Ben Cousins - Suspended

[southerncross]

Reported on AFL.com that Cousins has been suspended. No other details

Thoughts?

[Dry Rot]

Was there an incident from our game?

[Go_Dogs]

That is what I would understand it to be DR.

I can see a lot of reports and suspensions happening this season...

Edit: Completely off the mark - internal suspension. Appears it could be drug related - apparently he was tested yesterday??

Watch this unfold...

[southerncross]

On SEN they mentioned that he missed Mondays training but the press conference has just started so we will soon find out

[firstdogonthemoon]

Why dont we have a heated discussion about testing for recreational drugs.

[southerncross]

This from AFL.com

West Coast has suspended former captain Ben Cousins indefinitely.
The ban was given to the Brownlow Medallist for breaking team rules after he missed a weights session on Monday morning, chairman Dalton Gooding confirmed today.
Gooding did not comment on why Cousins missed the session, except to say: "Ben has a number of very personal and private issues which the club is helping him to work through."
Gooding said the length of the suspension was not set, but could be as long as the entire season.
Throughout the suspension, Cousins will not be able to train with the club. This is a similar punishment to that handed out to Michael Gardiner last year before he was sacked by the club. Cousins will not be playing for his WAFL club, East Fremantle, this weekend.
In a further statement, the club said: "Ben has failed to fulfil his commitments as a professional member of the West Coast Eagles team to such a degree that his current situation is untenable.

"When Ben has addressed his ability to commit to the required level, his situation will be reviewed.
"It is with great sadness and regret that the club has been forced to take this action against a much-loved champion who has served this club with great distinction for more than a decade."
Cousins, 28, was stripped of the West Coast captaincy last year after he fled from a police booze bus.
Four months ago, the 2005 Brownlow medallist was arrested in Melbourne for being drunk outside Crown Casino.
Cousins won the 2005 Brownlow Medal, has won four West Coast best and fairest awards, is a six-time All-Australian and was voted the 2005 Most Valuable Player by the AFL Players Association.
He captained the Eagles 104 times from 2001-05 and is seventh on the club's games record list, with 231 games (202 goals) since 1996.

[Go_Dogs]

Why dont we have a heated discussion about testing for recreational drugs.


*forges Co-Sign*


*Co-sign*

Just jokes.

But, it would seem to be leading to something like that? Players missing training is always punished, and I know that Cousins is on his last chance etc, but really, a champion player like Cousins wouldn't be suspended indefinitely unless there was something bad going on, IMO at least. Gardiner was moved on last year - and I don't think that came as any surprise to anyone. Perhaps is Ben is having similar issues they want to take him away from the group, I'm sure they don't need such distractions on their quest for back to back glory.

[Go_Dogs]

From BF:

HOLY HELL, SEN have just reported that judd and cousins were in a fight last night at bens home. Ben is said to be in a serious but stable condition at an unamed perth hospital.

crapp

^ sounds like BS, but WC will have to come out with the truth soon enough. This sort of media will be killing them.

[alwaysadog]

This gets more and more crazy.

Wasn't he moving back home to live with his parents?

West Coast will have a hell of a job on their hands to contain this.

The first thought on everyone's mind is going to be that the rumours about his habits are true.

I thought Andrew D had the matter under control. The AFL must be frightened that the WCE are about to fall apart.

They can both do without all this poor publicity.

[Mofra]

Radio report said he had missed a couple of training sessions, and appeared to be "clearly intoxicated" at the club family day. news.com reports also state he missed a second training session.

[Go_Dogs]

Did he miss the trainings due to knowledge that drug testing would be called, and some how he had been tipped off about him being a name they were testing?

It all seems so strange. Eagles can't let this go on any longer, someone has to come clean about the whole situation.

[southerncross]

Also confirmed is that there was a physical altercation between Chick and Embley.
Cousins is not even allowed to train at his WAFL team

[GVGjr]

Did he miss the trainings due to knowledge that drug testing would be called, and some how he had been tipped off about him being a name they were testing?

It all seems so strange. Eagles can't let this go on any longer, someone has to come clean about the whole situation.

He was actually tested yesterday. Missed two training sessions as well.

[BulldogBelle]

A big stand from the Eagles, they would have had no choice but to suspend him as the media outcry would have gone through the roof if the Eagles didn't act on it.

Cousins obviously has some issues to sort through. I have always been a fan of his and I hope he gets it together.

[The Coon Dog]

Given the type of environment we are seeing at present in the Eagles camp, it makes you wonder how long it has been going on & the effect it would have had on younger players.

I have heard Rocket mention that Andrew McDougall is not only immature as a footballer, but as a person.

One can only assume he is the sort of person that would be far better away from that type of culture. I certainly hope so.

[GVGjr]

I wonder how all this will impact the Judd signing later in the years. Fist fights between senior players, champion players being suspend is not a good environment and one that he might be having a rethink about now

[BulldogBelle]

I wonder how all this will impact the Judd signing later in the years. Fist fights between senior players, champion players being suspend is not a good environment and one that he might be having a rethink about now

Yes, will be interesting to see what Judd does at the end of the season. Perhaps the Eagles making this stand against Cousins is to show Judd that they are trying to 'fix' things down at Eagleland thus trying to retain his services after his contract runs out.

[firstdogonthemoon]

Radio report said he had missed a couple of training sessions, and appeared to be "clearly intoxicated" at the club family day. news.com reports also state he missed a second training session.

I didnt see anyone drunk at our family day. The queues for the wine tasting were far too long.

[Dry Rot]

Radio report said he... appeared to be "clearly intoxicated" at the club family day.

Excellent stuff - he's joined the Martin Pyke Club.

[alwaysadog]

Perhaps the Eagles making this stand against Cousins is to show Judd that they are trying to 'fix' things down at Eagleland thus trying to retain his services after his contract runs out.

Please don't think I'm picking on you BulldogBelle but I don't think Cousins is the real problem as silly and stupid as he appears to be, nor are intoxicating substances of any form IMHO.

The real culprits in this thing are the people at the club who have kept sweeping this issue under the carpet for quite a few years because they were too concerned for image, win at all costs and other insubstantial things.

Cousins has been let down by a whole lot of people who should have acted years ago. Now he will be a scapegoat for those who allowed this occur and who will blame him for all the problems they haven't been game to deal with.

What is more it's still going on. We are getting all this Bull Sh*t about his family problems being at the heart of the matter when Blind Freddy knows that abuse is a the core of the problem. You don't take the steps the Weagles have now taken if he just has to sort out a few family problems as difficult and traumatic as they can be.

I recall several years ago a player who came to us from the west alleged then that Cousins and a close mate had a certain habit. At the time I didn't know what to make of it. But I am sure of one thing, if it was widely known in the west all that time ago then the Club leaders should have acted. IMHO there is a major failure of their duty of care. I'll bet however that it's Cousins who gets penalised for breach of contract to cover up the short comings of the real culprits.

If I was Andrew D I'd be calling in the whole Eagle's Board and admin and reading the riot act to them and suggesting they might be in breach of their licence conditions. If they are going to scapegoat Cousins who I've got no time for, but see as just a silly pawn in a bigger game, then given the embarassment the League has suffered it might be pertinent to give them a few weks to get their house in order or the AFl might seek to resume the licence.

[Dry Rot]

Good post AAD.

IIRC about 18 months ago when I was a BF Mod I was deleting defamatory posts about WCE players and drugs which now look to be true.

Goes well beyond just Cousins and this incident for a long time, and their club has done nothing till now.

[alwaysadog]

Good post AAD.

IIRC about 18 months ago when I was a BF Mod I was deleting defamatory posts about WCE players and drugs which now look to be true.

Goes well beyond just Cousins and this incident for a long time, and their club has done nothing till now.

My contact alleged things were out of hand about 5 years ago.

Currently there is also a possible more sinister side. Why would two other Eagle's players have come to blows over him. One was housing him and the other has an interesting medical history that is yet to be fully understood, but which smells fishier and fishier by the day and by his actions.

Was this an attempt to prevent a wider damaging disclosure to the drug testing or other authorities?

Let me make it clear that I gain no satisfaction from the whole sorry mess and am in no way seeking to make capital out of it. I am more concerned that the issue is addressed, that a solution is found and that the Club comes to accept its responsibilities to get the players who need it get proper help, not the washing our hands of the problem approach which seems to predominate.

Banishment was a medieval way of ridding oneself of problems, the Eagles can do better and must be persuaded or forced to do so, they cannot be allowed to hide their collective complicity in this matter.

[BulldogBelle]

The real culprits in this thing are the people at the club who have kept sweeping this issue under the carpet for quite a few years because they were too concerned for image, win at all costs and other insubstantial things.

Cousins has been let down by a whole lot of people who should have acted years ago. Now he will be a scapegoat for those who allowed this occur and who will blame him for all the problems they haven't been game to deal with.

Agree with you totally and they will make an example out of Cousins, the problems at the club go back quite awhile and it has just come to a head now. This latest thing being the last straw. Will be interesting to see how the Eagles deal with this all. I don't think this is the end of it, more will come out.

[LostDoggy]

My contact alleged things were out of hand about 5 years ago.

I don't know how they managed to win a premiership with the alleged substance misuse being rife and it would appear the apparent lack of discipline by the club:(

It's funny itsn't it, people like Sam Newman, like to portray our club and supporters as being a pack of ferral bogons - yet if you cast your eye back over the last five to ten years, there has been no drink driving scandals, no drug scandals, no alleged sexual assualts of barmaids or other women, no wife swapping, no loss of sponsorship money through players misbehaviour, no assaults being carried out on taxi drivers or other members of the public, no Intervention Orders being slapped on family members ummm any more... The Western bulldogs are a club with a good moral culture - If that is what a bogon is - well I am glad to be one:D .

[bornadog]

Did any one read the Sunday Age last week on Cousins and the incident around Xmas when he was picked up on the streets out of it and spent 4 hours in a cell?

According to the article a passer by tried to help Cousins and he says Cousins was high on drugs and not drunk. It was interesting reading.

[alwaysadog]

I don't know how they managed to win a premiership with the alleged substance misuse being rife and it would appear the apparent lack of discipline by the club:(

It's funny itsn't it, people like Sam Newman, like to portray our club and supporters as being a pack of ferral bogons - yet if you cast your eye back over the last five to ten years, there has been no drink driving scandals, no drug scandals, no alleged sexual assualts of barmaids or other women, no wife swapping, no loss of sponsorship money through players misbehaviour, no assaults being carried out on taxi drivers or other members of the public, no Intervention Orders being slapped on family members ummm any more... The Western bulldogs are a club with a good moral culture - If that is what a bogon is - well I am glad to be one:D .

I'm always worried about stones and glass houses but we appear to have been remarkably restrained. There have been a couple of allegations but nothing has proceeded from them to my knowledge. I'm sure that we haven't got a bunch of choir boys but we do seem to have a group who don't seem to need to live on the edge. God, I hope these aren't famous last words!

[alwaysadog]

Agree with you totally and they will make an example out of Cousins, the problems at the club go back quite awhile and it has just come to a head now. This latest thing being the last straw. Will be interesting to see how the Eagles deal with this all. I don't think this is the end of it, more will come out.

If it is not to gnaw away at the AFL like a cancer it has to be dealt with expeditiously and effectively. I see no sign that the Weagles are headed in that direction. They are still in damage control mode.

The AFL must intervene. If it was our club they'd be busting in the doors right now, but will they challenge the mighty powerful people behind the Weagles?

In the final analysis all the hard work to establish the code as a socially progressive and inclusive organisation is at risk. Having got all the kudos for anti racist and anti sexist initiatives and recognition for multicultural achievements it can't afford to fail the challenge of this even greater social evil.

It's not one the AFL thought they were going to have to address, but if they have any brains they will hear the clarion call and put their considerable resources to bear before those resources disipate.

It's not just advertising revenue but a more fundamental faith that the public have in the way the game is administered that is at stake.

[LostDoggy]

I'm always worried about stones and glass houses but we appear to have been remarkably restrained. There have been a couple of allegations but nothing has proceeded from them to my knowledge. I'm sure that we haven't got a bunch of choir boys but we do seem to have a group who don't seem to need to live on the edge. God, I hope these aren't famous last words!

Yeah, I didn't mean it to sound cocky:eek: it was more of a reflection. I believe that a culture of a club is made through decent human beings, and that a good solid culture cannot be bought.;) And while I am sure there has been a few incidents of one kind or another - the club has dealt with those incidents in a way that has obviously been effective and final - not brushing them under the rug.:)

[alwaysadog]

Yeah, I didn't mean it to sound cocky:eek: it was more of a reflection. I believe that a culture of a club is made through decent human beings, and that a good solid culture cannot be bought.;) And while I am sure there has been a few incidents of one kind or another - the club has dealt with those incidents in a way that has obviously been effective and final - not brushing them under the rug.:)

No suggestion on my part that you were cocky, it's just my fear that the sky won't just fall on cock robin but that it is always ready to fall in on the bulldogs. If the truth is known I've been proud of our boys especially in recent times because they seem so grounded and so focussed on the important things in football and life. In our adversity we have grouped closer together and worked on the worthwhile things and not let ourselves get distracted by the hoopla and glitz.

[Dry Rot]

We are not without sin and I reckon all clubs have a few skeletons in the cupboard, but WCE seems way over the top.

[alwaysadog]

We are not without sin and I reckon all clubs have a few skeletons in the cupboard, but WCE seems way over the top.

Agreed, I also think it shows the short comings of player leadership groups. They are incapable of acting when a very skilled and popular player is doing crazy things that aren't effecting his football, of course it's not in their area of responsibility. That should be a matter for the club and where it fails to act, for the league.

This whole thing is a failure of responsible authority to justify itself by doing something at an appropriate time. Having been so holier than thou over problems with Thugby players they have slumbered through the early stages of a much bigger and ultimately more damaging crisis.

Only last week they were assuring us they were on top of it, and that their drug testing only picked up 24 players, well below the societal average for such things. All the warning signs were there, we had the Carlton incidents, worying overtones with two Collingwood players and the ongoing saga at West Coast.... and the response, boys will be boys, we'll give them a pep talk.

Also called into question is the AFLPA's committment to player welfare issues beyond bank account matters. Rather than being concerned about whether Cousins is being paid I would like them to reassure us that he is being properly cared for and is not at risk of a bigger harm than the final destruction of what remained of his bank balance and his reputation.

It's time to get our priorities right and to ensure that when young men leave home to take up a career as a footballer they are not exposed to unnecessary risks and that they understand the risks they will be exposed to on and off the field and the consequences. It is time furthermore for the duty of care we hear so much about in the strangest of places to actually be exercised by those with whom the responsibility ultimately rests. We have got to put an end to this hand wringing and isolation response and acknowledge and deal with the problem in a manner that asssits those who get trapped in the abuse web to rebuild their lives.

No one who has followed my contributions to this thread would have any doubt about who I see as the real culprits.

[Go_Dogs]

Some good discussion in here. I guess with all the media the matter has been receiving over the past few weeks, Cousins being intoxicated at a family day and apparently binging due to relationship troubles has come to head. Obviously some players at WC wanted it to stop - and wanted to come clean about the matter - perhaps why fisticuffs ended up being thrown.

It really does raise an important Duty of Care question IMO as AAD pointed. If he club has known this information for as long as it appears to have, surely they owe a duty of care to Cousins to try and correct the issue, especially given the policies on drugs etc. I guess it also raises important questions such as - has WC sought rehab or counseling for Ben? What have they done internally to try and address the problem before the extreme steps taken yesterday? - it seems as though they knew it was about to blow up and quickly acted in hope that it would cool the situation down. IMO it basically did the opposite.

Some very tough times ahead for all WC people, surely don't envy their situation.

[alwaysadog]

Some good discussion in here. I guess with all the media the matter has been receiving over the past few weeks, Cousins being intoxicated at a family day and apparently binging due to relationship troubles has come to head. Obviously some players at WC wanted it to stop - and wanted to come clean about the matter - perhaps why fisticuffs ended up being thrown.

It really does raise an important Duty of Care question IMO as AAD pointed. If he club has known this information for as long as it appears to have, surely they owe a duty of care to Cousins to try and correct the issue, especially given the policies on drugs etc. I guess it also raises important questions such as - has WC sought rehab or counseling for Ben? What have they done internally to try and address the problem before the extreme steps taken yesterday? - it seems as though they knew it was about to blow up and quickly acted in hope that it would cool the situation down. IMO it basically did the opposite.

Some very tough times ahead for all WC people, surely don't envy their situation.


The Hun, not a terribly reliable source IMHO, claimed today that Cousins father intends or is thinking about suing the Weagles. He is apparently very angry at the club's lack of action.

[southerncross]

The Hun, not a terribly reliable source IMHO, claimed today that Cousins father intends or is thinking about suing the Weagles. He is apparently very angry at the club's lack of action.

Surely a switched on former elite footballer parent has been hearing all the rumors about his own son. I hope he can prove that he went to the club and requested them to ban him earlier but they knocked him back.

To me it's a bit rich to be pointing the finger at others because it's not like his son was living in another state.

[BulldogBelle]

Surely a switched on former elite footballer parent has been hearing all the rumors about his own son. I hope he can prove that he went to the club and requested them to ban him earlier but they knocked him back.

So many different things circulating around, although you would think that Cousin's dad would have tried to push the issue with the Eagles a bit more when he started to get concerned. I feel sorry for Cousin's as AAD mentioned earlier the club has let him down. Like him or hate him things should not have got that far.

[alwaysadog]

Surely a switched on former elite footballer parent has been hearing all the rumors about his own son. I hope he can prove that he went to the club and requested them to ban him earlier but they knocked him back.

To me it's a bit rich to be pointing the finger at others because it's not like his son was living in another state.

Have you ever tried to get a Football club to examine what it is doing or to actually change, even on a non contentious manner?

If they are in a good mood they appear all receptive and agree with you but do nothing.

If they are at all under the pump they act like a tortoise and withdraw into their shell and then move about as quickly till you give up and then they go back to doing what you have explained to them is in effective.

I supect that Brian Cousins kept aappealing to the club and kept getting the we've got everything under control act, but no action and now he's trying to startle them into action.

It reminds me of the old joke about how Rus Hinz's driver used to get Rus' tie on him every morning. Hinz being a very overweight giant of a man with no visible neck who was deputy Premier to Jo Bielke Peterson.

When asked how he performed this miracle the driver is claimed to have replied that he learned the trick from a mate who owned a chinese restaurant and had a technique for making a tortoise stick it's head out so it could be killed and cooked.

Evidently the chinaman would put the tortoise on the chopping block and raise the chopper over the spot where the neck would be if it was extended. Then with his free hand he would apply the John Hoppoate treatment. The startled creature stuck its neck out to see what was going on, according to the tale it worked a treat on Rus too.

[Twodogs]

AAD you've made some great observations in this thread. I've had much the same problems in the past as Cousins and I am incredibly relieved that I didnt have a talent that meant it was easier for people to sweep my problems under the carpet than address them. Thankfully I was just a pleb and my situation was addressed by those who loved me and not the benefits I bought them.



I really feel for Ben, know exactly where he stands, whats going through his mind and what lays ahead for him-it wont be pretty.

[alwaysadog]

AAD you've made some great observations in this thread. I've had much the same problems in the past as Cousins and I am incredibly relieved that I didnt have a talent that meant it was easier for people to sweep my problems under the carpet than address them. Thankfully I was just a pleb and my situation was addressed by those who loved me and not the benefits I bought them.



I really feel for Ben, know exactly where he stands, whats going through his mind and what lays ahead for him-it wont be pretty.

Twodogs, very glad you faced and overcame your demons and had honest and loving people on and at your side; what has occurred in Ben's life is going to be a real test for him and his family.

What upsets me the most is the humbug that is going on. No one in authority is telling the truth. They're all trying to say what they think will make it go away. Even most of the Captian's comments at the season launch yesterday are about as genuine as their smiles for the cameras. The only honest one refused to comment.

With this attitude prevailing we are never going to be able to take even the first steps along the incredibly difficult path to working on solutions. Surely the release of the ABC tapes will force some action. If I hear that the AFL has met with the police and their has been a mutual picking up of brooms and carpets I think I'll spew.

I suspect however, that we won't get anything like the truth till the next time the AFL gets its PR company's report on the public reaction to these events. Football has always been a political game but on such an important issue is it unreasonable to have expected a little more?

[firstdogonthemoon]

Two things.

Firstly. Can we see any benefit for Ben or his family now that he has been named and it is a circus? Would his chances of benefiting from rehab/treatment be improved or worsened by it all appearing in the media. (Rhetoric)

Secondy. I now have an image of Russ Hinze and his driver engaged in neck extending activity and I dont appreciate it being burned into my brain.

Please dont do that again.

[Twodogs]

Firstly. Can we see any benefit for Ben or his family now that he has been named and it is a circus? Would his chances of benefiting from rehab/treatment be improved or worsened by it all appearing in the media. (Rhetoric)




I have been listening to a lot of self proclaimed experts expousing their solutions to this problem radio talkback and I'm starting to wonder exactly what their expertise in drug and alcohol addiction is. Some pretty stupid opinions have been made from "Ban all the druggies" to "Shoot them all"

I even heard the ever sanctimonius Timmy Watson enlighting us with the good old 'zero tolerance' line this morning on SEN. "First positive test and they are out" thundered the oracle on all things moral. Get a clue Timmy-how long before opposition clubs take to spiking drinks of players they dont want taking the field?


Make some informed opinions or exclude yourself from the debate.

[GVGjr]

Anyone else hearing the whisper of which high profile former player might have a similar problem to Cousins?

Lets not name anyone but I would be interested to know if word is getting around

[Sockeye Salmon]

Anyone else hearing the whisper of which high profile former player might have a similar problem to Cousins?

Lets not name anyone but I would be interested to know if word is getting around

You mean the "$5000 a ticket all the cocaine, booze and hookers you can handle" parties?

[alwaysadog]

Secondy. I now have an image of Russ Hinze and his driver engaged in neck extending activity and I dont appreciate it being burned into my brain.

Please dont do that again.

I plead guilty to telling an off joke, but burning it on your brain is not my doing.

Besides I chuckle every time I think of it. There was definitely something pompous primordeal and reptillian about Rus that it both captures to a T while exploding the pomp..