I think there's more to it than that.

We can't say 'despite our educational and rehabilitation efforts' unless we actually make them (which we or another club would need to do).

And in that case such a system needs to be properly researched & set up. Contingencies need to be put in place.

We would need to make sure we are capable of meeting the AFL's requirements in terms of his testing.

This is not a 5 minute decision, regardless of sponsorship issues. But that IS an issue for us, as we don't even have one yet.

Why make it potentially harder for us to get one? But if we do have one already lined up that is not yet announced, I'm all for going to them & sounding the idea out THEN proceeding with inquiries into whether we can make it work or not.

Its been bandied about a lot & its called 'due diligence'.

'due diligence' - I think this is the point that the "pro Cousins camp is after"

The only direction from the club that we have heard is "no - he does not fit into our direction"

But surely a part of 'due diligence' is to look at the best players available at the time and because of this ben would have to fit this at some stage of the drafting process especially PSD. If MFC are a definate no I hope another club has the guts to draft him earlier then expected to save supporter backlash about missing him and then having him star with another club next year. I have no doubt he at 30odd young is capable of wining our B+F next year.

WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR - "WE ARE CONSIDERING ALL OPORTUNITIES IN BOTH DRAFTS FOR THE MFC", Re Ben - "Lets see what happens!"

'due diligence' - I think this is the point that the "pro Cousins camp is after"

The only direction from the club that we have heard is "no - he does not fit into our direction"

But surely a part of 'due diligence' is to look at the best players available at the time and because of this ben would have to fit this at some stage of the drafting process especially PSD. If MFC are a definate no I hope another club has the guts to draft him earlier then expected to save supporter backlash about missing him and then having him star with another club next year. I have no doubt he at 30odd young is capable of wining our B+F next year.

WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR - "WE ARE CONSIDERING ALL OPORTUNITIES IN BOTH DRAFTS FOR THE MFC", Re Ben - "Lets see what happens!"

Well, I imagine they HAVE considered it... and the conclusion they came to is that he's not a good fit.

Biggest problem we have with sponsors is a lack of profile and lack of exposure. Like it or not, Cousins gives us exposure. FFS, Emirates and Lexus haven't jumped off Collingwood after Didak's misadventures.

The other thing is , Ben Cousins is responsible for Ben Cousins. The WCE may bear some responsibility for perpetuating a culture or sweeping the problem under the carpet, but at the end of the day, the buck stops with the player and most people accept that. If I were North Melb, I would ask Mazda for an assurance that no-one in their organisation is on drugs, lest Mazda ruin NM's image.

Ben Cousins is done. Finished. List clogger.

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

I am a great Ben Cousins fan!

Okay. Next thread..

Ben Cousins is done. Finished. List clogger.

My sentiments exactly.

Biggest problem we have with sponsors is a lack of profile and lack of exposure. Like it or not, Cousins gives us exposure. FFS, Emirates and Lexus haven't jumped off Collingwood after Didak's misadventures.

The other thing is , Ben Cousins is responsible for Ben Cousins. The WCE may bear some responsibility for perpetuating a culture or sweeping the problem under the carpet, but at the end of the day, the buck stops with the player and most people accept that. If I were North Melb, I would ask Mazda for an assurance that no-one in their organisation is on drugs, lest Mazda ruin NM's image.

That might be true... but if we are trying to find a new major sponsor & the majority of suitors don't agree with this point of view, then... need i say more?

well, doesn't look like cousins will be playing anywhere next year!

after all that build-up... damn media

http://news.theage.com.au/sport/lions-deci...81128-6mwg.html

As I said in another thread, some of the Lions' biggest sponsors are against them drafting Cousins. Seems they're taking their sponsors' advice.

As I said in another thread, some of the Lions' biggest sponsors are against them drafting Cousins. Seems they're taking their sponsors' advice.

Yes. If you were an AFL side, you'd be pretty game to pick him up in todays national draft I would of thought considering the calls from many sponsors to steer clear of Cousins. Collingwood, Kangaroos, StKilda and Brisbane have now said no. The PSD his only hope. I still think he's finished.

I'm pretty confident that Ben Cousins will be taken by SOMEBODY in the Pre-Season Draft in December...but it will be interesting who?!

No. Still associating with the wrong crowd as attested to by Karl Langdon during the week despite losing his career because of his drug use. He may be clean but if he is still hanging round the people who supply them then it is fairly obvious that the penny has not droppd.

His only chance to resume his career is to to bare his soul - not his torso - in the next few weeks and come clean on his drug use, when it started, how it destroyed his life and to plead for another chance. And he'd have to promise to stop hanging around with his questionable associates.

All in all the fact that he was passed over in the National Draft and is now only a marginal chance of being picked up in the Pre Season Draft will be a salient lesson to all who experiment with drugs, including AFL players.