Why not Cousins?

[CureTheSane]

I hate Davo ... does that make me not a fan?

Not at all (in my eyes)

But in the eyes of many other fans (and quite possibly Vonsteinman) you are 'not a real fan'

BTW, I love the way that term gets thrown around.
If I ever use it, it's as a joke, because I find it quite funny that people actually use a term such as that and actually believe that it bears relevance to any supporters life.

[liz]

You can find a million reasons not to pick up any player.
They can all be offset with contract conditions.
performance based.
Behavioral clauses
etc
etc

To me the potential gain far outweighs the risk.

Nothing about the Swans' list age profile or questions over Cousins' ability to get back to close to his best at his age and with his hamstring question marks can be addressed by contract conditions.

[Cardinal]

I'll find a kid to sacrifice at the alter that worships the prospect of Ben Cousins playing for the Swans in a blink.

You would have thought that if the Swans were interested in Didak they would have jumped at Cousins.

[goswannie14]

Not at all (in my eyes)

But in the eyes of many other fans (and quite possibly Vonsteinman) you are 'not a real fan'

BTW, I love the way that term gets thrown around.
If I ever use it, it's as a joke, because I find it quite funny that people actually use a term such as that and actually believe that it bears relevance to any supporters life.

I agree CTS, it is usually thrown around by people who have no real basis to their argument (either that or they don't know how to articulate it properly). It is one term that really annoys me when bandied around the way it is at times on this forum.

I guess, from what I have seen, that others feel the same, that's why they often take the "mickey" out of it on some threads too.

[Vonsteinman]

West Coast?s list was the envy of the competition, despite inadequacies up forward. Like the Swans, they went within a kick of back-to-back flags, and actually went closer than we did the following year, all this with the likes of Cousins and Gardiner doing as they pleased.

The poster I was referring to said the following: At the end of the day, if he's kicking goals and winning games for us who cares..... The implication being, who cares what problems he brings to the club with him. That, in my view, is the words of someone who does not actually care about the well-being of the club, and is therefore not a true fan.

That Cousins is not welcome at the Swans is a point that has been made by the club, so it is fair and reasonable to bring that up on this forum.

For the record I am a paid up member but, on the strength of my feelings about Cousins not playing at the Swans, I would have to consider whether I would continue to put the money in for the period of time that he is at the club.

My support has been strongly tested in the past, having been born and bred in Melbourne, it all but broke my heart when South Melbourne was forced to move to Sydney. In my first few visits to home games in Sydney, when there were a handful of people there, many of whom admitted their tickets were free, my faith was tested further.

Like many of you, I felt strongly enough about Terry Wallace?s potential coaching contract that I voiced my opinion, however thankfully my support was not to be tested on that occasion.

I would see any offer of a contract to Ben Cousins as being of at least equal concern to that of Wallace. However I can say this with confidence as, the likelihood of him going anywhere near joining the Swans is negligible - at best.

[liz]

I'll find a kid to sacrifice at the alter that worships the prospect of Ben Cousins playing for the Swans in a blink.

You would have thought that if the Swans were interested in Didak they would have jumped at Cousins.

But Didak is around 25 and in the prime of his career. Cousins is not.

I am slightly surprised that - based on just the onfield stuff - some club isn't willing to take a punt on Cousins. I would have thought Collingwood, with a fairly proven group of young talent coming through but lacking leadership at the top end of their list, would benefit hugely from him. I guess then it comes down to none of us having any idea on the Pies' assessment of the off-field risk.

I just don't think he makes sense for the Swans, given where our list is as.

[Cardinal]

I sometimes wonder how many Swans currently have strikes on the board....

[CureTheSane]

Nothing about the Swans' list age profile or questions over Cousins' ability to get back to close to his best at his age and with his hamstring question marks can be addressed by contract conditions.

Yep, that point is kind of covered in the "To me the potential gain far outweighs the risk." bit.

Every player is a risk, some more than other, and sometimes a completely healthy player will suffer a career ending injury (see Gareth John, Jamie Lawson etc etc)
Nothing is set in stone.

[Nico]

I've heard a very high profile player is on 2 strikes, and won't reach 3.

Am I to read between the lines and am thinking that he is now retired.

[Nico]

Nico some racehorses have had a gay old time on EPO.

Yes, and how significant is it that 3 very prominent stables are having a very poor run of late. I saw one in a very weak maiden recently that normally would have strolled past the leader in the straight, but found absolutely nothing. If it was a oncer yes, but it is happening all the time to this particular stable.

My mail is, don't underestimate what was happening at that very large stable around Subiaco.

[pjcswan]

After posting that I was reading the paper and saw that we weren't particiapting as well, and thought maybe I was wrong. I was thinking about the number of players we lost(delisted/retired) and the number we've gained Shaw+3 National Drafts,+the rookies(Pike, Cooney). So not sure now.

Our total SENIOR list is 38 plus two veterans (MOL and LB). Two players retired (Benny and Everitt) plus we delisted four (Davo, Luke B, Peter Faulks and Thorton.

We then traded for Ryce Shaw; prompted Smith and Dwyer from the Rookie List. This left the minimum three mandatory picks at the National Draft - Johnston, Haneberry and Heath. Thus there is NO PLACE on our list for Ben Cousins. So how about we stop this thread.

[goswannie14]

Am I to read between the lines and am thinking that he is now retired.

That's not the name I have heard.

[robamiee]

i am amazed how the general footy community has come down on Cousins..
I certainly dont condone what he did, but sometimes i think we forget or our expectation s of sporting people is that they are above all of life's surroundings and scenerios..

He has come out and admitted to a drug problem..well good on him..its the first step for any addict to admit they ahve a problem...

If the footy community think that he and the other ones thathave tested pos are the only ones who have tried or are using drus you would be very small minded or niave..

Cousins is pretty much the fall guy for alot of the players ion the system..
Do we all forget what one ex swan stated and we (footy community) condemmed him..

i personally am in favour of giving peple second chances, and u could say well how many chances does he need, well his second chance comes after admitting he has a problem and begins to deal with it...

whether he ended up at the swans or at another club, from my understanding virtually every football dept would love to have him, but it gets stopped at board level, he is a terrific player which deserves another chance and is a great story..

how many fans would come out in round one to watch ben play..some may say no..but how many non members would come to watch him play which exposes new fans to the game..

the gains on field and from a marketing side far outway the risks..
maybe the AFL needs to offer some sort of medical leeway like rama and other players etc...

[dimelb]

i am amazed how the general footy community has come down on Cousins..
whether he ended up at the swans or at another club, from my understanding virtually every football dept would love to have him, but it gets stopped at board level, he is a terrific player which deserves another chance and is a great story..

And behind board level, sponsor level.

[AnnieH]

snip ... whether he ended up at the swans or at another club, from my understanding virtually every football dept would love to have him, but it gets stopped at board level, he is a terrific player which deserves another chance and is a great story... snip again

Thanks dimelb, took the words right out of my mouth.

The buck stops with the sponsors ... with the "ex"-junkie on board, I'd hate for that to happen literally.

You don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Just say that we recruited him and QBE had a problem with the "ex"-junkie coming on board (just say), I'm pretty sure management would bend over backwards to please the sponsors.