Cousins in the SANFL?

[Punk Rooster]

Cousins could rock up to an SANFL game fresh from Light Square & still run rings around everyone else...

[whufc]

Yeah would be stupid not to have a look at Cousins. Remember only three months ago he picked up 38 possesions in his first AFL game back. He would average 40 a game in the SANFL.

Also he has a drug addiction "edit by mods". These are not preforming enhancing infact you would think they would be performance decreasing. Imagine if he can 100% per cent off the drugs how good a player he may be, even better than we have seen so far.

[Punk Rooster]

Also he has a drug addiction . These are not preforming enhancing infact you would think they would be performance decreasing. Imagine if he can 100% per cent off the drugs how good a player he may be, even better than we have seen so far.

[tedbullpit]

Although opinion is divided I reckon it would be a great spectacle for the SANFL to lure a player of the calibre of Ben Cousins to the competition. Be great heading down to Norwood or Adelaide Oval on a Friday night irrespective of who he is playing for and watching him play. I haven't been to a SANFL game for a couple of years now but to pay only 10 or so dollars to watch a guy like him play would be well worth it. He will draw the crowds back to the SANFL.

The SANFL is undisputedly the best competition outside the AFL so if he is fair dinkum about having a crack at AFL in '09 then he should be looking to play here.

Having said that I don't reckon he will be playing in the SANFL next season and if he does play at all I reckon it will be in the VFL competition. People seem to forget he is a Victorian originally and you would think that if he is going to go through the rehab process properly that he would want be with close family & friends and away from Perth where the trouble began and still is. Can't see him staying in Perth.

[pom pom]

Dream on. As if he will play SANFL. If he is serious about rehab and wants the media off his back he should stay out of footy for a quite a while.

[Hondo]

Any responsible club official would look at the potential downsides:

- impact of the enourmous media scrutiny on the team (don't underestimate this one!)
- what's best for Ben ... probably rehab rather than playing
- distraction factor for the whole club
- possible impact on team behaviour particularly younger players
- risk of Ben bringing his problems with him
- Ben's level of commitment to the team
- only having him for 1 season + high probability he won't play all the games for whatever reasons

And decide that the dream of his presence creating a premiership may not be worth the risk

[Dutchy]

Any responsible club official would look at the potential downsides:

- impact of the enourmous media scrutiny on the team (don't underestimate this one!) and exposure for club sponsors and its brand
- what's best for Ben ... probably rehab rather than playing his rehab would be playing would be worse for him if he is doing nothing
- distraction factor for the whole club offset by having one of the best footballers on the planet
- possible impact on team behaviour particularly younger players not if there is a strong senior leadership group
- risk of Ben bringing his problems with him you have that risk with every recruit
- Ben's level of commitment to the team the coach would need the commitment before you signed him
- only having him for 1 season + high probability he won't play all the games for whatever reasons if that season delivers a flag who would argue and Im not sure why he wouldnt be available?

And decide that the dream of his presence creating a premiership may not be worth the risk

[Dirko]

IMO, if Benny came to the SANFL, he's 29 now, turning 30 next season and will be 31 IF he gets called back to the AFL.
A big ask for a AFL club to take him IMO, where as in the SANFL he'd be good service for another 3 - 4 years...
Would I like him at the Bay ? Yes providing he met certain conditions and the playing group and captain Mulesy were OK with it...

[Shake 'n Bake]

Heard he was Spotted down at The Bay yesterday has been talking with Glenelg

[Strawb]

Cuz at North

[Punk Rooster]

Heard he was Spotted down at The Bay yesterday has been talking with Glenelg

Ah, that would mean South Adelaide are in discussions with him

[CUTTERMAN]

IMO, if Benny came to the SANFL, he's 29 now, turning 30 next season and will be 31 IF he gets called back to the AFL.
A big ask for a AFL club to take him IMO, where as in the SANFL he'd be good service for another 3 - 4 years...
Would I like him at the Bay ? Yes providing he met certain conditions and the playing group and captain Mulesy were OK with it...

Tell 'im he's dreaming!!

[Hondo]

Dutchy do you know anyone going through Ben's predicament or a family member of someone in Ben's predicament? I have a friend suffering with his daughter and if Ben is going through 1/2 of that then you would not bank on him delivering a premiership through 100% commitment to the cause nor would you put your club's on-field success ahead of helping the guy get better.

Do you think that this might not be the best time give him the responsibility of delivering a SANFL premiership?

It's very easy and tempting to separate Ben the footballer from Ben the guy with serious health issues to overcome. Rightly or wrongly he comes as a package at the moment. I don't say that to judge him, just to say that assuming the problems will magically go away while he wins the Bays (or anyone) a premiership is naive.

Finally, I have to ask .... are you seriously asking me why I think he might not be available for part of the season?????? Where have you been the last 9 months?

[Dutchy]

Hondo,

What Im saying if its done right playing footy at SANFL level could greatly assist his rehab, its gives him something to focus on....tell me what is he going to do if he doesnt play footy next year? I strongly believe it will be better for him to be in the game than out of the game in 2008

come March next year it will be 12 months since he has touched the stuff....

[G]

So Dutchy you believe the story that he was clean on his latest jaunt to the states and was hospitalised and then investigated by the cops over there but everything was put down to bouts of depression and loneliness.

[Hondo]

come March next year it will be 12 months since he has touched the stuff....

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22767827-2,00.html

If not for this latest one I might have been more on your side.

The best thing to come out of it for me was seeing Ben give a more honest press conference afer he got home where he admitted his addiction problems and the battles he had ahead of him. He looked far more aware of his problem than when he gave his cue card video thing in March.

[Dutchy]

"Ben Cousins will not face charges here in the United States," police spokesman Sergeant Paul Wolcott said.

Is there any proof G and Hondo? Media have never got it wrong?

He also admitted at the press conference he is much further down the road to recovery than what has been said in the media...

Again if you dont think he should play football (the one thing he loves doing) next year what do you suggest he does with his spare time?

[Hondo]

"Ben Cousins will not face charges here in the United States," police spokesman Sergeant Paul Wolcott said.

I think you'll find most police depts spend their limited time & resources on going for the dealers rather than the users/victims. Especially when it involves someone from another jurisdiction/country.

Deciding not to press charges doesn't mean he wasn't on a bender .... why do you think he was in hospital? Gastro He admitted he has been drug taking due to depression

Dutchy, I am not objecting to him playing next year BTW. I just don't think the SANFL is the right place for him maybe a lesser league for a kick and a catch while he gets his health fixed which has to be his priority IMO. Some league where he can play a few games, take a few off, with low pressure.

Besides, which club has the salary cap room to pay for him?

[Dutchy]

you seriouesly think it would be a financial decision?

[Hondo]

Gary Ayres ruled him out of the VFL for the same reason - salary cap

Dunno are you saying he would play SANFL for free just for the love of it?