As a player where does Cuz sit?

[Public Enemy No1]

Amazingly gifted.
The first sportsman able to be totally in control of amphetamines. Never even addicted

Its an amazing record and period of self control...no idea why people think he was out of control with his drug taking.

Afterall if he was addicted he would not have been able to just turn around and say "nahh not this week or until after the footy season ends " for the entire footy season. Addicts cant do that unless they're pretty darn special souls (or arnt actually addicted).

The alternative of course is that he was addicted and had an out of control drug habit....and therefore taking an amphetamine variant during the footy season and hiding it... but that'd simply group him in with other drug cheats and we dont want that.

Not only a great footballer but special in so many ways. More loved than the baby Jesus

Yet another obsessed bitter tool..Still cryin over 2006 i see.
Dont worry your little insignificant club was gifted one premiership.

 

[Beth]

One of the greats, I would have loved him in the hoops. When I think of the Eagles he just is the Eagles! and its still odd to me to see him in the Tigers jumper. I really hope he copes without the structure of a footy club to help him.

Oh and you can't not mention him spewing every 5 minutes awesome runner!

 

[GO EAGLES]

The amazing thing is that

His downfall started when he was in his prime.

His 2005-2006 form was phenomenal

and he would have continued like that in 2007-2008.

Remember his comeback game against Sydney with 38 touches in 2007.

As soon as he came back in 2007 the Eagles started winning again.

Those 2 years lost if he'd played maybe would have shot him to probrable one the best three mids of all time, if he isn,t anyway.



Judd, Cousins and Kerr performed amazingly

watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_ukSjyIVho

As an Eagles supporter I thought that these three would have pushed each other even further for a few more years.

No wonder everyone was out to get the Eagles.

 

[Ricmel]

For me, if I look at the great pure midfielders of the last 10 years that have finished their careers - Voss, Buckley, Harvey, Cousins are at the top of the list.

 

[Dr Awkward]

IMO he sits just below Hird, Buckley, Judd, and Gary Ablett Jnr, and above pretty much every other midfielder in 21st century. Maybe about even with R.Harvey and Voss.

Hard runner and tough player but it really was his decision making ability and then skill in execution that separated him from the pack. Every time he touched the ball his team would be in a better position by the time he was finished with it. Its been great having him at Richmond these last 2 years, I liked him before he came to Richmond and the way he has played for us has only confirmed what I already knew. A real class act on field.

Had a few injuries throughout career potentially would have even more accolades without injuries and drug problems.

 

[Pj.Rj.Hj]

Ummm... West Coast supporters you do realise that he pretty much ripped the heart out of your club and made you the rabble that you are today?

Nah, we blame Judd

 

[Audacious]

Skills: 9/10. Kick just as accurate both sides of the body. Right had a few more yards distance though.

Reading the play: 10/10. The 2006 prelim has a prime example where he anticipates 2 or 3 players running under the ball. Cousins spots it a mile away, runs inside 50 and roves the ball off hands, to snap a goal around the corner.

Decision making: 10/10. Just always knew how to dispose of the ball to the teams advantage. Had poise when in possesion too.

Leadership: 10/10. Made those around him walk through brick walls. Led by example with the footy, and knew how to rev up the players to inspire them during the breaks.

Endurance: 10/10. Not surprising really when he says he enjoys training and getting in top shape always felt easy for him. Having said that though, he always pushed himself that extra bit. Last passage of play in the 2006 GF is a prime example.

Versalitility: 6/10. Played up forward earlier in his career and aquired great goal nous, and obviously played through the midfield. But rarely did the tagging role or played in defense. Why would a coach waste him like that anyway.

Athleticism: 7/10. You wont see him take any speccies in highlight videos, but he had the speed and agility to work in close quarters around the ground.

Consistency: 10/10. Can't ever recall him going through a form slump to be honest. Just always gave 100%, and a quiet game from him usually resulted from a great tagging job by the opposition. I have only seen a handful of Richmond games however, but his 12 years at West Coast he was a machine.

Game winning ability: 8/10. The number of times he dragged the Eagles over the line, and hearing the commentators in the 3rd and 4th quarters saying "Cousins again" were countless.

I think all those attributes give him the greatest Eagle ever honours. The consistency is about the only thing that separates him and Matera. Matera had the odd game here and there where the opposition could get under his skin and rattle him.