Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion [Merged Threads]

[corporal]

Re: Ben Cousins a Tiger

honestly dude - what are you expecting? the "best" on filed you could expect from Cousins at his age, and considering his rehab, and he sat a year out and he showed VERY obvious signs that his Hammy's were on the way out just before he finished up - the best onfield you can expect from his performance is a Nathan Eagleton.

Now, i'm not bagging Eagleton - i think he is a very handy type - but considering the down side of cousins with a "worst case" scenario - i would not take the risk - we desperately need a bit more youth oin our side before the GC - we really did not treat this draft with the correct respect in my opinion

What exactly are the 'obvious' signs that his hammys are shot?.

I seem to remember Cousins tearing it up the field before he did his hammy. (He picked up 35 touches in his return game).

Did you think Robert Harvey should have retired at 31 or was he giving you different hammy "signs".

I'm not sure where you are coming with this Nathan Eagleton comparison!?!. Eagleton is a decent outside receiver while Cousins is an outright champion midfielder who has spent a year out of the game after being in career best form.

Not wanting Cousins in the side is one thing, but I'm surpised how quickly people seem to forget what a superb player he was and also that he was one of the best trainers in the game and to be honest he looks in awesome condition.

 

[Top_4_Tiger]

Re: Ben Cousins a Tiger

Agree 100% phx. I've Said it before if he gets caught its our name that gets dragged through the mud and its our club that gets the media scrutiny.

I disagree.

The situation has changed.

Suddenly the AFL wants Ben to play, the drug experts want Ben to play, and now the public feels a little sorry for him because it looks like he won't. If the AFL are willing to bend the rules to get him on someone's list, then there will be an agreement to support the club that takes him on.

Richmond will be seen as the "good guys" who gave a man a helping hand when nobody else would.

If Ben stuffs up, then the perception will be that he betrayed our loyalty and took advantage of our trust. Ben will be shamed Australia-wide and Richmond will lead the chorus.

And if you're still not convinced then you are forgetting the most important point when it comes to media politics:

WE HAVE TERRY WALLACE

Do you honestly think he can't put the knife to Ben and deflect any negativity about our club? He will lead the charge in the "Ben let us down, he let everyone down" circus and we wouldn't bring Cousins into our club unless we planned an escape route.

All loose ends would be tied in the event of a relapse, why else would we change our minds now? It's because the AFL is stepping in (like they did with Judd) to try and eliminate the potential risks and negative PR for the club who picks him up.

The AFL wants Ben to play.

 

[one eyedtiger]

Re: Ben Cousins a Tiger

I disagree.

The situation has changed.

Suddenly the AFL wants Ben to play, the drug experts want Ben to play, and now the public feels a little sorry for him because it looks like he won't. If the AFL are willing to bend the rules to get him on someone's list, then there will be an agreement to support the club that takes him on.

Richmond will be seen as the "good guys" who gave a man a helping hand when nobody else would.

If Ben stuffs up, then the perception will be that he betrayed our loyalty and took advantage of our trust. Ben will be shamed Australia-wide and Richmond will lead the chorus.

And if you're still not convinced then you are forgetting the most important point when it comes to media politics:

WE HAVE TERRY WALLACE

Do you honestly think he can't put the knife to Ben and deflect any negativity about our club? He will lead the charge in the "Ben let us down, he let everyone down" circus and we wouldn't bring Cousins into our club unless we planned an escape route.

All loose ends would be tied in the event of a relapse, why else would we change our minds now? It's because the AFL is stepping in (like they did with Judd) to try and eliminate the potential risks and negative PR for the club who picks him up.

The AFL wants Ben to play.

I agree with what you are saying, kind of. I know Ben will get the media attention but there are those ********s in the media that will say, that we were fully aware of the situation and that we knew what he was doing.

 

[Top_4_Tiger]

Re: Ben Cousins a Tiger

I agree with what you are saying, kind of. I know Ben will get the media attention but there are those ********s in the media that will say, that we were fully aware of the situation and that we knew what he was doing.

Maybe that is one of the circumstances the RFC would like to get the AFL's support on in some way before we take him on (if the rumours are true).

Since we still haven't categorically said "under no circumstances will we draft Ben Cousins" I can't shake the nagging feeling that we are trying to work out some sought of an agreement with the AFL.

We won't take him in the PSD, but it sounds like we are open to the idea of an 8-week trial on the rookie list, but maybe we want more security.

 

[hagansbull]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

Look punters, if he gets a tie good on him, if he screws up he's the clubs new punching bag. Isn't there other players with 2 warnings? Unsure about this one but if it come down to getting another White, Foley or Thursfield think I would prefer the latter. Go Tigers

 

[Doobie]

Re: Ben Cousins a Tiger

As is your point a fair one in relation to his medals and never having tested positive. That was me thinking outloud really, I personally would have liked to have seen him made a greater example of somehow, not sure how really but I just did. The fact that he wasnt and failed to test positive for God knows how long when he was clearly involved in substance abuse just reflect badly on the AFL for mine. I also dont buy the fact that steriods are somehow different to cocaine and speed and that the latter cant be used to enhance performance. Anyway..as Benny says "such is life"

a greater example of he did not kill anyone

 

[tiger taskforce]

Re: Ben Cousins a Tiger

cousins isnt coming to richmond.

Bookmark it.

Sorry guys.

dont be

 

[tiger taskforce]

Re: Ben Cousins a Tiger

It sounds harsh but also there remains an unanswered question, i.e. how good a player is Ben Cousins off the juice? I doubt anyone can answer that with confidence as he obviously played a considerable period, if not the majority of his AFL career using substances, many of which are clearly performance enhancing. I was always of the opinion that he was bloody lucky not to be stripped of his Brownlow and premiership medals a la Marion Jones, Ben Johnson Tour de France et al. When the Saints and Lions actually go observe and investigate him then ignore him in the draft, that was the nearest I ever got to an answer.

good we had this chat and came to agree on the facts

 

[get reel]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

you imbo's, if we wanted ben cousins we would've takin him wif pic 70. Before u start postin ur uneducated opinions learn a little about how the system works. we don't want ur pie in the sky dick head opinions, we want facts. the fact is, is we pass on pic 70 then pic him up in the pre season draft he costs us more,, wot would u do??,, ahhh duuuur

 

[lvt06]

Re: Ben Cousins IS NOT a Tiger

get over yourself

suck my dirty balls.

I was just telling you when the article was posted online on the age website....

 

[carntheroos4eva]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

My cousin Chris Scott says that the rumours are false. guess what? I believe him.

 

[hagansbull]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

you imbo's, if we wanted ben cousins we would've takin him wif pic 70. Before u start postin ur uneducated opinions learn a little about how the system works. we don't want ur pie in the sky dick head opinions, we want facts. the fact is, is we pass on pic 70 then pic him up in the pre season draft he costs us more,, wot would u do??,, ahhh duuuur

welcome noob. who's we? Do you speak for 2? This is a forum. Settle Tiger. Do you know Oxx?

 

[mhill]

Re: Ben Cousins a Tiger

dude, the facts are that Sponsors dont want a bar of any of this publicity. Be it for paranoid reasons or whatever, it is what is. What you dont realise is that thats the nature of the beast and you cant change it, the suits who make the calls on where they put their money have many avenues that they can channel it into. They dont need us, we need them.
I mean by what you are suggesting we get Ben, and then tell the sponsors, hey dudes, look we have ben and if he ****s up the publicity you will get will be good for you. Hello???? earth to Rancid.
Sponsor X gets a call from the tankers and Judd and then gets a call from us and Ben....who do you think gets the cashola?

So what is Didak still doing at Collingwood? The sponsor logic is simple and ill considered. Ben Cousins isn't the first idiot to play AFL football under a sponsors logo.

 

[mhill]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

you imbo's, if we wanted ben cousins we would've takin him wif pic 70. Before u start postin ur uneducated opinions learn a little about how the system works. we don't want ur pie in the sky dick head opinions, we want facts. the fact is, is we pass on pic 70 then pic him up in the pre season draft he costs us more,, wot would u do??,, ahhh duuuur

You're the one who is uneducated. If you aren't prepared to spell like a normal person, sms someone who cares.

 

[Top_4_Tiger]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

you imbo's, if we wanted ben cousins we would've takin him wif pic 70. Before u start postin ur uneducated opinions learn a little about how the system works. we don't want ur pie in the sky dick head opinions, we want facts. the fact is, is we pass on pic 70 then pic him up in the pre season draft he costs us more,, wot would u do??,, ahhh duuuur

I don't mind about your spelling, I'll just address your opinion

I think everything you said is 100% correct, but I believe you've just misunderstood what other people are saying.

Nobody is saying we should take Cuz in the PSD (in fact, CC came out today and stated that as a fact). The reason people think we might be a chance to get Cuz is because the AFL seem to be up to something, just like they were when they interferred with the Judd deal last year.

The AFL want Cuz to get picked up because it's just easier for them.

So people think the AFL and Richmond are talking about recruiting Cuz as a special type of rookie instead and put him on an 8-week trial. If he is clean, he gets promoted to the senior list, if not, then no harm done at least we gave him a chance.

The cost of a rookie is even less than a ND pick, so the club would be doing the smart thing by getting Cuz - but only under the right circumstances.

 

[mhill]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

This is what I have heard:-

- Vlad is now involved in this mess and wants Cousins drafted to a club.
- The AFL are prepared to relax the mature aged rookie rule to facilitate his being drafted
- Richmond are giving some consideration to drafting Cousins as a "mature aged rookie"
- If they do draft him, he has 8 weeks at the club to train and prove himself
- Richmond will end up picking a young player in the pre season draft and either another 4 or 5 (depending on the Cousins issue) untried players in the rookie draft - compared to none last year
- The reason that they see it as an option is due to the fact that we will effectively have 7 or 8 young players on our list in 2009, the most in 4 years.
This is made up of:-
2 young players in the National draft
1 in the pre season
and a minimum of 4 rookies
This will be the biggest influx of young untried talent since 2004.
So by all means if you don't want Cousins, thats fine but don't use the reason as we will not have enough young kids on our list.

Now the Cousins story has come from a friend of a source at the club. Its probably unlikely to happen because to be honest I don't the club has the balls to pick him up.

Anyway, theres you has it.

 

[hognogger]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

This is what I have heard:-

- Vlad is now involved in this mess and wants Cousins drafted to a club.
- The AFL are prepared to relax the mature aged rookie rule to facilitate his being drafted

Interesting... so if your theory is right, the AFL is bleeding publicity-wise because of a perception that Cousins has been unfairly reamed.

I would be hesitant about picking up Cousins in the PSD.

But if we could get Cousins under the conditions you mention, where we don't have to put him on the list, and have first option the next year to put him on the list if he doesn't implode, that is absolutely ideal.

 

[NQTIGER]

Re: Ben Cousins a Tiger

So what is Didak still doing at Collingwood? The sponsor logic is simple and ill considered. Ben Cousins isn't the first idiot to play AFL football under a sponsors logo.

And he wont be the last, crikey the collingwood folk treat darren millane as agod, and what he did was much much worse

 

[mhill]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

Interesting... so if your theory is right, the AFL is bleeding publicity-wise because of a perception that Cousins has been unfairly reamed.

I would be hesitant about picking up Cousins in the PSD.

But if we could get Cousins under the conditions you mention, where we don't have to put him on the list, and have first option the next year to put him on the list if he doesn't implode, that is absolutely ideal.

Its not my theory, it is something I've been told from someone who knows a person who would be involved in this type of decision making at the club.

I would've thought so, helps to manage the hysteria from the media and concerned supporters/sponsors etc

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

Never before to my memory has a brownlow medalist, and plenty say one of the best players ever, is available not on his terms.
Huge contract and where he dictates the terms no don't get him, where we, the club, dictate the terms, should be done.
Treat him like a rookie and find out how much he wants to play, because if he handles it and proves himself, a huge upside.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

1. Ben comes to Richmond, we have immediate success and then its all thanks to Cousins, in the eyes of opposition supporters and the media.
2. Ben comes to Richmond and does hamstrings. Be considered a waste of time.
3. Ben comes to Richmond and 'screws up'. Hes finished as a footballer, we waste time and our name goes through the shitter. Also, we lose sponsors and respect.
4. Be comes to Richmond and takes the spot of a Jackson or Polo - someone like that whos developing themselves as footballers.

However,

5. Ben comes to Richmond and helps us win a flag. What most of us have been dreaming of since day 1. Richo gets a flag, WE get a flag and the club gets a flag.

Its a tough one. I'd probably rather NOT have him.

 

[fiveonenine]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

not sure if its been mentioned, but what ive heard is the tiges have put forward a proposal to the afl to have him as a mature age rookie, he will play with coburg, and then mid year or end of year when the afl and the tigers are satisfied he has passed all tests etc he will be put on the senior list, the afl want to have ben cousins playing so they may need to bend the rule a little to make it happen because richmond are the only ones now showing interest. kevin sheedy is apparently the driving force behind this to, will act as a 'mentor'

 

[Mr T]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

just herd on sports tonight that we have ruled our self's out of getting cousins, dont know if thats true or not

 

[getthefooty]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

I just heard on Sports Tonight that we have ruled ourselves out of getting Cousins; don't know if that's true or not.

 

[sante]

Re: Ben Cousins is or is not a Tiger discussion

I just heard on Sports Tonight that we've ruled ourselves out of getting Cousins; not sure if it it true or not.