Ben Cousins to resume his career

[mighty_tiger_79]

one of the greats of the game, but if he was handing out some of the stuff he was taking himself , would we be oh so forgiving?... i think not! what was he on while he left his mrs in the car while he done a runner... Hmmm. Like it not he is a role model for our kids, my boy knows about ben and asks why he isnt playing, how do explain to a 7 year old that there is player playing AFL doing something wrong and still gettig away with it?. i want to see him playing , but, he has got away with it looking sqeeky clean.

so have many other current footballers!!!!!

[Psyber]

one of the greats of the game, but if he was handing out some of the stuff he was taking himself , would we be oh so forgiving?... i think not! what was he on while he left his mrs in the car while he done a runner... Hmmm. Like it not he is a role model for our kids, my boy knows about ben and asks why he isnt playing, how do explain to a 7 year old that there is player playing AFL doing something wrong and still gettig away with it?. i want to see him playing , but, he has got away with it looking sqeeky clean.

so have many other current footballers!!!!!

Yes that's what worries me. With the footballers, Shane Warne, and other sports people and celebrities, kids are getting the message that if you are important enough you can do whatever you like and people will let you get away with it. The backlash against this is starting in the US, which is why there was a reaction to Paris Hilton getting the traditional let-off, but a whole generation of the totally irresponsible could develop in the meantime, and one day they'll be running the country, and will make the present lot look comparatively honest and compassionate!

[power01]

there is no question that Cousins is a quality player, but as an ambassador for the sport and representative of his club he's a digrace...........the absolute arrogance he displayed when arriving back in the country from rehab was nothing short of embarrassing.............

Great Player, ordinary person.........

[Strawb]

Warnie got one year for drugs and what does cousins get a few weeks and alot of bad jokes. I don't care the AFL should have took a hardline approach and made an example of this fool. He should have been suspended for one season without pay. West Coast even got the AFl to cover his contract whilst he was in rehab.

[Hondo]

Warnie got one year for drugs and what does cousins get a few weeks and alot of bad jokes. I don't care the AFL should have took a hardline approach and made an example of this fool. He should have been suspended for one season without pay. West Coast even got the AFl to cover his contract whilst he was in rehab.

Warnie took a banned substance and was caught in an official drug test per the sport's drug code. Yes, Cousins had an addiction to a non-performance-enhancing harming (but very health harming), recreational drug - but was not officially caught by the drug testers and the club basically volunteered the information. I don't condone Ben's behaviour but if the AFL took a hard line on all the misdemeanors players did in their private lives would we have enough players to field 16 teams?

I think if Cousins has fixed his personal problems, then he should be allowed to return and do his best for his club. We can't punish the man for a mistake forever.

I'll stand corrected but I'm not sure the AFL paid his contract while he was suspended? I thought all they did was let the Eagles not count the rehab costs towards their salary cap.

[Strawb]

hondo you are right i meant to write what you said i didn't know which way it was. But there is no difference between the to Drugs are drugs and it is like the salary cap you break it they take a hard line. The AFL needed to show that they were not soft on drugs and i feel that they showed that they are.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

The crowd reaction when he came on in last nights game was disappointing but expected. No doubt one of the best players I have seen but I sure wouldn't want my son holding him up as a role model... He's going to cop it when he plays away from home...

[hearts on fire]

i don't see anything wrong with the crowd reactions when Cousins was brought back on, for example if u support Brisbane and Jonathan Brown was making his comeback from drugs, of course your going to be excited when he comes back on. I didn't mind anything that went on last night, as long as his health is perfectly fine, then he should be able to play, hes one of the leagues best and West Coast Eagles best so if i supported the Eagles i would be extremly excited.

[Aerie]

What a player. I think last night's performance put to bed any claims the drugs he was on were enhancing his performance.

Everyone stuffs up in life. Some people stuff up on a bigger scale. If Ben Cousins can use this as a turning point for the better then good on him. He didn't really do any damage to anyone but himself (i.e. he wasn't a rapist, a murderer or a thug) so in my eyes he deserves another chance.

I'd like to think what is done is done and it's how he acts from here on in which will determine my opinion of him.

[McAlmanac]

How can the AFL punish a bloke that they couldn't identify any misdemeanour with?

He's obviously going to be subject to intense drug testing scrutiny now, so everybody should just calm down and get on with life.

When it comes to role models, who has shown greater disrespect for standards in society - Ben Cousins or Stephen Milne and Leigh Montagna?

[Psyber]

Warnie got one year for drugs and what does cousins get a few weeks and alot of bad jokes. I don't care the AFL should have took a hardline approach and made an example of this fool. He should have been suspended for one season without pay. West Coast even got the AFl to cover his contract whilst he was in rehab.

Warnie took a banned substance and was caught in an official drug test per the sport's drug code. Yes, Cousins had an addiction to a non-performance-enhancing harming (but very health harming), recreational drug - but was not officially caught by the drug testers and the club basically volunteered the information. I don't condone Ben's behaviour but if the AFL took a hard line on all the misdemeanors players did in their private lives would we have enough players to field 16 teams?

I think if Cousins has fixed his personal problems, then he should be allowed to return and do his best for his club. We can't punish the man for a mistake forever.

I'll stand corrected but I'm not sure the AFL paid his contract while he was suspended? I thought all they did was let the Eagles not count the rehab costs towards their salary cap.

That's OK 16 is too many anyway!

[cennals05]

Drugs are a huge problem in society as a whole. As someone who is of the age that goes out to pubs and clubs regularly, from my observations I would suggest that about 60 - 70% of people out are on drugs. The problem in the AFL is simply a reflection of society.

I could name a dozen or more football players from AFL clubs < edited by Mods > that I have seen out that are clearly on drugs. I’ve even seen a current AFL player sell drugs. Ben Cousins took the fall for every other AFL player on drugs. If you think that Cousins is an isolated incident think again.

If we took the moral high ground on all the ‘role models’ in society we probably wouldn’t have any music to listen to, sports to watch or movies to go see.

[Dogwatcher]

Juicy stuff Cennals, but be careful with what you say mate.
Free speech and all, but some things are still defammatory.

[Psyber]

Drugs are a huge problem in society as a whole. As someone who is of the age that goes out to pubs and clubs regularly, from my observations I would suggest that about 60 - 70% of people out are on drugs. The problem in the AFL is simply a reflection of society.

I could name a dozen or more football players from AFL clubs < edited by Mods > that I have seen out that are clearly on drugs. I’ve even seen a current AFL player sell drugs. Ben Cousins took the fall for every other AFL player on drugs. If you think that Cousins is an isolated incident think again.

If we took the moral high ground on all the ‘role models’ in society we probably wouldn’t have any music to listen to, sports to watch or movies to go see.

There is always Bartok, Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Haydn, Handel, even Elgar! Or did you mean the thumpy muzak common on commercial pop radio?

[BPBRB]

How can the AFL punish a bloke that they couldn't identify any misdemeanour with?

He's obviously going to be subject to intense drug testing scrutiny now, so everybody should just calm down and get on with life.

When it comes to role models, who has shown greater disrespect for standards in society - Ben Cousins or Stephen Milne and Leigh Montagna?

Despite the AFL stating that Cousins would be subjected to very strict drug tests on his comeback, it was announced on Foxtel's "On the Couch" that he was not tested after the game nor the next day?

The AFL don't give a rat's as long as their image is not tarnished.

[Rik E Boy]

The crowd reaction to Cousins' entrance to the field was nothing short of sickening. There was even a banner that said 'what you have overcome'..errr..self inflicted o hero worshippers! Will the Freo fans be erecting Jeff Farmer 'glad you got over your hangover' banners when he plays next week?

Then this tosspot rooster struts around the ground like one of those WWE wankers after the match pumping up his pecs and allowing his ego to be fed by the blind faithful. After the lettuce leaf 'punishment' from club and code, the totally bogus 'apology' complete with stylish no collar and brazillian sans chest hair..the guy is a complete oxygen theif and his club are no more than opportunistic arseholes.

Get ****** Ben Cousins, get ****** West Coast Eagles. This dickhead has learnt nothing and as such will be back on the drugs within a year.

regards,

REB

[power01]

The crowd reaction to Cousins' entrance to the field was nothing short of sickening. There was even a banner that said 'what you have overcome'..errr..self inflicted o hero worshippers! Will the Freo fans be erecting Jeff Farmer 'glad you got over your hangover' banners when he plays next week?

Then this tosspot rooster struts around the ground like one of those WWE wankers after the match pumping up his pecs and allowing his ego to be fed by the blind faithful. After the lettuce leaf 'punishment' from club and code, the totally bogus 'apology' complete with stylish no collar and brazillian sans chest hair..the guy is a complete oxygen theif and his club are no more than opportunistic arseholes.

Get F***** Ben Cousins, get F***** West Coast Eagles. This dickhead has learnt nothing and as such will be back on the drugs within a year.

regards,

REB

well said REB, couldnt agree more!!!

[Danny_Mccoy]

The crowd reaction to Cousins' entrance to the field was nothing short of sickening. There was even a banner that said 'what you have overcome'..errr..self inflicted o hero worshippers! Will the Freo fans be erecting Jeff Farmer 'glad you got over your hangover' banners when he plays next week?

Then this tosspot rooster struts around the ground like one of those WWE wankers after the match pumping up his pecs and allowing his ego to be fed by the blind faithful. After the lettuce leaf 'punishment' from club and code, the totally bogus 'apology' complete with stylish no collar and brazillian sans chest hair..the guy is a complete oxygen theif and his club are no more than opportunistic arseholes.

Get F***** Ben Cousins, get F***** West Coast Eagles. This dickhead has learnt nothing and as such will be back on the drugs within a year.

regards,

REB

You are a moron.
Any crowd in the AFL would have done the exact same thing.
If it was a Geelong player what would you have done if at his comeback game? Stood up and booed??
As cennals05 said every club in the AFL has a fair share of recreational drug takers and i have personally seen several. What they do in there private life doesn't bother me. People talk about them bring role models? Why? Because they play football they have to be a role model? if kids find out Cousins took drugs and want to copy him than maybe the parents should have a look at themselves instead of looking to pass the blame.

[Rik E Boy]

I have an opinion that differs from yours. You open your post with a personal attack. Stick it up your arse Danny.

[Tight_Lines]

Role Models. I heard a great quote on the Backpage a few weeks ago and totally agrued "Why are Sports Players instantly considered Role Models?"

They are in the public eye and kids have their Favourite Players and buy their gear but kids also buy CDs of their favourite bands, Watch movies and TV shows with their favourite actors in them. Im sure people see Rockstars as their Role models, Young girls see Paris hilton as their Role Model (believe it or Not) so should these people be banned from what they do for their social life decisions? Public criticism will always come with what these people actions are but what wrong has he done in consideration to footy? If a player takes a non-inhancing drug then why should he be punished beyond what he already has? (15 weeks of footy dont forget)

Kids buy these peoples guernseys, numbers, hats, badges etc, you dont see kids wearing the designer labels they saw their fav player wearing or drinking a beer just because they saw their favourite players drinking it they look up to these people in relation to them playing footy so since Cousins has played great footy last 2 yrs and then on the weekend far as I can see kids will still admire him for what THEY see a great footballer.