10,000,000 Cousins threads [Merged]

[rockstar_tiger]

He was tested by the AFL same as his previous tests for the past 18 months. He asked for the test to be done on the Tues to stop speculation and to be on the record with the AFL.
Ben is still being treated by an addiction specialist and is on prescription medication. His sleeping medication was changed to an anti anxiety. Which maybe is an indication that with the issues that Ben had before xmas with Ricky Nixon, his book publisher, and other personal issues, his career ending. Maybe he’s not in a good headspace.
As he said OTC interview he battles daily. I hope he has good support around him. He is going to need it in the next few weeks.
No matter how he plays in the next month and who wanted and didn’t want him at the club. He won’t be around next year.
Let’s all wish him well and hope he finds peace and happiness away from football. I hope his demons leave him.

Very good post...

Let's hope he is happier and dealing with his issues better than he was earlier in the year. If he doesn’t get another contract it’s not because of his on field form or lack of value, IMO.

Ben Cousins aside, I am proud of our club for the way they have handled this circus from the moment he walked in.

It is a sign of the improved professionalism that has crept into our club.

We have helped Ben get his life back on track and we have given our youngsters access to a smart football person.

The club should be applauded for being able to handle this in the way it has.

 

[Tigers of Old]

No matter how he plays in the next month and who wanted and didn’t want him at the club. He won’t be around next year.
Let’s all wish him well and hope he finds peace and happiness away from football. I hope his demons leave him.

I wish him well but if he's been tapped on the shoulder it's the right decision IMO.

 

[mb64]

I wish him well but if he's been tapped on the shoulder it's the right decision IMO.

No tooheys

 

[geoffryprettyboy]

Why would he personally demand to be drug tested if he wasn't clean..?

Ask no questions and get no lies.

I wish him well but if he's been tapped on the shoulder it's the right decision IMO.

Move over Oldie, I'm with you on this one.

 

[momentai]

He was tested by the AFL same as his previous tests for the past 18 months. He asked for the test to be done on the Tues to stop speculation and to be on the record with the AFL.
Ben is still being treated by an addiction specialist and is on prescription medication. His sleeping medication was changed to an anti anxiety. Which maybe is an indication that with the issues that Ben had before xmas with Ricky Nixon, his book publisher, and other personal issues, his career ending. Maybe he’s not in a good headspace.
As he said OTC interview he battles daily. I hope he has good support around him. He is going to need it in the next few weeks.
No matter how he plays in the next month and who wanted and didn’t want him at the club. He won’t be around next year.
Let’s all wish him well and hope he finds peace and happiness away from football. I hope his demons leave him.

After the bizzare behaviour that was yesterday...
Dimma said a decision will be made at the end of the year. In other words he is being given a chance to prove that another year is warranted.

I believe Dimma.

If he maintains his present form and his fitness and with the present level of teammate support, I cant see that they can do anything else but give him what he has worked his butt off for.

 

[Elmer]

Move over Oldie, I'm with you on this one.

Toot toot! All aboard.

 

[Dusty]

Cousins was willing to be drug tested just before he left the Epworth after his last episode.

Has there been any news on the results, have they been published, does anyone know someone who does the testing, does anyone know what drugs they DO NOT test for?

What are you implying?

 

[geoffryprettyboy]

What are you implying?

Do you have an answer to my question? If you don't it means you don't know.

 

[Dusty]

Do you have an answer to my question? If you don't it means you don't know.

Same as what other AFL players are tested for. I’m sure the AFL released what they and WADA test for when they released the positive tests figures a while back. I’m sure it would be easy to find if you were interested.

 

[Dusty]

After the bizzare behaviour that was yesterday...
Dimma said a decision will be made at the end of the year. In other words he is being given a chance to prove that another year is warranted.

I believe Dimma.

If he maintains his present form and his fitness and with the present level of teammate support, I cant see that they can do anything else but give him what he has worked his butt off for.

I would love him to play one more year. Unfortunately, he can only play about 70% game time at moment and next year if the rotations are capped it will make it very difficult for older players. Also, I heard Healy on 3aw a while back say that Ben has a lower back problem.
Ben said after the Sydney match that he didn’t want to overstay his welcome. He knows his body is failing him. Being the player he is/ has been he doesn’t want to say it’s over until he’s on one leg.

I just wish if the club has told him it’s over, he would just come out say he's retiring at year end. It would just stop all this speculation

 

[momentai]

Dusty,
You are starting from the wrong position. He has done everything asked. He has done a great job off the field and provided leadership on it. He is probably still the best playing 'coach' going around and his team mates love him.

Fitness and continued good form is the key. If he looks like a chance to continue at his present rate he will stay because Dimma will see that result as being best for player development.

If GPB thinks he knows something else let him come out and tell us what he thinks that is, rather than insinuate . They have been all over him for testing. And he offered to take more.

Do you really think afer all he has been through this footy mad Tiger is going to step forward and announce his retirement before that end of year deadline.. Be real.

 

[Baloo]

Personally I believe the decision on Cousins hasn't been made. f they had decided to tap him on the shoulder they wouldn't play him every game over the last few weeks. They probably would have made him return through Coburg after the hospital stint.

I think he has been serviceable over the latter part of the season. If he was 28 or younger it would be a no brainer. But at 32 and showing signs of slowing down, I think the decision may eventually lie in just how good he is with the kids in terms of leadership on the ground and on the training track. If it is as fantastic as some here claim, then he may get another year.

 

[mb64]

I would love him to play one more year. Unfortunately, he can only play about 70% game time at moment

Many midfielders play around 70-80%

 

[btoz_01]

Cuz has been one of our better players all year and is one of the onfield leaders at our club.
You can see it when you go to our games that he is instructing the players where to position themselves on the field and trying to inspire them.
As he has been putting in he should be given every opportunity to play on for another year. If he decides to retire thats his decision as for him being delisted there are ten players that should be delisted/traded before we should consider delisting Cuz.
Hislop (Sloppy), King, McMuffin, Nahas, Polak, Polo, Rance, Roberts, Tambling & Thomson.

 

[Dusty]

Dusty,
You are starting from the wrong position. He has done everything asked. He has done a great job off the field and provided leadership on it. He is probably still the best playing 'coach' going around and his team mates love him.

Fitness and continued good form is the key. If he looks like a chance to continue at his present rate he will stay because Dimma will see that result as being best for player development.

If GPthinks he knows something else let him come out and tell us what he thinks that is, rather than insinuate . They have been all over him for testing. And he offered to take more.

Do you really think afer all he has been through this footy mad Tiger is going to step forward and announce his retirement before that end of year deadline.. Be real.

Momentai,

What I said is IF ben has been tapped on the shoulder he should announce his retirement.

As I said, Ben will not give up until he’s on one leg. I want Ben at the club next year. I want him there because of what the club can do for Ben in regards to his health. He needs one more year at the club for his recovery.
Unfortunately, this won’t happen because of- his body issues- if rotations are capped it will affect all older players- but the nail in the coffin will be his book!

If it’s true that the publisher wants it released this year and he has no say in it, then he will not play next year. From what I hear the book is going to create a …storm in the West. C Cameron has already been on record saying that the club would prefer the book not be released while he’s still at the club. I presume this is why Ben has been in battle with his publisher and why the fall out with R Nixon. Knowing how much Ben loves footy, I would think he would be happy to delay the book, the doco until after he retires. It seems he can’t do that due to contracts in place and everyone wanting their $$$. No wonder he has issues!

 

[momentai]

Yep the book is a tough one. It is bound to talk about the hypocracy of the Eagles in knowing what was going on and doing nothing, while pushing forward to a premiership and also on the AFL for its handling of his addiction with all regard to appearance and without regard to his need to stay in a footy club environment, particularly at that time.

Hard to know how its going to play out. I am pretty sure it will reflect well on the Tigers and it will also provide helpful information to an industry which knows little about the problem. On balance I think it will be a plus, although a distraction. But it is who Ben is if other things remain pointing to his favour, I don't believe Dimma will let it get in his way.

 

[zgod]

Yep the book is a tough one. It is bound to talk about the hypocracy of the Eagles in knowing what was going on and doing nothing, while pushing forward to a premiership and also on the AFL for its handling of his addiction with all regard to appearance and without regard to his need to stay in a footy club environment, particularly at that time.

Hard to know how its going to play out. I am pretty sure it will reflect well on the Tigers and it will also provide helpful information to an industry which knows little about the problem. On balance I think it will be a plus, although a distraction. But it is who Ben is if other things remain pointing to his favour, I don't believe Dimma will let it get in his way.

I love the Cuz but I think he has a choice. Bare all in his book and doco or continue playing footy with his head down. I Don't want another circus down at the club when the book and doco is released with the apparently startling facts regarding certain people and clubs.
On his state of form, yes he is getting it alot but it worries me that he wants to handball at all costs, and when he does kick it there is no more wheeling around the man on the mark or even a true drop punt, usually just end over end tumblers without any penetration.
Whatever happens he has done his bit for Tigerland and I hope he hangs around in some capacity to see the ride we are about to take.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Cuz has been one of our better players all year

No he hasn't.
He's been a lot better the past month but his first half of the season was poor.

On his state of form, yes he is getting it alot but it worries me that he wants to handball at all costs, and when he does kick it there is no more wheeling around the man on the mark or even a true drop punt, usually just end over end tumblers without any penetration.

I'm glad someone else can see it.
Has lost his ability to carry the football, largely due to lack of pace hence the prefence to HB and now also has trouble executing by foot with confidence.
Nowhere near the player he was at WC, not even near the player he was last season.
Should retire.

 

[mb64]

No he hasn't.
He's been a lot better the past month but his first half of the season was poor.

Tooheys come on,your bias is showing up.Cuz was okay,average not poor.

 

[skybeau]

Tooheys come on,your bias is showing up.Cuz was okay,average not poor.

He was poor. No point in sugar-coating it.