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

[Snoop Dog]

its confirmed now. there was ad on the tv screen saying that saints wont go for him. would be intresting to see if he still goes in the draft and if a team would pick him up.

i reckon he will be a good player at dees, dogs or tigers, to a certain degree freo as well

at least they were honest with him........bit of a shame actually he may not play. Voss seems to want him and appears set to put his proverbial on the block with the sponsors to keep him.

[Snoop Dog]

And to all those that bagged Collingwood for not taking him after they did their due diligence, it appears St Kilda has come to the same conclusion.

Interesting to hear as well that the Lions MAJOR sponsor also don't want them to take him.

i think you will find most people bagged the club for saying some crap about it being a youth policy when it clearly wasnt. kudos to the saints for saying it was a board decision and not telling fibs!

[GreekLunatic]

Does this mean we were right what we did. Maybe theres something we dont know that the club knows.

[Mr Smith Goes To C'Wood]

^ Uh huh.

[AN_Inkling]

Seems quite clear he's been unable to convince clubs that he's completely put his troubles behind him. There is also the image and sponsor issue, but I expect it's more than that.

Looking grim for Ben. If the Saints aren't desperate enough to take him, I don't think anyone will.

A sad story. But he may only have himself to blame, as I suspect the reason no one wants to take the risk is that they are not convinced of his recovery or impressed with his attitude and commitment due to his behaviour over the last year.

Seems to be two likely reasons that no one wants him, particularly Collingwood and Stkilda who seemed interested, then pulled out:
1. Football department wanted him, but rejected by the board.
2. Clubs were interested, but when they investigated him more closely were unimpressed with the new Cousins.

I'd hope the reason his comeback is likely to fail has more to do with (2) than (1).
If he really has done all anyone could reasonably ask and is being kept out almost purely for "brand" reasons, then it's a disgrace. I just don't think that's the case.

[kickit2me]

A shame for fooball, and Cousins himself, that his career is ending this way. One of the best footballers to watch. The bloke was awesome.

[punkologist]

Seems quite clear he's been unable to convince clubs that he's completely put his troubles behind him. There is also the image and sponsor issue, but I expect it's more than that.

Looking grim for Ben. If the Saints aren't desperate enough to take him, I don't think anyone will.

A sad story. But he may only have himself to blame, as I suspect the reason no one wants to take the risk is that they are not convinced of his recovery or impressed with his attitude and commitment due to his behaviour over the last year.

Seems to be two likely reasons that no one wants him, particularly Collingwood and Stkilda who seemed interested, then pulled out:
1. Football department wanted him, but rejected by the board.
2. Clubs were interested, but when they investigated him more closely were unimpressed with the new Cousins.

I'd hope the reason his comeback is likely to fail has more to do with (2) than (1).
If he really has done all anyone could reasonably ask and is being kept out almost purely for "brand" reasons, then it's a disgrace. I just don't think that's the case.

i have a feeling it is number 1. seems to be a trend in the AFL at the moment, especially at out club. Just about everything that comes out of Gary Pert's mouth is looking after "the brand".

[mandy]

A shame for fooball, and Cousins himself, that his career is ending this way. One of the best footballers to watch. The bloke was awesome.

+1

I was really disappointed when he didn't fit into our "youth policy" so was really looking forward to watching him play again with someone else.

The guy's a gun footballer. Awesome to watch. Isn't that why we all love the game?

[nomadjack]

"As recently as August of this year, as Cousins trained in Perth in preparation for a potential return to the AFL, it was Collingwood's understanding that he was forced to scale back his training because of a recurrence of the injury. The Magpies were monitoring his health in every sense.

When they decided to abandon the idea of recruiting him last month, much was made of the fact that they had hired a private investigator to trail Cousins for several days in Perth, in August, and completed their fact-finding mission with a discussion with the chief commissioner of Victoria Police, Christine Nixon.

What was not understood is that the four men who ultimately decided against recruiting Cousins - president Eddie McGuire, chief executive Gary Pert, football operations head Geoff Walsh and coach Mick Malthouse - had all tried and failed to think of a mid-fielder, at 30 years of age, who had made it back after the sort of lay-off Cousins had forced upon him."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 32,00.html

Guess he won't tear us a new arsehole next time we play the Saints. Sorry is such a difficult word to say.

Hope he gets healthy. If he plays football again it will be an added bonus.

[AN_Inkling]

^^Stewart Dew? A year younger, but close enough.
I guess there are just too many questions with Cousins, fitness, health attitude, age, team fit, club image, sponsors, extra media attention... A club would want a reasonable chance of success if taking him on, seems most assess the chance as very low.

Still, seems incongruous that Daniel Kerr is happily continuing his career.

[flamebender]

Baggage is baggage or in this case the baggage carriers could be the problem

[Proud Pies]

And to all those that bagged Collingwood for not taking him after they did their due diligence, it appears St Kilda has come to the same conclusion.

Interesting to hear as well that the Lions MAJOR sponsor also don't want them to take him.

i think you will find most people bagged the club for saying some crap about it being a youth policy when it clearly wasnt. kudos to the saints for saying it was a board decision and not telling fibs!

We're not the only ones who said they were going with the Youth Policy

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/s ... 48054.html

After the board meeting, St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser blamed the club's change of heart on a youth policy. But in truth, the club that has done more research on Cousins than any other still felt there were too many unanswered questions.

[Podpicken]

Clear as dogs balls. yes he was a superstar, yes we'd all love to see him get well, but it couldn't be more obvious that it runs deeper than youth policies, sponsor pressure etc

[John Wren]

what a crock re 'the youth policy'. it's only gets trotted out when convenient.

[Lazza]

And to all those that bagged Collingwood for not taking him after they did their due diligence, it appears St Kilda has come to the same conclusion.

Interesting to hear as well that the Lions MAJOR sponsor also don't want them to take him.

i think you will find most people bagged the club for saying some crap about it being a youth policy when it clearly wasnt. kudos to the saints for saying it was a board decision and not telling fibs!

I said many times that I based my judgement and criticism solely on the information Collingwood put out on this issue about the youth policy etc. I still fully stand by my criticism because unlike obviously many others here, I rate integrity and honesty highly and certainly dont like being lied to by anyone. Piss poor effort by the club to lie to its members and loyal supporters if this is the case.

What other lies have we been fed by the Club I wonder???