Ben Cousins to resume his career

[am Bays]

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?

Make no mistake speed, methamphetimenes are performance enhancing, this new stuff is so strong that it becomes hazardous to your health hence why it is so dangerous compared to the aphetimines that existed when they were first in vogue in sport during the 60s and 70s.

Players don't take them becasue they are so easy to detect in teh urine

If a player took speed before a game he would be able to power run for far greater periods and their arousal states would be increased so they just wouldn't feel the effects of fatigue.

[Hondo]

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?

Make no mistake speed, methamphetimenes are performance enhancing, this new stuff is so strong that it becomes hazardous to your health hence why it is so dangerous compared to the aphetimines that existed when they were first in vogue in sport during the 60s and 70s.

Players don't take them becasue they are so easy to detect in teh urine

If a player took speed before a game he would be able to power run for far greater periods and their arousal states would be increased so they just wouldn't feel the effects of fatigue.

Yes fair call ..... I guess I was distinguishing between a substance taken deliberately to enhance performance and a drug taken primarially for personal 'pleasure' (even tho, as you say, it can also be performance enhancing). Not that I think Warnie's slimming tablet was intentionally performance enhancing BTW - just that it was on the banned substannce list.

I am not sure what Cousins' penalty would have been had it been detected in an official drug test - probably more than 16 weeks?

[Hondo]

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.

Whether or not the players like it (or whether or not they should be role models) I think the fact is that the kids do look up to these guys. Whether or not the kids are influenced by their favourite players' off-field behaviour to the extent some people think (which I agree with you on) is debateable.

The players also represent the AFL and their club and both get tainted when an individual player misbehaves - again whether or not they should is debateable - but they do.

In the Cousins case I think he has copped 15 weeks off the field + a hell of a lot of public criticism so a parent should be able to explain the mistake and the consequences to their kids. He hasn't got off scott-free it's just that people have different views regarding the penalty he copped and some think it was too lenient. That last point will always be a matter of personal opinion dependent on your views on drugs, player behaviour, etc so we will never agree 100%.

[RustyCage]

I dont like the way he is being treated like a hero since he came back. All the West Coast supporters standing and clapping his comeback should have been standing up and booing him for being such a dickhead and costing his team 15 weeks of his services

[Danny_Mccoy]

I dont like the way he is being treated like a hero since he came back. All the West Coast supporters standing and clapping his comeback should have been standing up and booing him for being such a dickhead and costing his team 15 weeks of his services

So you would stand up and boo a Port player if that ever happened?

[RustyCage]

I dont like the way he is being treated like a hero since he came back. All the West Coast supporters standing and clapping his comeback should have been standing up and booing him for being such a dickhead and costing his team 15 weeks of his services

So you would stand up and boo a Port player if that ever happened?

If a key Port player had a problem with drugs and missed a whole bunch of time which impacted on Ports performance on the field, yes.

[Dog_ger]

I think give the man a break.....

He is a top player.

Who knows the trouble we would be in if our employers were paying us that kind of $$$$

Anyone on this site been drug free for life...?

[Strawb]

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.

I wouldn't care if it was Gary Ablett Jr. or Paul Chapman or any top Geelong player I wouldn't stand up and clap I would rather my club set a precedent ie like they did with Steve Johnson. As Charles Barkley said I am not a role model and I don't view these guys as role models. I am a Role model to my Children and I believe that they should look up to their parents first. Unlike Ben Cousins who will not admit he has or had a drug problem I was proud of Farmer for admitting he has a problem with the booze.

[power01]

at the end of the day its simple, you taken drug..............and now you will cop the nessessary penalties..............ladies and gentleman its that easy............i realise drugs are part of society..........but guys if you choose to use, use some descrection..............its a very sad state of events when it is romoured thst s large number of players are into it regularily.................even worse coz the AFL are way to soft...........................

[bazza1]

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 REBS.... Well said!

[power01]

**************** REB FOR PRESIDENT**********************

TAKE NO PRISONERS, AND HOLD THE LINES...................ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL.................................................................................................

GOOD-ON YA REB AT LEAST YOU HAD THE GUTS TO SAY WHAT MILLIONS WHERE THINKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


TO U MR REB I TIP MY HAT................(RESERVED FOR GENTLEMEN ONLY)

VERY WELL SAID MATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[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

[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

there are the posts that power01 was refering too..........just brilliant stuff....way to go REB!!!!!

[Rik E Boy]

I wouldn't care if it was Gary Ablett Jr. or Paul Chapman or any top Geelong player I wouldn't stand up and clap I would rather my club set a precedent ie like they did with Steve Johnson.

My sentiments exactly Strawb. Cousins has given his club a giant 5hitburger to eat this season and everyone applauds the guy. His peacock imitation at Putriaco says planty about his 'contrite' attitude and his club's 'head in the sand' culture. He has learnt nothing. Robert Downey Jnr.

Yes he is a bloody good footballer but a hero he is not.

regards,

REB

[Dogwatcher]

[quote="Strawb07] Unlike Ben Cousins who will not admit he has or had a drug problem I was proud of Farmer for admitting he has a problem with the booze.[/quote]

Hmmmm....Farmer admitting his drinking problem wouldn't have anything to do with saving his career would it?

[sturt1]

he played a rip snorter

[hearts on fire]

Ben Cousins is a great player, if he had played all of this season he would have been up there for the Brownlow, sensational effort Saturday night...

[Psyber]

I think give the man a break.....

He is a top player.

Who knows the trouble we would be in if our employers were paying us that kind of $$$$

Anyone on this site been drug free for life...?

Well I have been drunk once, and have had 3 puffs of Marijuana in my entire life, and once tasted Coke straight off the tree, so not quite I guess!

[Psyber]

Hmmmm....Farmer admitting his drinking problem wouldn't have anything to do with saving his career would it?

Yes and he has sworn to give up the booze - I wonder who'll get caught again first him or Cousins!

[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?

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.

I agree that it was poor that he wasn't tested, but who seriously believes he would turn up to that one off his dial. The monitoring needs a less obvious approach than that.

As for the AFL showing a harder line - what option did they have? If they suspend him without a positive drug test, they're just going to get hammered in the courts.