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

[nulla]

Ben is not the answer... he can help in building a constructive midfield with his great football knowledge and skills though. If he can do at least half of what Judd has done at Carlton I would be more than happy.

The real answer is in our youth and we have to target the correct young players we have and skill them in hard ball gets.

[yadster#13]

why do they beat around the bush all the time
I hope we get him, add some experience and pace in our midfield, help the younger boys out. In a few yrs we will be set up in the mean time can use the help

[blacknwhiteatheart]

he is in the bag
i just hope he doesn't bring the drugs and that F@#$%ing smirk with him.

[loki04]

I know this sounds funny because Im not in favour of getting him, Id prefer to keep going the youth route because I believe our best chance for a prem will be in a few years.

HOWEVER if we do decide to get Cousins I would advocate getting Jeff White as well. His body is still fantastic and his possession stats this year were the best of his entire career, don't believe the media hype or lack thereof which comes with playing for a bottom team. He would also come cheap, and no I dont care if Cameron Wood was recruited with a top pick, if he's not up to it he's not up to it and so far hes shown nothing in the way of that being the case.

Anyway so to sum up, if we go down one route go the whole hog, if we go down another go the whole hog that way.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pc-m ... jeff-white

That would be interesting having White, Fraser and Wood as the 3 rucks but he is very short term.

[ktszyu1]

im starting to be doubtful of the impact he can make next year, he's over 30, soft tissue injury prone, been out of the game for a while...

i would absolutely love to have him but i think its dangerous if we start to think he is the answer

But he'll come for nothing, and we can afford to get him in the cap.

So it's worth the risk. The man was a superstar. If he can find half of that old form, we'll be set.

[favourites 2008]

[melliot]

^ Looks like he is wearing about 6 jumpers under the pies one!

Would be happy to get him. But really, anyone that thinks he is the answer to our midfield issues is dreamin! He'll be a bit of icing, but if we are relying on him to win us games or be a large contribution towards winning I believe you will be very disapointed.

But would prefer to get Cousins than not (assuming he passes required tests etc) mainly cos a PSD pick is cheap as chips!

[Dave The Man]

Vids:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVoouUBu2JE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LveXrHl6 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLFZLeZ- ... re=related

[nulla]

I am interested to see where Ben will sit on Monday night at the Brownlow.

[DaVe86]

wow DTM...what a player. Thanks for the vids

[dids_04]

With the retirements of some of our most senior group, we do need a few wiser old (footballing) heads in the group.

Cousins is a good footballer, I just hope he is able to contain his personal demons.
If Didak stays then it gives us two midfield guns

If we get Ben Cousins and he returns to the form he had in 07, we have added an absolute gun midfielder, one of the very elite. However when Didak returns, we should return him to where he can be the gun he knows how to be, return him to the half forward line. Dids is a great player but he is not a midfielder and not near what we need in the middle.

He is like Steve Johnson and we don't see Geelong playing him in the middle. Of course they have Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Selwood, Ling though....

Another reason we seriously need Cousins. Gives us the luxry of playing Didak where he belongs and where he can really hurt the opposition.

[dids_04]

Ben is not the answer... he can help in building a constructive midfield with his great football knowledge and skills though. If he can do at least half of what Judd has done at Carlton I would be more than happy.

The real answer is in our youth and we have to target the correct young players we have and skill them in hard ball gets.

Which means he IS the answer. If he gets back to anywhere near 07 form, forget our other mids, Cousins will be tearing games apart. IF he returns to that form (and I see no reason why not.....) and can show and help our young midfielders how the very elite do it (and how hard they run) then we have uncovered gold.

[DaVe86]

Seriously, a midfield of Cousins, Swan, Pendlebury and O'Bree is pretty good. Add Thomas and Davis and Didak through as rotations.

Davis and Didak are now clearly A grade players...as is Swan, and Pendlebury is heading that way quickly. Thomas will make it, trust me.

That would give us 3 genuine A grade midfielders...a clearance specialist in O'Bree and 3 A grade rotations to go through.


If we could snare Harris, we are talking.

[dids_04]

im starting to be doubtful of the impact he can make next year, he's over 30, soft tissue injury prone, been out of the game for a while...

i would absolutely love to have him but i think its dangerous if we start to think he is the answer

But he'll come for nothing, and we can afford to get him in the cap.

So it's worth the risk. The man was a superstar. If he can find half of that old form, we'll be set.

well said. I think some people are going to be amazed at what Cousins can still do when he returns. Collingwood jumper or not. True superstar and something we have not had since Buckley was in his prime......

[DaVe86]

Remember his return after a year out of the game a a few years back. Something like 30+ disposals, close to BOG. Carried that form right into finals until he tore his hammy. That hammy was done working his guts off as he was trying to break a Kane Cornes tag.



He would definitely be tagged. That means Pendlebury and Swan get it easy. Worth it just for that.