Ben Cousins - He's back (now at Richmond) [Merged Threads]

[Didcos435]

Just on the Cousins front, it's been confirmed he doesn't have to enter the National Draft and can go straight to the PSD.

Here's the story.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/spor ... 12,00.html

[Podpicken]

Thanks didcos

... "Cousins turned 30 in June but, despite the hamstring strain that ended his controversial 2007 season with West Coast, he has been an extremely durable player.

He averaged 21 games a year from the start of his career until 2006, having missed six games with a back injury in 2004, and five with an ankle in 2000."

Going into next season he's still only 30 and he's had the best part of a year and a half off to freshen right up. People who think he only has two years at best are surely kidding. If we were to get him, I'm thinking he's good for at least three, possibly good for five. He's always been supremely fit and has endured minimal injuries. Must get him because it will possibly (note the word possibly) be the bargain of the decade.

[DaVe86]

Potentially good news for Collingwood because Cousins will have the ability to name his desired club, and you would think given we are ahead of St.Kild and Sydney in the order we'd have a fair chance to get him.

Its bad news if we were preparing to offer a high pick for him in the ND. But i doubt this.



In terms of his durability, there is not doubt about it. However, hamstring injuries can plague a player post 30, especially after so long out of the game. He struggled with hamstring injuries in 06. But Collingwood has a good record with soft tissue injuries so you'd think we'd get him primed.

Gosh its an exciting prospect. Please deliver Collingwood.

[Alec. J. Hidell]

Toe rags need love too.

Yes, yes they do Cam

[Dave The Man]

A MEETING over takeaway coffees in the Perth suburb of Burswood yesterday morning has heightened Ben Cousins-to-Collingwood talk.

Magpies coach Mick Malthouse and football operations chief Geoff Walsh met the deregistered Brownlow medallist as part of their thorough investigation into his condition.

Several other clubs, including St Kilda, are also analysing the state of Cousins, who is moving closer each day to declaring he wants to return to the AFL next year.

The latest spotting of Cousins and Collingwood people took place around a cafe on an aptly named Burswood roadway, The Circus.

Food By Christopher Hiller cafe served Cousins about 8.45am local time, and he was followed by Malthouse and Walsh soon after.

A worker at the cafe confirmed Cousins and Malthouse were in the shop within minutes of each other.

"Yes, we did serve them, at separate times, about 10 minutes apart," she told the Herald Sun.

Asked last night what he and Malthouse discussed with Cousins, Walsh said: "Look, I am not going to deny it or confirm it.

"We might have been in the same cafe that Ben was in. But I can guarantee you we were not in the same cafe at the same time.

"Your source will have to tell you what happened.

"What I can tell you is we were not there drinking coffee together.

"Ben might have been in there soon after, or before us, but we were not there at the same time."

Cousins, 30, is thought to own an apartment in Burswood, which is home to the Perth casino.

It is believed Malthouse and Walsh arrived in Perth on Wednesday. They returned to Melbourne last night.

It is already known Malthouse twice met the 2005 Brownlow medallist earlier in the year, over coffee in South Yarra in March and at the Lexus Centre in April.

On the second of those occasions, the Magpies said the gathering was to allow Cousins to interview his former coach as part of a documentary outlining his battle with substance addiction.

The Herald Sun has seen an official AFL document outlining the AFL Commission's findings on Cousins from last November, when it suspended him for 12 months for conduct that was "unbecoming" and "likely to prejudice the reputation and interests of the AFL and bring the game of football into disrepute".

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/ ... 42,00.html

[magpiemike]

Quite funny to read that. I was there later that day. My attention was drawn to blokes in suits sitting around a local carpark, I thought at the time they looked like buzzards waiting to swoop, fair dinkum they must have had whiplash trying to see who was driving past in every car. Obviously got the tip off...

[Magpie_Dan]

GROUSE!!!

[sicey]

I can smell the Cuz

[RudeBoy]

Please make it so.

[Northern Pie]

What is with the cloak and dagger stuff, I mean really why talk crap when you can simply say;

"Yes we met to discuss his footballing future and whether or not it was plausible to consider him as a prospect in the pre season draft. We also wanted to talk directly to Ben to gain an insight into his rehabilitation from substance abuse and whether he is genuine about his playing future in the AFL.....We are very interested in obtaining his services at our club should he prove to have overcome his difficulties, fits our current set up and is willing to accept the terms of agreement to play for Collingwood"

I mean is it so hard? plus the fact that it difusses any sort of story that the press can speculate on.

Cheers

[Hugor]

Agree with NP above. It is no secret that Collingwood and several other clubs are at least curious if not interested. I don't understand the secrecy. Why don't they just lay it all out on the table just the Judd fiasco?

[daics cousin]

So what i posted last week wasn't bullshit after all.Bring on Cousins!!

Oh and by the way Didak will stay a pie.

[Heritier8]

If the Cuz decides to nominate for the December draft I'd love us to get him, but I can't see him still being there at pick 11. Surely some other club will pounce on him before we get the chance. If the Cuz was to nominate for the November draft, would it be worth using our first pick to get him instead of drafting a kid?

[~Madness~]

God I hope we get him, while we're at it, throw him the captains hat! Stuff it.

[Leggie]