as more of a PR idea.

The MFC would (finally) be the talk of the town from a footy perspective rather than a financial perspective. Could you imagine the hype surrounding his debut for Melbourne. A new exciting chapter would begin with the best 18 year old in the land and a superstar making his comeback. Membership would increase by 5,000!!

Isn't the key to building our membership base for the future getting the kids supporting MFC?

I just can't see too many parents being happy that Cuz is their 5 year old son's favourite player.

I love the way the guy plays & think he definitely deserves another chance, but in a membership recruiting sense it is suicide.

[Demon_Tingles 211]

I would be surprised if there already weren't a lot of children around with cousins as their favourite player. I don't think that parents would have a say in their fave player also as i said before he would be very useful for the younger guys to talk about stuff like that and how it affects your life.

He could be benificial to the club and also the afl in talking kids out of drugs.

[e25 5]

I would be surprised if there already weren't a lot of children around with cousins as their favourite player. I don't think that parents would have a say in their fave player also as i said before he would be very useful for the younger guys to talk about stuff like that and how it affects your life.

He could be benificial to the club and also the afl in talking kids out of drugs.

Yes, but just the mention of the word 'drugs' would go hand in hand with Cousins and as a result MFC.

You seriously don't think parents would shy away from that?

And honestly, how much choice do you really think a kid has at age 4 to choose which team they support? Any jumpers or scarves are bought by the parents, the parents choose which games the kids get taken to. If they have in their mind a strong reason why their child should not support a club, they will a least give them a nudge towards supporting another team.

It might not be the be all & end all with all kids, but it would have an adverse effect on recruiting the young ones.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

Yes, but just the mention of the word 'drugs' would go hand in hand with Cousins and as a result MFC.

I doubt it.

The AFL will be breathing down his neck if he's allowed to play. No way known he'll slip through the cracks if he relapses.

Anyway . . .

As the saying goes

"Any publicity is good publicity"

Any team with him on their list will increase their media coverage tenfold

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I doubt it.

The AFL will be breathing down his neck if he's allowed to play. No way known he'll slip through the cracks if he relapses.

From a football promotion perspective, Cousins is damaged goods. A bloke that had it all and blew it the most public and ridiculous manner. Cousins humiliated himself and all involved with him.

I think the AFL will just want Cousins to return for one or two years then disappear. The last thing it wants is to have Cousins exposed on drugs again. If there was an issue in the future with Cousins, the AFL will stage manage and suppress it like they are allegedly doing at the moment.

Anyway . . .

As the saying goes

"Any publicity is good publicity"

Any team with him on their list will increase their media coverage tenfold

Not that Eagles would agree with that.

The tenfold media increase could be for all the reasons you dont want.

[Freak 100]

is this thread still on cousins? for fcuk sake..he isnt coming to melbourne so who gives a cr@P

[e25 5]

is this thread still on cousins? for fcuk sake..he isnt coming to melbourne so who gives a cr@P

good call.

Ok then - Draft preferences:

1. Watts

17. McKernan

19. Swift

Beyond that i have no idea & i'm not going to pretend to.

[gOLLy 401]

The guy was our No 1 midfielder at the age of 20. I dont think desperation to cement a spot is an issue. There are other players in the gun before him.

@ 2 clearances a game? I'd say were desperate for something. Gun is at the side of his head this year.