Is Cousins finding form or is it just an illusion?

[The Rusty Trombone]

Granted Ben had a great game against Port 2 weeks ago but conditions were perfect for an ageing footballer with the smarts to keep the ball rolling forward and plenty of time to make every contest.

I thought his game against the Saints was very similar to all his other dry games. Slow , nothing hand balls and puffed out kicks on the run to no where . Has he replaced McMuffin as our new turn over king?

Can he play 4 solid quarters this Sunday ? Thoughts ?

 

[docko911]

IMO cousins has had no impact on the team this year and is only being kept in the senior squad for leadership and his experience. He is too slow, unfit and his disposal lets him down quite a bit.

 

[tugga]

Hadwick basically said two weeks ago that Cuz is an onfield assistant coach. Teaching the kids where to run to and how to do it all out on the field. That's good enough for me.
To answer your question, he hasn't been as good as last year has he? I guess we will know more by the end of the year.

 

[wce4premiership]

He was only on the ground 62% of game time and was very good. He makes tacklers miss, can break lines, sets up the midfield and got a lot of first hands on the ball getting handballs out cleanly while being tackled.

He's not what he was in 05/06 but he's more valuable than the rest of your team.

 

[tugga]

He was only on the ground 62% of game time and was very good. He makes tacklers miss, can break lines, sets up the midfield and got a lot of first hands on the ball getting handballs out cleanly while being tackled.

He's not what he was in 05/06 but he's more valuable than the rest of your team.

no he isn't

 

[Kyusss]

was great against port and good against stkilda
definately getting his fitness up and along with it comes form
will have a good 2nd half of the year bank it

 

[Roachy8]

I reckon he is finding some fitness... has not looked right for most of the year.

It must be tough for an elite player when father time and his old muscles and joints start complaining too loudly.

Having said that though, on-field he is still good value, directing traffic at stopages, talking to our cubs and drawing a key opposition defender.

Should bow out later this year though... for everyones good.

 

[Goldust]

ACTUALLY though his game against the Saints was pretty good. We're just used to judging him by lofty standards.
Would think his contribution in the small number of games he's played would be greater than that of Akermanis in 9-10 games this season.
That would be a fairer comparison - ageing player v ageing player!

 

[coke_zero]

He has not been great this year. But he's doing his job. Will get better as the year goes on.

 

[NQTIGER]

Andy has taken young ben under his wing and teaching him the finer points of footy.

We have seen the improvement in Ben the las couple of weeks and as his time on the ground increases so will his output.

Ben said today that he was in Awe of the skills possesed by Andy Collins in nutmeging the saints player and kicking his insparational second goal.

So in answe to your Question TRT Ben is finding form on the back of the instructions given to him by Andy.!!!!!

Perpetuate the Story

 

[The Rusty Trombone]

All valid points and yes I agree he is a terrific general on the field but how much time do we give him?

 

[The Rusty Trombone]

What does perpetuate mean NQ Tiger. Is it a Chinese word meaning the pet you ate?

 

[JR#8]

He was only on the ground 62% of game time and was very good. He makes tacklers miss, can break lines, sets up the midfield and got a lot of first hands on the ball getting handballs out cleanly while being tackled.

He's not what he was in 05/06 but he's more valuable than the rest of your team.

lol. GTFO.

 

[THE THIN MAN]

He will be gone at years end, has not produce enough on the field as the years have caught up with him.

This does not preclude him being offered an off field position but that depends if Cousins thinks he has another year left.

 

[TigerTime88]

I thought he has been really good the last two weeks.

I think if you judge him you have to bring in the fact what his leadership brings.

Newman is only a new Captain and Cuz is essentially co-captaining with him atm. Newman said the other night he will tell him what he thinks and speak to the boys.

Would be happy to see him play next year ecspecially if guys like White and King are getting games....

Still glad we picked him up and once he retires he better walk straight into an assistant coaching possie.

 

[Livonski]

Working his way into it. Clean hands and a brain in his head gets past 90% of "athletes" playing the game today. Cuz will excel after a few consecutive games. Quality.

 

[acr2751]

he is starting to go alright his worst this year has still been better than a few

his experience is value keep him in

 

[DM10]

Granted Ben had a great game against Port 2 weeks ago but conditions were perfect for an ageing footballer with the smarts to keep the ball rolling forward and plenty of time to make every contest.

I thought his game against the Saints was very similar to all his other dry games. Slow , nothing hand balls and puffed out kicks on the run to no where . Has he replaced McMuffin as our new turn over king?

Can he play 4 solid quarters this Sunday ? Thoughts ?

62% tog - 79% efficiency- 24 poss -

3 inside 50 - 4 clearance - 4 tackles- 1 assist - 104pts (champion data) + blocks and shepherds.

Is that an illusion? Care to tell us lover boy Collins stats. What will you do if Collins is traded next year?

What you need to realize is that Ben is out there as a link player and to shepherd and block, so that Collins and others can run and show us how good they are, or can be! Ben is not out there for brownlow votes. He's there to help others get votes. His role is to watch the back of the young guys. They should be grateful to have him out there with them.

 

[wce4premiership]

When i say more valuable than the rest of your team i mean any single player.

Seeing as he brings leadership and on-field coaching on top of being in the top 5-10 playrs every week in performance i don't think there are other players of more value.

He's a great package deal.

 

[JimmyRecard]

kk wce4premiership back to the west coast board please.

ben is doing enough to keep his spot in the 22 but proberbly should keep getting limted tog and lead the guys that are gonna take us forward have more playing time.

hes good in tight but my god hes slow, especially against the speedy essendon he was all at sea.

 

[Spluff]

He was pretty good against the Saints, his footskills were still pretty poor, but his use by hand was very good (and to his credit he has realized that his kicking skills aren't the same as they once were and has started going primarily by hand, and he's more damaging just by hand than most of our team is by foot.

 

[tigerdan]

Yes he is finding form.

His burst of speed is probably gone for good but his thinking and positioning as sharp as ever.

We could probably nurse him through another season, if only for his onfield leadership, which cannot be underestimated. The guy still has an aura about him, much more so than Akermanis IMHO.

Ultimately it will be Ben Cousins who decides. Like many an elite player who loses fame and fortune once they retire, he may find it hard to adjust. Dealing with his addiction problems even more so. I'd like to think that we can hold on to him one more year, even just to the middle of the year. His presence in the pre-season would still really help. And the longer he's in a team environment, the more chance of beating his addiction if you ask me.

 

[the ranger]

He has not been great this year. But he's doing his job. Will get better as the year goes on.

This. Definitely belongs in the first 22 and still has plenty of time to prove he deserves another contract. Jury is out but I hope he shows enough and is back next year.

 

[The Rusty Trombone]

Good question DM10 , what would I do if Andy Collins was delisted next year ? Never thought of it as I think he shows more talent and definately more application than alot of the kids on the list. If Andy was delisted I'd do absolutely nothing because there is nothing I could do. Maybe I could write a strongley worded letter to Brendon Gale if they flick him .

By the way I think you have over rated Cousins game against the Saints a little. I wish all these things are true you typed about him and hopefully he is finding more form and fitness as the year goes on.

Oh and I'm not sure what Andy's stats were but on face value I do remember him kicking 2 goals , 200% more goals than 20 other team members.

 

[El Tigre]

Oh and I'm not sure what Andy's stats were but on face value I do remember him kicking 2 goals , 200% more goals than 20 other team members.

Actually 2 goals over not scoring anything is infinitely better, not 200% better.