Jaded No More

I'd love to see a player out on the ground sending an SMS while waiting for a kick Hopefully someone is bringing a camera again... those of us who can't be there want action shots!

Shhh... you know nothing! <_<

I don't know what you're talking about... I am completely with it <_<

It just sounds to me like you're soft Good luck for the game everyone. Do Demonland proud or we'll revoke your posting rights

Whelan as a small defensive forward Green to half forward flank Bell to midfield (if we can find a replacement for him down back in the form of Bartram/Petterd).

He also happens to be an exceptional person, which is not something we celebrate often in football. Can be the next Cameron Bruce, minus the dodgy kicking skills.

Yep, and by next week the idiots in charge of the AFL will be telling us that all is well, drugs are not a problem within the league, and Ben Cousins was infact an evil monkey sent by aliens to destroy our sport Pathetically weak as always.

It's funny because it's true.... (nice colour coordination)

My surname starts with C too, and I haven't received anything either. Just wait patiently and they'll come. It's only October, still about a month until they start calling you and threatening to kill you if you don't sign up... or at least that's what I suggest they do

I don't think they'll have pick 3 taken away, which is why I believe they will have a word to West Coast about drafting a WA kid as to not cause any further issues.

You watch, they'll get off and the AFL will deny that there is a drug culture amongst its players. We'll just hear over and over how Cousins is a unique case and a very sick man who needs help that is beyond the capabilities of West Coast. Never mind that a former AFL player just died from an overdose, never mind that a number of players have been tested positive twice and are seeing doctors to try and get better... we'll just sweep it up in a neat little package and wait until someone loses their life.... oh wait.... Meantime, this is the sort of crap that the AFL thinks they should be seriously discussing: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/com...5E20322,00.html

The commission is only meeting next month I believe, so I can't see the AFL handing out draft penalties for this year's draft. If anything, it'll be next year's draft for which they are penalized. Either way, I hope the commission tells them to stay the hell away from anymore controversy and pick up a local kid with their first pick.... fingers crossed!

It all depends on how long/ how much West Coast have been hiding from the AFL. Already they've been caught in a lie regarding Cousins taking a drug test following Mainwaring's death which came back negative. It's not looking good for them... sacking Cousins might be a case of too little too late (we can only hope for our benefit <_< ).

You would cheer a player outside a court when he is up on charges of drug possession and refusing a drug test, after he has already been in trouble and brought the club into disrepute a number of times? Would you say to a friend "good on you for being in trouble with the law and having a drug addiction, you are my hero"? It's because of idiotic fans who idolize and continue to support and defend Cousins, that he needs to get the hell away from WA. He is treated like a god instead of someone who has big problems and needs serious help, and the smug look on his face says to me that he is buying into the hype with no sign of remorse. If he wasn't Ben Cousins, but instead an anonymous civilian, nobody would be cheering for him. You can support a player when they are going through a tough time, but justifying their actions through continued adoration is only going to do more damage.

Drug addiction is an illness, there is no doubt about it. It is an illness like drinking and gambling addictions are. Why we choose to condemn some addictions and not others, I'm not sure, all are equally destructive. The difference is, that addiction illnesses are mostly self inflicted. Do I feel for Cousins that he just lost a good friend and that his world is falling apart? Of course I do, nobody deserves that. But I find it hard to feel sorry for him or sympathize with him when a friend of mine is going through a second bout of cancer which is not self inflicted. I save my deepest sympathies for her, not for people who choose to spend their money on drugs, and won't admit they need help. His smug look as he walked in and out of court today really irritated me, although not as much as the idiots who were cheering for him.. god the people of Perth are delusional!

Shall wait for renewal forms. One day I will stop being a student and I will actually earn some decent money and then I will upgrade my membership. Can't justify $800 a season... yet. But please, everyone, save up your money and SIGN UP. A couple of hundred dollars is not much in the big scheme of things, especially if it helps better our club, and it will. If you can't afford it still, get your parents/kids/partner to buy it for you for Christmas.

There is a reason why footballers, and other sportsmen get paid so much money in comparison to the average person. It's because their job brings in the money of sponsors and supporters. When a footballer acts like a tool and is hung in the media, their capacity to bring in the big money is reduced, they are not representing their club the way they should. So whether footballers like it or not, they are role-models and they are constantly in the spotlight. It's part of their job and their bank accounts are more than enough compensation.

In the article he talks about the lack of match fitness, which after missing so much footy, he just couldn't regain. For a midfielder who is not particularly quick, that would result in playing poorly.

He stuffed up, he gets another chance. I believe he won't stuff up again, and if he does, he'll have to pay the consequences. I'm far more interested in his statement that he will lead the boys regardless of what title he is given. That is much much more important to the future of this club than some overseas incident which ended in no charges and a short stay in a cell to sober up. He has, as always, handled himself in a mature and upfront way. It's yesterday's news now.

They also said they don't have a drug culture at their club, that they didn't know about Cousins' situation, and that Cousins was ready to come back and play after only 28 days in rehab. I don't believe anything the Eagles say anymore, and I think they deserve as much blame in all of this as anyone. They've done nothing but help themselves throughout this entire situation.

The club has abandoned their player. I know they had no choice but to sack him, but I hope they don't just wash their hands clean of him and leave him to spiral out of control even more. They got his best playing years, he was their leader, their highest profile player, he won them a flag, he brought in the cash and the fans. Now that he's become too much of a problem they dump him. It would be nice if the club and his now former teammates continue to stick around. He might be a drug addict, but that doesn't mean he is not entitled to support. He has nothing left now, and that is likely to push him over the edge. This whole situation highlights just how flawed the system is, but as long as Fonz and his band of merry men keep burying their heads in the sand, it's all alright, isn't it?

OH MY GOD, it's like I've entered some parallel universe where the predictions of Yze_Magic actually come true. You've taken fifteen thousand stabs in the dark, and you finally got one right. Now if only you get it right about your beloved Dees every once in a while...

You are not serious, are you? What good could possibly come of getting him? Firstly, he doesn't fit with our under 23 policy Secondly, he doesn't fit with our 'no criminals or drug addicts' policy He needs to go to rehab and stay there, not continue to be protected by the AFL. I don't want someone with his problems anywhere near our club, which is full of impressionable young kids who probably grew up admiring Cousin's on field behaviour and might start copying his off field behaviour. It's a risk that we can't afford to take, especially on a 29 year old drug addict. And he might be a champion player, but he is definitely NOT a champion 'bloke'.

Not sympathy for West Coast. They knew about Ben's issues for a long long time and turned a blind eye. The people in charge of that club went on national TV and declared that the club was drug-free. West Coast protected him because he was a champion player. When they found out just how bad his drug issue was, and the sort of company he kept off the field, they took the captaincy off him... that is not a severe enough punishment. And as you said, they rushed him back because they wanted to win games. They don't care about Cousins, and here's the proof... they've sacked him the minute things got too ugly. Had they dealt with the issue when it first came to hand, then maybe Ben wouldn't be in this position. And lets not talk about the other cancer at that club, one Daniel Chick, who has only just been delisted.

Do you think a drug squad was following him because they suspected he was high? I have a feeling they followed him because he is involved in more than just simple recreational use. I also have a feeling that because he is treated like a rock-star/God by the people of Perth, that he is also being targeted by the police as a high profile case to push their anti-drug agenda. They may cut him a deal if Cousins reveals his dealers, but then Cousins will need to run and hide because you do not mess with these people.