Ben Cousins - what action should the AFL take?

[hangseng]

It doesn't matter. Refusing to provide a sample to any authorities (police included) is an automatic 2 year ban from sport.


Yeah, you wouldn't have seen it in SA, but this has been a long long saga. Even in the local prosh (UWA yearly fundraising joke paper) in 2001, had a multi page special on the Eagles drug use. This was just after some Eagles players had had their phones tapped, and could be heard ordering drugs.

Jakovich was quoted in the paper, saying, "I'm not smart but I can lift heavy things". It is widely regarded that he wasn't given the captaincy over this fiasco, being blamed as the ring leader. Cousins was given it ahead of him. And Jakovich has seemingly held a grudge about it ever since. And in retrospect, probably rightly so.

"PROSH" you are seriously kidding aren't you?

Not a word of truth has ever been in a PROSH paper and you cite this as a reference. This is without a doubt the most laughable post I have ever read on any forum.

PROSH for those who don't know is a send up paper put out for a laugh and it targets everyone and everything by a bunch of stirring (light hearted) and big hearted uni students dressed up for a day selling the PROSH rag raising funds.

Get real!

Next we will be citing the Melbourne Truth, rolol.

Cousins still has not been convicted of anything and loosely quoting Tom Percy QC unlikely he will be. This whole saga was a debacle from the beginning and will be shown to be just that.

 

[godzillaismad]

Well, I really don't care if he doesn't need to work again! Ben deserved the benefit of the doubt and he is innocent until proven guilty. The media did the trick once again, tricking us into thinking/judging Ben is in the wrong from the beginning!

 

[chops_a_must]

"PROSH" you are seriously kidding aren't you?

Not a word of truth has ever been in a PROSH paper and you cite this as a reference. This is without a doubt the most laughable post I have ever read on any forum.

PROSH for those who don't know is a send up paper put out for a laugh and it targets everyone and everything by a bunch of stirring (light hearted) and big hearted uni students dressed up for a day selling the PROSH rag raising funds.

Get real!

Next we will be citing the Melbourne Truth, rolol.

Cousins still has not been convicted of anything and loosely quoting Tom Percy QC unlikely he will be. This whole saga was a debacle from the beginning and will be shown to be just that.

You have clearly missed the point absolutely entirely. The point was, that these things were widely known in the public arena at the time. Especially after the drug dealing phone calls had just been released. See what I'm getting at here?

And it's besides the point. Any athlete that refuses a drug test at anytime, by any legitimate authority, is automatically treated as a drug cheat and is given a 2 year ban. Simple. The Greek athletes refusing tests prior to the Athens Olympics are a prime example of this...

 

[3 veiws of a secret]

Ben Cousins should think about Guantanamo Bay ! I mean I have'nt read this thread ( and will not),but after listening to Marian Jones crying for mercy or acceptance??? ,and Ben amongst the elitest players of the AFL ,and all codes fighting for #1 status on the TV rights ,this is either poor scripting for Channel 7 or 10 ( whoever has the rights today) or a total piss take of how we veiw sport today.Comedy capers stuff.Proffesional payouts for amateurish performances)
When I was bricklaying in NSW circa 1994 ,soccer was bad news on the front NSW page tabliods,and when i went to St Georges (R League )to see them play, at the bar that afternoon the police helped me and escorted me out of the building,fighting was rampant!!!!!
The spin doctors nailed other codes......But the rapes or whatever happened with the Bulldogs etc etc ,was another matter ,more slander no doubt!
Suddenly tips the Cousin "ice"berg question,and the code has absolutely shat itself ,suddenly soccer seems clean not as clean as netball,but Mutu had his problems and the Columbian Higuera ( spelling) and Marandona .....I cannot help but think of the French Tour also everybody is trying to stay greener then green!
Thank Cousins for the process!

 

[hangseng]

You have clearly missed the point absolutely entirely. The point was, that these things were widely known in the public arena at the time. Especially after the drug dealing phone calls had just been released. See what I'm getting at here?

And it's besides the point. Any athlete that refuses a drug test at anytime, by any legitimate authority, is automatically treated as a drug cheat and is given a 2 year ban. Simple. The Greek athletes refusing tests prior to the Athens Olympics are a prime example of this...

I have missed no pont at all. I am protesting at the trial by media and misinformation that is rife. Lets just hope the oh so squeaky clean melbourne teams don't come to the surface. Oh sorry, thats right they don't count legal privilege and all that (how convenient).

You have missed the point, quoting something like PROSH as fact is completely laughable.

 

[Prospector]

Refusing a blood test from the Police is termed in legal speak, an absolute offence. There are no legal excuses. That being the case, it is not defendable. Once charged = guilty; the only unknown will be the sentence.

 

[hangseng]

Refusing a blood test from the Police is termed in legal speak, an absolute offence. There are no legal excuses. That being the case, it is not defendable. Once charged = guilty; the only unknown will be the sentence.

All due respect Prospector, Tom Percy QC has a different view.

He is without doubt one of the best defence QC' in the country and is rarely wrong. I will listen to him.

The police have bungled big time here and the treatment that Cousins has endured following this is tantamount to a crime in itself. He has been convicted by media trial, sacked by the Eagles, condemned by the AFL, slandered by people that have no factual basis to their argument and he has not yet been convicted of anything.

Where is the ethical AFL players support group that came so quickly to the defence of a Victorian player and yet they hang Ben out to dry.

This will be seen for what it is, a complete farce and destruction of basic justice in this country being the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

 

[IFocus]

Hi Propector

Refusing a blood test from the Police is termed in legal speak, an absolute offence. There are no legal excuses. That being the case, it is not defendable. Once charged = guilty; the only unknown will be the sentence.

The justice system is still you are gulity when found by Judge or Jury not that the police may have some thing on you or worse still make out they do and that includes (us) the public as well.

He actually refused a driver assessment test which may have led onto a drug test.

Its also a new law here in the West and given the way the police behaved I am sure they would have bungled that charge as well and will be surprised if Ben Cousins is convicted.

A member of the media here reported that the police knew Wednesday that the drug charge was not valid but went ahead Thursday anyway. Makes sense when you see that very senior police were in involved as they paraded Cousins around one would have thought that information would have come to light sooner rather than later.

The people who do finance and supply drugs in the state must think its hilarious and feel very safe.

Focus

 

[Prospector]

Its also a new law here in the West and given the way the police behaved I am sure they would have bungled that charge

Yep, I agree that is very possible!

The people who do finance and supply drugs in the state must think its hilarious and feel very safe.
Focus

That is the sad truth in all of this.

But being formerly involved in the legal system there are some things that are black and white. However, to be honest, there is one thing that can get him off this charge which will be some technicality issue - ie the police didnt say the right things in the right order for instance, which is what QC's are very good at ferreting out. Kind of the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law kind of thing.

HangSeng, I think you feel that Cousins has been victimised; the thing is, most people go through life without being victimised; in this instance, Cousin's history and him just managing to evade the law on several actual events has given them cannon fodder.

 

[Miner]

The best action against Ben Cousins would be send him to Somalia and Rwanda for one month mission living in refugee camp and then to Iraq and Afganisthan to work with front end Australian soldiers.

No joke : it will give him soul searching on poverty, fight against terrorism and make him a much nobler man with little arrogance developed from too much media coverage, bad habits of substance usage and undue financial returns from a game of shame.

 

[Kimosabi]

fight against terrorism

Yay, he can learn the lunacy of having a war against a tactic...

 

[hangseng]

Yep, I agree that is very possible!



That is the sad truth in all of this.

But being formerly involved in the legal system there are some things that are black and white. However, to be honest, there is one thing that can get him off this charge which will be some technicality issue - ie the police didnt say the right things in the right order for instance, which is what QC's are very good at ferreting out. Kind of the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law kind of thing.

HangSeng, I think you feel that Cousins has been victimised; the thing is, most people go through life without being victimised; in this instance, Cousin's history and him just managing to evade the law on several actual events has given them cannon fodder.

I don't think that at all.

I just believe the basic right of presumption of innocence until proven guilty should be vigourously upheld and valued highly by us all.

He has been denied this basic right in our justice system and has endured trial by media. "kangaroo court"

Now as it stands:
If found guilty then the media (and most here) will flog him, if found innocent then the media (and most here) will flog him. The good old Aussie tall poppie kick'em while they are down is alive and well, I find this an ugly part of our country.

So much for natural justice and thank god we have QC's like Tom Percy who fight tirelessly for justice to be done.

 

[JeSSica WaBBit]

hangseng - i agree with you 100%

This is a disgrace.

Every case must be judged individually.

I challenge anyone here to put themselves in this guys position and see how you would feel about being treated like this, to lose your job without a charge being laid.

Its unfair and i do not see how you can justify anything else, unless you think its ok for others to be treated different from the way you would be treated yourself.

 

[chops_a_must]

I challenge anyone here to put themselves in this guys position and see how you would feel about being treated like this, to lose your job without a charge being laid.

Its unfair and i do not see how you can justify anything else, unless you think its ok for others to be treated different from the way you would be treated yourself.

Better look again I suggest...

So you think Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery should still have jobs too?

If you are a professional athlete, you live by a different code to anyone else. In any sport.

If you refuse a drug test as a professional athlete, you have absolutely no right to still have a job.

P.S. I'm sure most young men here have had their cars searched at least once...

 

[nomore4s]

hangseng - i agree with you 100%

This is a disgrace.

Every case must be judged individually.

I challenge anyone here to put themselves in this guys position and see how you would feel about being treated like this, to lose your job without a charge being laid.

Its unfair and i do not see how you can justify anything else, unless you think its ok for others to be treated different from the way you would be treated yourself.

Ben Cousins signed a contract for alot of money, he has broken that contract. These guys get paid a lot of money to do what they love, I would happily trade places with him and I can assure you I wouldn't be throwing away my career for a few pills. And I think he has got more of an issue then just taking drugs every now & then, seems to be a bit habit hence the rehab.

I refuse to feel sorry for Ben Cousins, he has been given plenty of chances, warnings and opportunites to do something about his problems and has been given plenty of help, alot more help then alot of other drug users ever get, but he still doesn't really seem to understand that there will be consequences to his actions. Maybe taking away what he loves & gets paid big bucks for might give him something to think about.

 

[dutchie]

Cousins misses his connecting flight. Footage of Cousins at the airport confirms this.

 

[2020hindsight]

what a difference a year makes

 

[patto190366]

Ben has NEVER tested positive. He had 1 valium pill on him. He's doing Rehab. Stop attacking him - help him. Please don't judge or critisise (half of the AFL, NRL have and still take party drugs) - don't make an example of him - think HAWTHORN players!!! The facts you know are only from the media. Hes a brilliant football player that has a lot to offer...let him finish his rehab...leave him alone!!! THE AFL SHOULD RE-LIST HIM AND WHOEVER PICKS HIM UP IS A VERY LUCKY CLUB AND WILL HOPEFULLY SUPPORT HIM MORE THAN THE EAGLES...GO BENNY WE LUV YA'

 

[kitehigh]

Ben has NEVER tested positive. He had 1 valium pill on him. He's doing Rehab.

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.

Stop attacking him - help him. Please don't judge or critisise (half of the AFL, NRL have and still take party drugs)

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

Hes a brilliant football player that has a lot to offer...let him finish his rehab...leave him alone!!! THE AFL SHOULD RE-LIST HIM AND WHOEVER PICKS HIM UP IS A VERY LUCKY CLUB AND WILL HOPEFULLY SUPPORT HIM MORE THAN THE EAGLES...GO BENNY WE LUV YA'

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.

 

[patto190366]

I'm so glad "professionals" were mentioned!!! I wonder how the community would react if lawyers, doctors, teachers, politicians etc and other professionals were randomly tested on a regular basis for drugs/alcohol. Wouldn't fair too well...especially after thos long lunchies and drinkies.
Ben is facing up to his addiction that is why he is going to rehab! The facts are that he has never tested positive to a AFL drug test. He has so much pressure on him...his private life is subject to so much media attention...I would like to see him treated fairly. I don't believe in kicking someone when they're down and that's my opinion