Cousins Eligible for 2009 - With Saints Response

[Spinner]

AD just reading out a s*** load of conditions....

Some being:

Up to three urine tests a week.
Up to 4 hair tests per year.
Club must have a drugs plan.


Stated it was a tough decision for a difficult issue.
Need to balance player issues with the issues that affect the community.


Saints Response - SEN

Saints are pleased with the decision for Ben Cousins, and will continue due diligence. No further comment at this time.

[Pilgram]

AD just reading out a s*** load of conditions....

cheers spinner

[Ralphy]

Assume we have a drug plan dont we?

[Armoooo]

Jeez, when we draft Benny Boy, we could get more people on here than after the GT sacking

[bigcarl]

Club must have a drugs plan.

we have one of those ... dont we?

did they say when cousins will come out and nominate a club?

[BelfastSaint]

You would think with all the required drug tests and medical checks that Ben will be subjected to that it would be much more difficult to facilitate this if he is based in Brisbane .. eg additional costs flying the AFL drug testers and medical experts to Brisbane on a regular basis ..

[Spinner]

Club must have a drugs plan.

we have one of those ... dont we?

did they say when cousins will come out and nominate a club

Issue is now in Ben's hand.

1 - To decide weather to nominate for the draft(s)

2 - To sit down with clubs.

[bigcarl]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/ ... 61,00.html

BROWNLOW medallist and recovering drug addict Ben Cousins has been cleared to play in 2009, the AFL Commission has announced.

The decision means the 30-year midfield star is now free to join St Kilda, should the club decide to draft him next month.

Yesterday, Saints captain Nick Riewoldt welcomed the prospect of Cousins joining the team, providing all goes smoothly at next month's pre-season draft.

"It would excite anyone if he could get back to those heights, he's a Brownlow medallist and premiership player," the star centre-half forward said at training.

Right or wrong? Give your view of the AFL decision below

"I think we all hope that he can get back to that (level of play) … and if he can, you’d would be rather be playing with him than against him," Riewoldt said.

Last week, St Kilda CEO Archie Fraser said it was no surprise Cousins had recently tested drug-free, given his resolve to return to the AFL.

Fraser said the Saints, regarded as the frontrunners for Cousins' services, had been in regular contact with the recovering drug addict in the lead-up to today's AFL Commission meeting.

He said the 30-year-old former West Coast skipper had made it clear how important an AFL return was in his recovery process and that he would do whatever he could to make it happen.

Cousins has passed one hurdle in his bid to be re-registered - a urine sample recently submitted to the AFL was found to be clear.

"You'd expect that, I think he's committed to playing football and I think he understands that one more hiccup and it would be all over," Fraser said today.

"It's a big part of Ben's rehab, he wants to play footy and I think he'll do everything possible to make sure the commission make the decision based on as much information as they can have.

"So that doesn't surprise me, I think he's well and truly committed to playing footy."

[Solar]

my question to the commission is

why are those on two strikes not copping similar drug testing?

but anyway, congrats to benny. Final chance and I hope he takes it, puts his head down and finishes his career in a great way no matter who he plays for

[SainterK]

I am happy for Ben

[bigcarl]

my question to the commission is

why are those on two strikes not copping similar drug testing?

exactly. at least ben has admitted he has a problem.

there are others, some of them very high profile players, who obviously are still in denial.

[Quixote]

Message just left on Ben's answering machine:

"Hi Ben. Michael Voss here. Could you please call Michael Voss back as soon as you get this message. Not five minutes later, not after a cup of tea or a line of the whacky stuff, but as soon as you get it. Michael Voss would like to talk to you. Michael Voss"

[Spinner]

Message just left on Ben's answering machine:

"Hi Ben. Michael Voss here. Could you please call Michael Voss back as soon as you get this message. Not five minutes later, not after a cup of tea or a line of the whacky stuff, but as soon as you get it. Michael Voss would like to talk to you. Michael Voss"

Good work!!!!

[Quixote]

BTW - the Drug Plan stipulation was one of the first mentioned and I think will be a deciding factor in where Ben goes.

I think we're in the box seat for sure.

And really - it's probably been a done deal for weeks.

[bigcarl]

the reaction is generally pretty positive

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/commen ... 61,00.html

Greatest day in football history! Posted by: jonny tuckopulis 2:20pm today
Comment 9 of 9
At last! he deserves another chance Posted by: Cath C of NSW 2:19pm today
Comment 8 of 9
Woohoo. Welcom back Ben!!!! For the first time in yonks, the AFL has made a correct decision Posted by: Nick Of Melb 2:17pm today
Comment 7 of 9
After his long lay off let's hope he doesn't encounter white line fever. Posted by: Anthony 2:16pm today
Comment 6 of 9
well done benny! you've showed what a great champion you are! Posted by: Henry of Melbourne 2:16pm today
Comment 5 of 9
good on him....i wish him all the best. Posted by: george of Melbourne 2:15pm today
Comment 4 of 9
Go for it Benny! Cue ranting about how Ben is a cheat. Get over it muppets. Posted by: Mad Rooster of Mad Melbourne 2:14pm today
Comment 3 of 9
YIPEEEEE im so happy for you Ben Posted by: Jodie of Vic 2:14pm today
Comment 2 of 9
Good luck Ben... Posted by: Chris of Melbourne 2:12pm today
Comment 1 of

[SainterK]

The AFL Commission announced Tuesday that it had given the go-ahead for Ben Cousins to resume his AFL career in 2009, subject to the former West Coast champion agreeing to strict drug-testing requirements

The league had several conditions for his reinstatement:

*Cousins can be drug tested up to three times a week by the AFL.
* Any club that drafts him must have a drug and alcohol management program.
* And Cousins must not fail to take a test.

How is this any different to the current drug testing the applies to all players?

[Batnoe]

There are 2 scenarios- he will either come out and play like he did before all this saga and win the bronwlow again or he will do a Wendall sailor and look slow and old after a few years out of the game

I think he is a better athlete than Wendall was though

[Batnoe]

I cannot wait to see him in RWB

[LennyBoy]

Well done to Ben on overcoming the many barriers to return to the top level of AFL Footy. All the best in your return whether or not it is with the Saints or not. Hopefully so!

[BelfastSaint]

Saints have issued a statement to say They are pleased with the decision re Ben Cousins but would continue to pursue due diligence etc etc and would be making no further statement at this time ...

[st_Trav_ofWA]

and it begins !!!!! you reckon this year PSD will be the most covered in the history of the comp ... the publicity around our club is going to be huge if we mannage to pull this off sucessfully ... i know if i was a big buissness looking at sponcering a team at this point the saints would look pretty good given the exposure they are going to get in the dead time of the year as far as footy is concerned ... imagine if the saints land Ben the media around his first training session would be huge and there would be you Brand name splashed across every frame !!!

i really hope the Saints milk this exposure for everything its worth (its not often we get such exposure without it being negative )

[ace]

Cousin's should jump at the chance to take the urine tests.
Imagine being able to give piss to Andrew Demetriou 3 times a week and NOT get fined.

[markp]

We've been wooing him for so long that if we haven't sealed the deal by now, we almost deserve someone else to come in and cut our lunch.... surely it's been consummated.

[ace]

Does St Kilda have a "drug and alcohol program which meets the satisfaction of the AFL".

[ace]

[quote="Quixote"]Message just left on Ben's answering machine:

"Hi Ben. Michael Voss here. Could you please call Michael Voss back as soon as you get this message. Not five minutes later, not after a cup of tea or a line of the whacky stuff, but as soon as you get it. Michael Voss would like to talk to you. Michael Voss"[/quote]


"Hi Ben it's Michael Voss calling again. I am getting desperate. I am wanting to know if I can have your stash now that you wont be needing it. Like I said I am getting desperate."