The Cousins Saga

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I have been regularly amused by the marketing pundits on this site that have claimed that Cousins is a sponsorship and marketing coup for Club (even to the point that TAC and Quit would be keen on backing him )

North have learnt that he is not.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/spon...6770650664.html

He is clearly percevied as damaged goods in the public's perception. It is unknown whether he will be rehabilitated and after a stellar career and nearly 2 years out of the game and with questionable hamstrings may or may not play good footy again.

In addition, throughout this whole process, Cousins has regularly thumbed his nose at the AFL and other organisations regarding his disposition and his apologies and confessions are cynical at best.

Its no wonder so many clubs have steered clear of him.

[montasaurus 0]

I wonder what our newest coach would think on the subject?

Again to cover earlier ground I really believe that it is irresponsible for the club to have a simple NO stance. Surely a policy of "THE BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE" would stop all debates. Then if we pass on we can debate then.

Also I may have missed it, but I have not seen our snr coach comment on this issue it is only others up the chain I wonder what his views are.......... Nat Draft - agree youth policy all the way. but PSD?

Re major sponsor, I would love to hear the the MFC major sponsor to come and tell us to stay clear. Where is our major sponsor again??????

So i repeat, a club stance for the PSD should be "THE BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE" not "NO"

[H_T 3,047]

I have been regularly amused by the marketing pundits on this site that have claimed that Cousins is a sponsorship and marketing coup for Club (even to the point that TAC and Quit would be keen on backing him )

North have learnt that he is not.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/spon...6770650664.html

He is clearly percevied as damaged goods in the public's perception. It is unknown whether he will be rehabilitated and after a stellar career and nearly 2 years out of the game and with questionable hamstrings may or may not play good footy again.

In addition, throughout this whole process, Cousins has regularly thumbed his nose at the AFL and other organisations regarding his disposition and his apologies and confessions are cynical at best.

Its no wonder so many clubs have steered clear of him.

Interesing article by Caroline Wilson that you posted there RR. Wow, she can sure drop a bomb shell. Something new I believe in this article which grabbed my eye, which I did not know. Ben Cousins confessing something new i believe........

"As a result, and coupled with the fact that Brisbane has become cold on the idea of drafting the former champion midfielder, who confessed that he had been a drug addict for 10 years, St Kilda looks almost certain to be the only club offering Cousins a home in the AFL."

- Real Footy article by Caroline Wilson, 21/11/2008.

I didn't know he has been addicted to drugs for 10 years. That would take it back to 1998. Yet, he has never been tested positive. The AFL would not be happy about this, it doesn't look good.

From what I gather, which has also been reported on SEN, this little confession highlighted in Wilson's article - we may here more of, I have no doubt.

[steve_f 40]

With regard to the "stringent conditions", it may surprise you to know that I urinate at least three times a week. Indeed, .... well sufficient to say a weak bladder doth not a Brownlow medallist make.

And today I had my sixth! haircut for the year.

(Does lap of honour around the kitchen table).

Turning up waxed and shaven to a hair test seems to have two explanations.

1 He hasn't been clean for 3 cm of growth.

2 He is sticking it up the AFL. Not the act of a penitent. Maybe he has been taking lessons from his mate Mundine.

Neither put his mind in an acceptable pace. So Next!

[Dalrot 85]

This is why I have advocated before that WCE should hand back their last premiership cup and the person concerned should hand back the Brownlow medal. This person, and others in that team, were performance enhanced!

Because 'recreational' drugs are so performance enhancing...

[e25 5]

Because 'recreational' drugs are so performance enhancing...

Exactly. I think that makes his efforts as a player that much more exceptional! How the hell did he sustain it for so long??

[45HG 1,539]

Does getting paid too much fit the bracket of performance enhanced? *cough* 95 premiers *cough*

[H_T 3,047]

Does getting paid too much fit the bracket of performance enhanced? *cough* 95 premiers *cough*

[Swampfox 190]

We all agree that Cousins is a champion player and would be an asset to any team

The problem is the *baggage* he brings with him

Some is self inflicted and some isnt

The guy is going to be under so much pressure when he is NOT on the football field is the problem the way i see it

Media will hound this guy into submission and thats not the pressure he deserves but thats the reality

Thats a big enough reason for not taking him alone and why the hell would he want to play in a bottom side anyway

I think Ben could play for 4 - 5 more years but the question mark will be will he want to pending such media scrutiny

As far as attracting a major sponsor for the club i can assure you that having Cousins will narrow your market BIG TIME

I have always said No Cousins and nothing has changed my mind

[biggestred 5,099]

Exactly. I think that makes his efforts as a player that much more exceptional! How the hell did he sustain it for so long??

er, actually, speed,cocaine, extacsy would be performance enhancing.

run all day, no pain

it would be like playing the game in slow motion, because your senses are heightened.

massive amounts of energy

normally one just hits the d-floor for 5 hours flat out. he played footy infront of a nation instead.

btw, one only needs to look at the photos after their flag win of him to see that he is off his face. look at his eyes!

in addition, i say NO.

we have a group of players, the core of which could be around for 10 years.

why bring someone in who at maximum can be around 1/2 that long?

and who goes against the whole culture that we are trying to create?

forget him.

[e25 5]

er, actually, speed,cocaine, extacsy would be performance enhancing.

run all day, no pain

it would be like playing the game in slow motion, because your senses are heightened.

massive amounts of energy

normally one just hits the d-floor for 5 hours flat out. he played footy infront of a nation instead.

btw, one only needs to look at the photos after their flag win of him to see that he is off his face. look at his eyes!

in addition, i say NO.

we have a group of players, the core of which could be around for 10 years.

why bring someone in who at maximum can be around 1/2 that long?

and who goes against the whole culture that we are trying to create?

forget him.

There is no way he could possibly be on that stuff during a game, it'd be too obvious.

Unless it was coke, but he'd have to be doing line after line in the change rooms before he went out just to get a benefit.

And to maintain training & playing day in, day out while coming down off the stuff? superhuman effort.

[biggestred 5,099]

who says he ever came down?

prolly took a cocktail of [censored] to make sure it lasted longer

and if you look at the grand final footage..........it is obvious. haha

[e25 5]

who says he ever came down?

prolly took a cocktail of [censored] to make sure it lasted longer

and if you look at the grand final footage..........it is obvious. haha

No, he would have gotten on it afterwards. But there's no way he could get away with being on it during the game.

The coaches would realise & he'd be dragged. No way you could hide that.

And the only drug that he could hide would be coke, but it wears off too quick.

Clearly you have no idea what you're talking about.

[biggestred 5,099]

i think chris judd knew. look at his face when the two of them are holding the cup up.

ill ask my brother, he knows more about it all than i do.

and i dont know how he did it. i have no evidence.

were the afl even testing for those drugs?

and would the coach necessarily realise it? its not hard to hide at the back of the group for group talks.

anyway with 10 years of experience surely hed have experimented with what to use and when re training and games

and he did get away with it.....

[45HG 1,539]

Lots of speculation, not much proof.

Benno, don't see where this is going mate

[biggestred 5,099]

just my opinion and thinking.

i dont want him is the bottom line.

even without the whole drugs thing.

if he was 20, id be thinking about it a LOT harder.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I didn't know he has been addicted to drugs for 10 years. That would take it back to 1998. Yet, he has never been tested positive. The AFL would not be happy about this, it doesn't look good.

There is enough anecdotal evidence to indicate the Cousins has been "involved" with drugs for many years. His consumption may have varied over that time. How long have the AFL been testing for?

No, he would have gotten on it afterwards. But there's no way he could get away with being on it during the game.

The coaches would realise & he'd be dragged. No way you could hide that.

Again there are reasonably stories of him attending training and club functions under the influence of substances. I am not sure if he ever played affected.

There is absolutely no doubt that Worsfold (the Pharmacist ) and the rest of the WCE knew Cousins was juiced on stuff and they turned a blind eye to his and other players behaviours for expedient reasons.

i think chris judd knew. look at his face when the two of them are holding the cup up.

ill ask my brother, he knows more about it all than i do.

and i dont know how he did it. i have no evidence.

were the afl even testing for those drugs?

and would the coach necessarily realise it? its not hard to hide at the back of the group for group talks.

anyway with 10 years of experience surely hed have experimented with what to use and when re training and games

and he did get away with it.....

Its a big call to suggest Benny was juced for a GF. There is no doubt that Judd knew of Cousins habits generally. There was clique culture at WCE, one of the most influential involved the party boys, Cousins, Gardiner and Chick.

Worsold has denied any knowledge of the drug problem involving Cousins and Co. There is a heavy sense of "Pull the other one". Cousins habits and friends have been well known in Perth for years.

[H_T 3,047]

There is enough anecdotal evidence to indicate the Cousins has been "involved" with drugs for many years. His consumption may have varied over that time. How long have the AFL been testing for?

I think the confession from Ben saying that he has had an addiction for 10 years, which Caroline Wilson has reported, is hard evidence. Something which hasn't come out until her article. That's pretty big news IMO.

[Pipefitter 2,159]

Just for the record guys, recreational drugs are not performance enhancing. I dont see many junkies running laps when they are off their heads.

[grazman 7,436]

Just for the record guys, recreational drugs are not performance enhancing. I dont see many junkies running laps when they are off their heads.

OK time to take a breather. The term "recreational drugs" is not helpful in determining whether something is or isn't performance enhancing. According to the World Anti Doping Agency. Amphetamine Type Substances (including ICE) and cocaine are classified as "performance enhancing" get caught with them in your system at the Olympics and you get banned just like you do with steroids. If people doubt that they could be effective on match day, just go to your local A&E about 2am on any given night to see just how 'effective' these drugs are in fueling people's strength and aggression.

Call me a sceptic, but I doubt the sincerity of Ben's claims he's now clean and the AFL's policy as a whole in protecting the image of the game. I don't like Ricky Nixon, but I agree with his accusations about the double (triple) standards that the league seems to have on this issue.

[Pipefitter 2,159]

Yeah the word recreational is bandied around alot, but im just using it to categorize them. I think its more a mental "i can take on everyone" than actually being effective.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,799]

I keep thinking......

We need to get a winning culture back at the MFC. We're going to acquire 3 or 4 top draft picks, but they probably won't help till 2010. If we keep losing games, membership and sponsorship will dwindle.

Just a minute!!!!! One of the best players in the last decade is available if we want him! He probably has 2 or 3 good years of contribution at high level left....even with a dicky hamstring. What should we do?

I don't like Cousins, and deplore the WCE culture which won them a premiership.

I just wonder if we've closed our minds too early.

The money side of it, however, I don't know anything about. If he wants more than 400k., forget it.

[45HG 1,539]

Do you think Adelaide were right in picking up one of the best players not only of that decade, but ever, Wayne Carey?

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,799]

I think Carey was half-fit...and ? abit older than 30.

[45HG 1,539]

What makes you think Ben Cousins, turning 31 next year, will be fit after playing 7 games over two seasons then?

What makes you think he has two-three years left in him?

I don't see how Cousins will help our membership, we just had our worst year since '97, arguably the worst season for any team since Fitzroy, and yet we have record membership.

Personally, I believe we are building our club from its roots, from the ground up. I don't think we should invest time in people like Ben Cousins, no matter how well they could play for a year or two, we need to back ourselves to become a power again.