News D-Day For Cousins

[mcuzzy]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

Got rid of Lloyd and Lucas and then went and recruited Mark Williams on an umpteen year deal.

exactly, what could possibly go wrong with that plan

 

[Azzleberry]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

let's face it, with the re-signing of king (27 next year), the 'taking games off a kid' line has been completely torn apart. It will come down to the media issues and the documentary.

this!!!

 

[Bazzar]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

Let's face it, with the re-signing of King (27 next year), the 'taking games off a kid' line has been completely torn apart. It will come down to the media issues and the documentary.

What a silly thing to say. How can you compare the role of King and Cuz? Spluff i enjoy your posts, but this is one of your more silly observations.

And for those who think King takes games from kids, then name the Kid on our list who will perform the goal kicking/setting up, shut down job he does.

 

[axel2cotch2lids]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

and look where that's got them.
Delaying the Richmond renaissance whilst an ageing Cousins is taking away game experience from a young kid.
Let's recognise where we are at. Re-signing Cousins is wasted time.

Shane Crawford didnt seem to be taking up a young kids space on 2008. What if cuz has another 2 years in him? Should north get rid of boomer harvey? Why does Ben cousins play every week? Who has he held out this year? What if Foleys ankle is no good?

1. He is in our best 22
2. Experience
3. Leadership
4. Hardest trainer at the club
5. Outside runner
6. Arguably the classiest player on the list.

One more year i say. The benefit of young 1st and second year players training with him and learning their craft in the VFL until physically ready for the AFL would be in valuable?

 

[The Dentist]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

I think it's difficult to draw a comparison between the final stages of James Hird and Ben Cousins careers. Hirdy had achieved all that he wanted to out of his career and was ready to move onto the next stage of his post football life, into the corporate world and the media. Cuz still has the hunger required to play AFL football at the top level. He has expressed his strong desire to play on, he is obviously still in our best 22 (I personally think our best 10) and he remains one of our most driven, hardest working athletes at the club. He has not requested longer than a single year contract with us, as he says that personally works for him and keeps him focused, knowing that a form slump or becoming complacent would surely spell the end of his career. His work ethic is regarded as legendary at both of his AFL clubs and he sets as fine an example on the training track as he does on the park.
Ultimately the club will make the right call on whether Ben plays on or not and that's something we will have put aside our personal opinions and learn to live with.
I noticed reader comments attracted the Hird article that stated along the lines of "No Cuz, No RFC Membership for me", these type of hysterical comments both anger and disappoint me. I want us to retain Cuz for 2011, but will continue to financially support the club regardless of what decision is made and really hope others have the maturity to do the same.

Beautifully Put.....
You really are a Tiger for Life

 

[Makka]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

I think it's difficult to draw a comparison between the final stages of James Hird and Ben Cousins careers. Hirdy had achieved all that he wanted to out of his career and was ready to move onto the next stage of his post football life, into the corporate world and the media. Cuz still has the hunger required to play AFL football at the top level. He has expressed his strong desire to play on, he is obviously still in our best 22 (I personally think our best 10) and he remains one of our most driven, hardest working athletes at the club. He has not requested longer than a single year contract with us, as he says that personally works for him and keeps him focused, knowing that a form slump or becoming complacent would surely spell the end of his career. His work ethic is regarded as legendary at both of his AFL clubs and he sets as fine an example on the training track as he does on the park.
Ultimately the club will make the right call on whether Ben plays on or not and that's something we will have put aside our personal opinions and learn to live with.
I noticed reader comments attracted the Hird article that stated along the lines of "No Cuz, No RFC Membership for me", these type of hysterical comments both anger and disappoint me. I want us to retain Cuz for 2011, but will continue to financially support the club regardless of what decision is made and really hope others have the maturity to do the same.

This is a great post! Would love to see him given another year.

 

[Spluff]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

What a silly thing to say. How can you compare the role of King and Cuz? Spluff i enjoy your posts, but this is one of your more silly observations.

And for those who think King takes games from kids, then name the Kid on our list who will perform the goal kicking/setting up, shut down job he does.

It's not about the role, it's about the second paragraph you've written. King isn't directly taking games from kids (though I'm more than sure we could groom one of many several kids to play a defensive forward role in his stead), but on the same note, neither is Cousins. He can play as a forward, a wingman, a midfielder, and perform very well in any of those positions (much better than King), and when we've still got genuine holes in the list like we do now, he's not going to be displaced from the team.

King was kept on because he had earned his contract extension after performing well this year, even though he isn't part of our future. Similarly, Cousins has performed even better this year and, all things being equal, has earned a contract extension, even though he's not part of the future.

Cousins' on field performances and leadership clearly leave a tick in the 'keep' box (especially when you consider he's gotten better as the year went on, which doesn't point to him suddenly dropping off soon) - the only real 'retire' box that can be ticked is related to the off-field issues that Cousins has a tendency to get himself into.

 

[Mr Magic]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

I am leaning towards keeping Cousins for one more year.

We need to go even further with youth but we can't have no experience whatsoever.

I think it would be better to keep Cousins for one more year than a King or White who I am questioning whether they can contribute in a premiership team when we get there given what they have provided but also age.

Cousins won't be here with the premiership unless in an off field capacity but we really need to go with even more youthful talent. I think we might need cousins for the on field perspective and keeping the ship upright before Lids and Co grow fully into their leadership roles and Hardwark can't do everything on the boundary in terms of the leadership long with Newie

 

[Bazzar]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

Dunno if im reading this right of wrong, but the way Judd embraced Cuz at the end of the game looked as though he might suspect or know something.

 

[Mr Magic]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

I also think some might be getting ahead of themselves.

i do see some improvement in 2011 but not massive improvement .

The big improvement will start to occur in about 4 years time IMO.

So it would be good for Cousins , on the field, helping things stay on keel.

We are lucky tio have him for this situation and it will enable us to go deep with youth which is what we have to do in this draft

 

[Azzleberry]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

Damien Barrett (reliable source - haha) believes a meeting on Cuz is to be held on Monday with a decision to be made by Wednesday. So we should know mid-next week. If it tunrs out to be his last year, I would be expecting a large crowd to the R22 game against Port..

 

[00Stinger]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

If you guys get rid of Cousins you are stupid (no offence)
Since you have turned you season around he has been in your top 5 players, hence why he should be retained. That and the fact his leadership and experiance is invaluable to a young and up coming list!

 

[aflcliche]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

Dunno if im reading this right of wrong, but the way Judd embraced Cuz at the end of the game looked as though he might suspect or know something.

I think it was just concern about his injuries. I honestly lip read Cousins say something like "catch up for a coffee". Coffee is an addictive substance.

 

[mcuzzy]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

Dunno if im reading this right of wrong, but the way Judd embraced Cuz at the end of the game looked as though he might suspect or know something.

They do that in every match, they hang out in the center square, hug, talk, sometimes have a quick dry root and then they're on their way again.

It was funny today, I was really worried when he injured himself and I thought 'I think he should retire at the end of the season, just incase'

Then he ran back on, took strong marks, kicked a goal and set up plays and I was back to begging him to keep playing

 

[SteveoTheTiger]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

Whats the story with the Cuz injury anyway?

When he went off i thought that was it for him.. it looked pretty bad. Then he just runs back out and keeps playing in the next quarter!

 

[mcuzzy]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

Whats the story with the Cuz injury anyway?

When he went off i thought that was it for him.. it looked pretty bad. Then he just runs back out and keeps playing in the next quarter!

he injured his one of his calves, copped a knee or a boot or something.

he was clearly still sore when he continued playing but it didn't really seem to show

 

[tugga]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

Whats the story with the Cuz injury anyway?

When he went off i thought that was it for him.. it looked pretty bad. Then he just runs back out and keeps playing in the next quarter!

He is a machine.
An inspirational machine at that.
I know he will be remembered as a West Coat great when he finishes, but gee, I will remember him as a Tiger and a Tiger I was proud to call a Tiger.

 

[SteveoTheTiger]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

He is a machine.
An inspirational machine at that.
I know he will be remembered as a West Coat great when he finishes, but gee, I will remember him as a Tiger and a Tiger I was proud to call a Tiger.

Same here mate.

Like i said in another thread, every other player on our list can learn from the guts and determination Cuz showed today (and a number of other times in this time at Tigerland).

 

[Bazzar]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

Dimma loves tough, well today he seen it in Cuz. What an inspirational effort when he came back on.

If he is cleared of serious injury they have to re-sign him.

 

[RadcliffesShorts]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

best commentary on Cousins' documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3aPIqOUOE

 

[SteveoTheTiger]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

There was another time when Cuz went down earlier in the year.

He was hit in the back in a tackle and went down like a sack of spuds (brownlow medal winning spuds!) and was in obvious pain. But the ball came back his way and he jumped up to lay a tackle and we got the ball back. Then i think the trainers came to attend to him.

Tugga is right, he is a machine.

 

[mcuzzy]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

best commentary on Cousins' documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3aPIqOUOE

Was intersting info until Question 3 came up.

That was just plain stupid and ignorant

 

[Tigerland]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

If the HUN article is correct (it may well be wrong) and
Hardwick said 2 things about Cousins along the lines of:

1. He doesn't listen in meetings

and

2. His definition of structure is something that gets in the way of me playing.

Then you would thing that Cousins is almost certainly finished at seasons end.

 

[rampage]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

best commentary on Cousins' documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3aPIqOUOE

Ignorant and unhelpful. The sort of thing the unthinking masses believe. Believing is easier than thinking. Hence so many more believers than thinkers.

 

[SteveoTheTiger]

Re: Play on, Ben Cousins

If the HUN article is correct (it may well be wrong) and
Hardwick said 2 things about Cousins along the lines of:

1. He doesn't listen in meetings

and

2. His definition of structure is something that gets in the way of me playing.

Then you would thing that Cousins is almost certainly finished at seasons end.

I didnt read it that way at all. Hardwick was asked if Cuz would be a good coach and those two comments were his reply, probably said a little in jest. He is what he is, and probably not cut out of coaching.