Ben Cousins - what action should the AFL take?

[kitehigh]

Most mine sites have a zero drugs and alcohol policy and testing takes place all the time. Fail the test and you are sent packing there are no second chances.

What the big deal in not having failed a AFL drug test, if you come out an admit you are a drug user. I don't see your point here, when he has already admitted to the fact.

Pressure is what he gets paid to perform under. Its whats makes the difference between a good individual and a great one. And I'm not just talking sport here.

I do agree that the media does put too much focus on sporting individuals. They are after all only footballers, but maybe its a reflexion of a society that has lost touch with what is important.

 

[hangseng]

I don't know if he has or hasn't tested positive, but if his doing rehab than what does it matter. He and his family have already admitted that he has a drug problem.



That a big call, I think you are just plucking number out of thin air now.



Blind love for him will do nothing to help him overcome his addiction. Maybe facing up to the harsh realities will do more good for him than allowing him to continue to play at the moment. If he is just allowed to switch clubs and continue on his marry way, what will he have learnt. Very little I expect.

Well thats my view, I am tired of hearing about these footballers, they are suppose to be professionals. Like any professional, you make a bad call than you are expected to answer for it, I just don't think he has had to answer for his bad call at the moment.

Very selective on what you choose to comment on there. The AFL (Hawthorn notably) has players with confirmed drug tests that still play. No comment by you or the media or AFL, no banned players there. Ben has never had a positive test, ever, and he is probably the most tested in the AFL.

And "don't think he has had to answer", you should get out more, this young man has been condemned without conviction and publicly humiliated.

Victorians are seemingly very selective and protective, of there own. If Ben was Victorian he would have been wrapped in cotton wool and would never have been banned by the AFL and the players assoc might have been consistent in their protective ways for the player members. They did nothing for Ben, not a word.

 

[chops_a_must]

Well, it's all a bit academic now. Ben Cousins wont be able to play in the AFL next year, as the Eagles have refused to de-list him, thereby preventing him from being picked up by another club in the pre-season draft.

 

[1234]

Well, it's all a bit academic now. Ben Cousins wont be able to play in the AFL next year, as the Eagles have refused to de-list him, thereby preventing him from being picked up by another club in the pre-season draft.

I thought it was illegal ( players association ) to have a player sacked and delisted - ( taken off the playing list ) before there contract was up, or something to that effect. It's a timing issue regardless.

Eagles are not restricting him per-sae, they are doing what they have to, to abide by AFL & Player association ruling.

 

[greenfs]

You couldn't even sript what he has allegedly been up to now. Fancy being picked up by two blondes from the LA airport instead of heading off to the detox centre.

All I can say is "goodbye AFL careeer & I hope they were worth it Benny boy'. Darn but I guess he has still got that stupid perennial smirk on his face. I was so hoping that he would lose it one day.

 

[trinity]

I heard over the radio that Ben did not check into rehab ... so, those two blondes drove him elsewhere...

 

[kitehigh]

Maybe those blondes are running his Detox....

What a wasted talent, had the world at his feet (still does if he gets his act together).

Can't say I feel for the guy though, it all of his own making. Feel for his parents though, must be extremely tough for the parent of any addict.

 

[Kauri]

I don't know what surprises me more, the willingness of people to believe the worst about someone without knowing any of the facts, or thier willingness to believe anything they read ...
Cheers
..........Kauri

 

[hangseng]

Maybe those blondes are running his Detox....

What a wasted talent, had the world at his feet (still does if he gets his act together).

Can't say I feel for the guy though, it all of his own making. Feel for his parents though, must be extremely tough for the parent of any addict.

Your comments and those of other uncaring ignorant individuals do not help the situation. If any of you had half a heart you would not be promoting the innuendo you do.

Andrew Demetrou should also be ashamed making a public statement about Ben' supposed whereabouts without first speaking to the one who really knows, his father, Bryan. Oh so caring he is~!

You disgust me to the core with this continued rubbish and lack of empathy for his mother and father.

 

[kitehigh]

Your comments and those of other uncaring ignorant individuals do not help the situation. If any of you had half a heart you would not be promoting the innuendo you do.

Andrew Demetrou should also be ashamed making a public statement about Ben' supposed whereabouts without first speaking to the one who really knows, his father, Bryan. Oh so caring he is~!

You disgust me to the core with this continued rubbish and lack of empathy for his mother and father.

Just because I don't have empathy for this goose and his kind doesn't mean I lack empathy for other people. I prefer to give my time and support to those who through no fault of their own are doing it tough. So if that disgust you, than frankly I don't give a damn....

 

[tech/a]

This "Ice" epidemic is a real problem.

Our local pub is mourning the tragic suicide of 2 employees.
Same day different events.
I knew both and there was no way Id have picked either as Drug dependent.
One in his late 20s and the other early 30s.
Out going,friendly guys who'd have a laugh and a chat.

Both recently lost their wives (who walked out) and friends say they were both un reachable.

Ice is by far the most deadly and addictive drug developed.It grips you immediately and kills within 2 yrs most addicts.Manic depression evidently gets most including these 2.
They hung themselves one Saturday and one Sunday.

 

[patto190366]

I agree with Hang-Seng on everything that he has written about
Ben and I applaud him as he is a talented wordsmith and I wish there was more of him out there supporting those that need to be supported.
It sickens me to read the untruths people/media are writing about Ben and I know a lot of people here in the West support him and his family. I think its very sad that society loves to pass judgement on someone they know nothing about only what they read in the paper or hear on the news...I just hope none of you go through what the Cousins family are going through let alone every ounce of it being in the news and then some....as they say never let the truth get in the way of a good story!!! As for the Eagles - whatever happened to the saying "United we stand - divided we fall"....I wish Ben and his family all the best and hope all the negativity stops....Go the Dockers

 

[chops_a_must]

Mmm.... I'm more inclined to feel sorry for Charmaine Dragun, her family, and the people that gave up their careers in order for her to move east. Namely, a very notable Perth band.

It looks pretty clear the AFL just want Cousins out.

 

[kgee]

"sympathy for the devil"
I've had one friend fall from grace that was in the public eye...and maybe thats why I have a gripe
yeah we know nothing about Ben cousins but we know the man he should be, or might I say what we want him to be....I'm thinking there's been a hand of helfulness extended to him for some time even a place to escape?
Maybe its our fault that we see sporting greats as great people when only its a physical excellance that they excel at?
and I'm not in the know but he has the choice ( like every one else) to abide by rules or not to....which makes me believe either he's a total F##k up or just a normal person like the rest of us - in which case he should take the penalty's just like we all do?
either way he's made mistakes and there is a penalty to pay
my apologies for sounding so piou:s but I've had a couple

 

[Julia]

Maybe its our fault that we see sporting greats as great people when only its a physical excellance that they excel at?

Finally someone has come up with the core of this issue.

 

[hangseng]

OK so Ben is going to continue to cop a public flogging and the AFL is going to take him for bringing the game into disrepute.

Now lets have some consistency!

What about the four (non eagles) players that have been tested positive for drugs twice (Ben not once yet) and now we have Pratt from Carlton found guilty of a serious corporate charge while holding a senior position, "Court lays blame on Visy's Pratt" http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22690758-30538,00.html

So are these obviously disgraced people going to be brought forward for the same charge? They clearly have done the same and brought the game into disrepute by their actions. I guarantee not or ever nor even a mention on this thread.

Double standards rife in Victoria within the AFL (what a joke that is, VFL in disguise) and remain so.

 

[Prospector]

OK so Ben is going to continue to cop a public flogging and the AFL is going to take him for bringing the game into disrepute.

Now lets have some consistency!

What about the four (non eagles) players that have been tested positive for drugs twice (Ben not once yet) and now we have Pratt from Carlton found guilty of a serious corporate charge while holding a senior position, "Court lays blame on Visy's Pratt" http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22690758-30538,00.html

So are these obviously disgraced people going to be brought forward for the same charge? They clearly have done the same and brought the game into disrepute by their actions. I guarantee not or ever nor even a mention on this thread.

Double standards rife in Victoria within the AFL (what a joke that is, VFL in disguise) and remain so.

HangSeng, I absolutely agree with you. It is these mixed messages that the AFL send out that make their whole anti drug cause pathetic. Out the lot of them!

And yes, the $$ fine handed to Pratt while substantial, hardly dented his pocket money, yet he is allowed to remain as Carlton figurehead (Carlton attracts corporate dealers, doesnt it!)

BUT that in no way excuses the behaviour of Ben Cousins, nor the fact that he has avoided drink drive charges in the past, and refused the drug assessment currently. Let alone his continued association with known criminals.

I think Tony Modra from the Crows was charged with bringing the game into disrepute - cant remember what for now. But there were a number of nasty incidents overseas recently by AFL players that dont seem to have caused any AFL action!

Nor will you get any argument from me that the AFL is the VFL in disguise - I dont understand how the non VFL teams let them get away with it.

 

[austek]

Victorians are seemingly very selective and protective, of there own. If Ben was Victorian he would have been wrapped in cotton wool and would never have been banned by the AFL and the players assoc might have been consistent in their protective ways for the player members. They did nothing for Ben, not a word.

Hang Seng you may be a good humantiarian, but you know little about Victorians or it's football history.

A young tall guy called 'Charles' that played for Richmond and had plenty of football ability, took a banned "medicine" that offered no advantage to his ability to play football, and was made to give a public apology and was very sincere about it, blubbering into the microphone.

He never played AFL again, cannot remember what his penalty was though.

I don't follow Richmond but Charles and Ben Cousins's parents are those I feel sorry for, not Ben Cousins.

 

[hangseng]

Hang Seng you may be a good humantiarian, but you know little about Victorians or it's football history.

A young tall guy called 'Charles' that played for Richmond and had plenty of football ability, took a banned "medicine" that offered no advantage to his ability to play football, and was made to give a public apology and was very sincere about it, blubbering into the microphone.

He never played AFL again, cannot remember what his penalty was though.

I don't follow Richmond but Charles and Ben Cousins's parents are those I feel sorry for, not Ben Cousins.

I am very aware of Justin Charles and his use of the anabolic steroid boldenone taken for groin and hamstring injuries. It is performance enhancing and a banned drug.

I am also aware of Krakouer (Essendon and former WA player) and Ablett (Geelong).

Both Krakouer and Charles sunsequently employed by the AFL for drug education as reverse role models. A very positive move that I can guarantee you even if Ben shone following rehab that he would never be offered by the 'Big V'. Unless they let him play then Eddie has said he will have him, watch the AFL overturn any ban then.

The AFL is so full of it. Ben is in Rehab and they know it. They have given him 8 days to turn up to the AFL to face the AFL charges. Now that is really going to aid any rehabilitation.

Think before you say someone doesn't know something. I am 51 and have passionately followed and played football for most of my life. Never a great player, just love the game and dislike the internal politics.

 

[IFocus]

This "Ice" epidemic is a real problem.

Our local pub is mourning the tragic suicide of 2 employees.
Same day different events.
I knew both and there was no way Id have picked either as Drug dependent.
One in his late 20s and the other early 30s.
Out going,friendly guys who'd have a laugh and a chat.

Both recently lost their wives (who walked out) and friends say they were both un reachable.

Ice is by far the most deadly and addictive drug developed.It grips you immediately and kills within 2 yrs most addicts.Manic depression evidently gets most including these 2.
They hung themselves one Saturday and one Sunday.

Tech there are real fears here in Perth that we are going to lose a fair chunk of the current generation of users

This article tells the story of how heavy it is.....


http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/crystal-meth-is-worse-than-heroin/2007/11/03/1193619199365.html

Focus