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IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.
10,000,000 Cousins threads [Merged]
- Thread starter momentai
- Start date
the claw said:
and it's funny to watch you go off your nut at basically every decision the rfc makes!
now that Greg Miller is not there who do you blame for all the "bad" decisions the club makes? if Miller was still there you would be blaming him and saying he should be sacked. but now that he is not there and the club are still making decisions you don't like, who do you blame? and you can't blame Wallace for everything because even you know his influence has been diminished since miller went.
anyway back to cousins, like it or not cousins, like every 'former' drug addict, at some stage deserves to get a job. now whether at this stage he deserves a job at AFL level or a lower level league i'm still undecided about. but in any case he will be being punished cos he will be earning about 10% of what he would have been if he never touched drugs(not including how much he receives for his doco tho!). and yes claw, everyone agrees that every 'former' drug addict who is given a job has a 'insert whatever number you want' percentage chance of stuffing it up. the corollary to that is 100-'insert whatever number you want' percentage chance of not stuffing it up.
there are plenty of people who do overcome their addiction enough to stop taking drugs and become 'normal' again. these include famous people, mostly musicians come to mind who were mainly addicted to heroin which my understanding is a worse drug to get addicted to than cocaine and even ice. of course there are many others that never recover and some that od and die - a recent sporting example i can think of is marco pantani.
actually can anyone think of a famous sporting person(anywhere) who has overcome serious drug addiction and come back to play somewhere near their best? hmmm, i can't think of any in relation to drugs. i can think of a couple of soccer players(tony adams, paul merson) that overcame alcohol addictions. but then there's gazza. hmmm again...maybe we shouldn't draft him!
imo brisbane is the only other club that might draft him, but that's very doubtful. and it's never been reported that essendon have even spoken to him.
if we get 2 psd picks we should take him. BUT (tho i can't really see this happening) as i said on another thread whoever picks him up should park him on the list until he passes a hair test in a few weeks and ticks other boxes. until then he should not be allowed near any of the playing group except the leadership group. he should train somewhere else with club supervision. but like i said i can't see that happening because as soon as he's picked up any club will go headlong into figuring out how he can best win the club games, and that's going to be getting as much of a pre-season into him as possible.
c'mon benny, take us to a prelim final in 2009! ;D
jb03 said:Some of us have wanted from the start.
I have to say I am one of them jb03 - all I hope is that it doesn't come back to haunt us later. I cannot wait for Benny to play a blinder and see all those opposed to getting him back flip and worship the man. Having said that - I can kind of see why they don't want him - the risks are very high.
For those not wanting Benny at the club - I hear you and understand your reasons but for those of us that want him - let us have our moment of happiness without fear of being shot down. We do understand the risks and we all hope like hell that it works out and the club does not suffer for this but the way I see it, if he stuffs up we really have not lost much - we cut him and run - after all, everyone already expects that so Ben himself will be the one to be crucified.
I hope he proves you all wrong and gets the Tigers into the finals and stays clean - that is what I am hoping for. Go get him Tigers!
Run Benny ..... run!
Tigers for the finals in 2009!!
People are getting a bit excited about the Cousins "name" and (playing) reputation.
His addiction/recovery aside, he's played 7 games in 2 yrs, he'll be 31 next season. All this talk about him having 2, 3 or 5 yrs playing left is being optimistic and perhaps wishful thinking.
Geez I can remember a lot up in arms with us taking Knobel, Graham, (Kingsley ;D). All a lot younger than Benny and in a better state of mind. 8) At least they were to cover : holes in the list.
I would have been happy getting a Cousins in his glory years but I believe those days are well behind him. May get a cameo or 2. I could be wrong as well.
Funny how people go on about List Management and processes and how we only took x-amount of picks in the draft (with GC and WS coming in) and needed to utilise all our picks.
Put his baggage aside, Benny doesn't do anything for List Management, we just picked up 2 inside mids (10 yrs younger) and have Cogs apparently going along well.
This is where we have been before, taking a player on a "whim" and (past) reputation.
I'd rather go for another kid, ie *smile* (top 20 pick ;D ).
Plenty of talk about the leftovers from the ND thinning out, but who's to say their isn't another prospective Thursfield, Foley, Moore.
Oh, I forgot PRE experts have 100% success rating young players ;D
His addiction/recovery aside, he's played 7 games in 2 yrs, he'll be 31 next season. All this talk about him having 2, 3 or 5 yrs playing left is being optimistic and perhaps wishful thinking.
Geez I can remember a lot up in arms with us taking Knobel, Graham, (Kingsley ;D). All a lot younger than Benny and in a better state of mind. 8) At least they were to cover :
holes in the list.I would have been happy getting a Cousins in his glory years but I believe those days are well behind him. May get a cameo or 2. I could be wrong as well.
Funny how people go on about List Management and processes and how we only took x-amount of picks in the draft (with GC and WS coming in) and needed to utilise all our picks.
Put his baggage aside, Benny doesn't do anything for List Management, we just picked up 2 inside mids (10 yrs younger) and have Cogs apparently going along well.
This is where we have been before, taking a player on a "whim" and (past) reputation.
I'd rather go for another kid, ie *smile* (top 20 pick ;D ).
Plenty of talk about the leftovers from the ND thinning out, but who's to say their isn't another prospective Thursfield, Foley, Moore.
Oh, I forgot PRE experts have 100% success rating young players ;D
I haven't had time to read through the 186 pages of these threads(!)...apologies if I repeat others ideas already expressed.
In a way the AFL needs this to happen. I wouldn't be surprised if Demetriou, Sheeds, Gale and a few others have already had a conversation that went along the lines of...for our drug policy to work properly, we need an avenue back in to the game for those that are rehabilitated. Yes, the draft is there but if clubs are too afraid to pick up an ex-druggie, it will be seen to be not working. It looks to me like that is the situation they found themselves in when the St Kilda, Brisbane and Collingwood options didn't come off for Ben in the national draft. They need an example to show any other drug addicts that are uncovered that rehabilitation works and you can come back to the highest level.
Personally? I can't stand the bloke. His refusal to cooperate with a WA Police investigation a few years ago tells me all I need to know about his character. Happy for him to be given a lifeline, and I hope he does well. I just wish it wasn't with us.
In a way the AFL needs this to happen. I wouldn't be surprised if Demetriou, Sheeds, Gale and a few others have already had a conversation that went along the lines of...for our drug policy to work properly, we need an avenue back in to the game for those that are rehabilitated. Yes, the draft is there but if clubs are too afraid to pick up an ex-druggie, it will be seen to be not working. It looks to me like that is the situation they found themselves in when the St Kilda, Brisbane and Collingwood options didn't come off for Ben in the national draft. They need an example to show any other drug addicts that are uncovered that rehabilitation works and you can come back to the highest level.
Personally? I can't stand the bloke. His refusal to cooperate with a WA Police investigation a few years ago tells me all I need to know about his character. Happy for him to be given a lifeline, and I hope he does well. I just wish it wasn't with us.
willo said:People are getting a bit excited about the Cousins "name" and (playing) reputation.
His addiction/recovery aside, he's played 7 games in 2 yrs, he'll be 31 next season. All this talk about him having 2, 3 or 5 yrs playing left is being optimistic and perhaps wishful thinking.
Geez I can remember a lot up in arms with us taking Knobel, Graham, (Kingsley ;D). All a lot younger than Benny and in a better state of mind. 8) At least they were to cover :
I would have been happy getting a Cousins in his glory years but I believe those days are well behind him. May get a cameo or 2. I could be wrong as well.
Funny how people go on about List Management and processes and how we only took x-amount of picks in the draft (with GC and WS coming in) and needed to utilise all our picks.
Put his baggage aside, Benny doesn't do anything for List Management, we just picked up 2 inside mids (10 yrs younger) and have Cogs apparently going along well.
This is where we have been before, taking a player on a "whim" and (past) reputation.
I'd rather go for another kid, ie *smile* (top 20 pick ;D ).
Plenty of talk about the leftovers from the ND thinning out, but who's to say their isn't another prospective Thursfield, Foley, Moore.
Oh, I forgot PRE experts have 100% success rating young players ;D
We went for a kid last year - David Gourlis - said to be a good talent & then we delist him next year. Shows how difficult it is to pick up someone young any good in the pre season. The downside on Ben is that we may need to cut him mid season - no worst outcome than David G - the upside is a proven quality player even if in bursts. The additions to the midfield already are Thompson, Alsop & Couglan - all inside ball getters - adding Ben as an outside receiver to take the pressure off Axel, Lids & Cotch would be significant.
Personally I believe we should take Ben irrespective of the extra pick. The risk for a high pick was not worth it but for the last pick & we dictate the terms it is a no brainer if there is no real indication of him taking up his habit at present in which case I believe the Club would be stupid not to do so.
I have always believed Ben deserved another chance at a Club. He has not murdered anyone. The drugs he took whilst illegal were not performance enhancing. These recreation drugs are being consumed by thousands each weekend. Does not make it right but his punishment has already been hugely greater than that bestowed on the general public.
willo said:
not me willo - not me! What would I know - I just think Cousins is a pin up boy - what a look! Don't ask me about the logistics of the game - I would not have a clue and trust our club to do what is right.
To me it is about having one of the sexiest blokes going around at my club!! Call me fickle - call me stupid but hey -I'm happy!
willo said:Geez I can remember a lot up in arms with us taking Knobel, Graham, (Kingsley ;D). All a lot younger than Benny and in a better state of mind. 8) At least they were to cover :
Gee willo - that is a bit rich - I beg to differ that Knobel and Kingsley were in a better state of mind - that is open to interpretation in my opinion ;D
willo said:People are getting a bit excited about the Cousins "name" and (playing) reputation.
His addiction/recovery aside, he's played 7 games in 2 yrs, he'll be 31 next season. All this talk about him having 2, 3 or 5 yrs playing left is being optimistic and perhaps wishful thinking.
Geez I can remember a lot up in arms with us taking Knobel, Graham, (Kingsley ;D). All a lot younger than Benny and in a better state of mind. 8) At least they were to cover :
Yeah, now there's a fair comparison. Knobel, Graham, Kingsley vs Cousins.
I think people being up in arms about taking Knobel and Graham may have had something to do with the fact that these guys were just not up to AFL standard, regardless of age or mental state.
Here's something to consider when looking at the Ben Cousins scenario.
Last year our introverted team threw, or attempted to throw games every time we hit a reasonable lead. Our best football was constantly played while we tried to pin an opponent back. Our worst football (kicking sideways and going ultra defensive) was played when we were leading.
Examples: We had the Dogs completely done, but instead of continuing to play the brand of footy that got us the lead, we crawled into our shells and tried to defend the lead. Result: Draw
StKilda, same deal! Way better on the night but kept surrenduring the lead until we eventually lost on the last kick of the night.
Port - blew an 8 goal lead to scrape in thanks to a match saving mark by Joel Bowden.
Essendon (first time around), slaughtering them until, yup you guessed it, we went sideways, backwards and hardly ever forwards. Managed to get home.
Brisbane - killing them, then kept letting them back in. I remember falling 8 or 9 points down with 2 minutes to go. I turned to my brother and said "Thats the best thing that could happen because now at least we'll play real footy again" - and we did, getting up to win in the dying seconds.
The point is this!
Cousins is THE MOST extroverted player in the competition. If we started to play that brand of footy, the first thig i'd do as a coach would be to throw him in the guts and tell him to show the way.
Maybe Cousins is the single player in the competition that is most capable of putting our side on a high (pardon the pun)!
Last year our introverted team threw, or attempted to throw games every time we hit a reasonable lead. Our best football was constantly played while we tried to pin an opponent back. Our worst football (kicking sideways and going ultra defensive) was played when we were leading.
Examples: We had the Dogs completely done, but instead of continuing to play the brand of footy that got us the lead, we crawled into our shells and tried to defend the lead. Result: Draw
StKilda, same deal! Way better on the night but kept surrenduring the lead until we eventually lost on the last kick of the night.
Port - blew an 8 goal lead to scrape in thanks to a match saving mark by Joel Bowden.
Essendon (first time around), slaughtering them until, yup you guessed it, we went sideways, backwards and hardly ever forwards. Managed to get home.
Brisbane - killing them, then kept letting them back in. I remember falling 8 or 9 points down with 2 minutes to go. I turned to my brother and said "Thats the best thing that could happen because now at least we'll play real footy again" - and we did, getting up to win in the dying seconds.
The point is this!
Cousins is THE MOST extroverted player in the competition. If we started to play that brand of footy, the first thig i'd do as a coach would be to throw him in the guts and tell him to show the way.
Maybe Cousins is the single player in the competition that is most capable of putting our side on a high (pardon the pun)!
There's a kid wearing no 9 for the Tigers by the name of Trent Cotchin who has the potential to be the next Ben Cousins, imagine if Cuz teaches Cotch how to gut run, how to dominate games rather than save them or limp over the line. This is another thing that Cousins could possibly bring to the club and he can do that without playing every game.
I see you're point frickenel particularly in some of these examples, but, I have a slightly different take on the benefits Cousins brings to Richmond (if it happens);frickenel said:
Think centre square clearances, hard ball gets and clean disposal.
Does anyone know what time the AFL will be meeting or announcing their decision tomorrow please??
WA Tiger said:
I've been searching for that also, but probably 2.00pm seems to always be the chosen hour.
