Ben Cousins

[no1bankteller]

Ok I have been giving this some thought and I am very likely to rough up a few feathers with my assessment here, but here it goes...

My assessment of Ben is that he is a highly gifted football player that is one of the greatest workers on the field. I also think that he is very hard at the ball and never thinks twice about placing his body between an opponent and the ball.

Now here comes the contraversial statement...

I would like to see Ben take one more step towards greatness. In one of my previous post I jokingly sid that Cousins is better then Voss, Hird or Buckley. To be honest in IMO he is not better then either Hird or Voss. Whether he is better then Buckley I am not sure.

The point to my rambling is that I think he could join the above three if was really committed to taking the next step. What I would like to see is for him to become a more physical player at the man and retain his current skill and desperation level. I would like to see him playing the type of game that Voss plays where if a man is over the ball he really lets him have it. Voss and Cousins are very fair players and I am not asking that Cousins steps outside of legal boundries, its just that I would like to see him become more physical at a body and if he did that I think his legend would grow even more..

To finish IMO Cousins is fantastic player and a captain I would just like to see him become even better...

Ok now let me have it...

 

[Sera]

Originally posted by no1bankteller
Ok I have been giving this some thought and I am very likely to rough up a few feathers with my assessment here, but here it goes...

My assessment of Ben is that he is a highly gifted football player that is one of the greatest workers on the field. I also think that he is very hard at the ball and never thinks twice about placing his body between an opponent and the ball.

Now here comes the contraversial statement...

I would like to see Ben take one more step towards greatness. In one of my previous post I jokingly sid that Cousins is better then Voss, Hird or Buckley. To be honest in IMO he is not better then either Hird or Voss. Whether he is better then Buckley I am not sure.

The point to my rambling is that I think he could join the above three if was really committed to taking the next step. What I would like to see is for him to become a more physical player at the man and retain his current skill and desperation level. I would like to see him playing the type of game that Voss plays where if a man is over the ball he really lets him have it. Voss and Cousins are very fair players and I am not asking that Cousins steps outside of legal boundries, its just that I would like to see him become more physical at a body and if he did that I think his legend would grow even more..

To finish IMO Cousins is fantastic player and a captain I would just like to see him become even better...

Ok now let me have it...

It all starts with the beard...

 

[Mead]

I probably agreed with you up to a point last year, when I kept my dirty little secret- that I was convinced Cousins was pretty overrated- to myself. However, more recently, particularly towards the latter half of this year, I get the feeling Cousins has gone from being a great player to a great captain.

Some of the games he played, particularly when our side was under the pump, were very impressive. Despite being sick enough to throw up at every break, he was a lone hand in our finals loss to Adelaide, and a few weeks earlier, he picked the team up by the the scruff of the neck and virtually singlehandedly dragged us back into the game against Geelong.

More pleasing still, he's been a bit more prepared to let his angry side out. I think its interesting to note that of all the Captain/Star Midfielder players around the league, eg Voss, Buckley, Crawford, Hird, Harvey, Bell, Ricciuto etc, Cousins is the youngest, by several years. He's still developing as a player and a leader, and his leadership took a few big steps forward this year. I get the feeling he's just entering his prime now, and as he gets more confident in his abilities to lead the side, he'll probably assert himself more.

Having said that, I don't think its realistic to expect him to play completely like Voss, because physically, that just ain't him- it isn't an attitude issue, Cousins is just a bit on the scrawny side to be an enforcer, and if he bulked up, he'd probably lose a certain amount of the mobility which makes him such a great free running midfielder.

 

[TheRealBuzz]

The physicality and toughness that Voss possesses can't be taught. You either have it, or you don't.

Cousins doesn't.

Few do.

 

[no1bankteller]

Originally posted by Mead

However, more recently, particularly towards the latter half of this year, I get the feeling Cousins has gone from being a great player to a great captain.

Some of the games he played, particularly when our side was under the pump, were very impressive. Despite being sick enough to throw up at every break, he was a lone hand in our finals loss to Adelaide, and a few weeks earlier, he picked the team up by the the scruff of the neck and virtually singlehandedly dragged us back into the game against Geelong.

Absolutely agree with those comments and perhaps that is what I was trying to suggest myself.

Including the fact that he is by far the youngest Captain and is still developing. Infact this is why I have compared him to Voss as it seems to me that over past few years Voss has gone from being a tough as nails player that was willing to cop being hit to tough as nails player that is willing to hit when he needs to.

I think over next few years Cousins will probably develop this trade craft a bit more.

Interesting thing is that I have met Ben on at least 5 or 6 occassions, and am willing to explain how to the regulars if interested just not willing to publicise this on this board, I do not think he is scrawny early in the season, its just that over the seson he focuses less on the weights nad more on the running therfore losing some of his size.

 

[carlyp]

Benny is still developing, he is only young. We havent seen the best of him yet imo. Watch for Cousins next year, he will lead us to success. Just you wait and see.

 

[no1bankteller]

Originally posted by carlyp
Benny is still developing, he is only young. We havent seen the best of him yet imo. Watch for Cousins next year, he will lead us to success. Just you wait and see.

Hey Carly make up your mind is he still at his peak or is he developing...lol

 

[carlyp]

Originally posted by no1bankteller
Hey Carly make up your mind is he still at his peak or is he developing...lol

Very funny
What I meant was, perhaps I should explain myself a little:

I think Cuzz is at the end of his development stage preety much. He now needs to start being consistent and being at his best EVERY week like the Voss's and Hirds generally are. I believe he can do it, he is a champion and I am confident.

 

[jod23]

I think Cuz took huge steps forward last season with his leadership. Cousins will always be a prolific ball winner but now he is learning to impact on a game at just the right itme and in just the right way, like a captain should. The Carlton game 2 years ago was the beginning of it and he has showed it more and more since then, peaking at the end of the year in his brilliant solo effort against the Crows.

He doesnt need to be more physical because that is not his game, if you start taking players away from there natural games, they tend to get worse rather than better. Cuz though is no softie either and regularly puts his body on the line but a Voss he aint, but few are.

I think Cousins is extremely competitive too and with Kerr and Judd emerging Im sure Cuz will want to stamp his authority on his position in the team. He will want to remind everyone that he is the best player we've got and Im looking for a big year from him next season.

 

[Au_Blue#24]

needs to improve with disposal

 

[back pocket]

Ben's about as good as Buckley as a footballer and probably won't improve too much more, other than improvement through experience, the main difference between those two is Buckley's a prick. Neither of the two are in the same class as Voss, who has it all, leadership, skill, great courage and 3 premierships as a captain.

 

[Mr Q]

Originally posted by back pocket
Ben's about as good as Buckley as a footballer...

Who hacked back pocket's password?

 

[back pocket]

Originally posted by Mr Q
Who hacked back pocket's password?

Ben's Mum

 

[no1bankteller]

IMO Buckly is not a prick, quiet a good guy actually. I see him and few Collingwood mates in my favorite coffee shop quiet often. He treats people with respect.

 

[back pocket]

Originally posted by no1bankteller
IMO Buckly is not a prick, quiet a good guy actually. I see him and few Collingwood mates in my favorite coffee shop quiet often. He treats people with respect.

People like Norm Smith, and Cameron Ling? If you think that's treating people with respect, I can imagine what kind of deposits you'd be getting at your bank window.

 

[no1bankteller]

Originally posted by back pocket
People like Norm Smith, and Cameron Ling? If you think that's treating people with respect, I can imagine what kind of deposits you'd be getting at your bank window.

?????????



All I can say is that I have seen the way he treats staff at the restaurant when away from public glare and how he treats people when they approach him for an autograph and based on that I can tell you that IMO he has always been very gracious and extreamly well mannared.

In addition to this one of my very close friends, and once again I am happy to explain to the regulars in private if there is a credibility issue here about me name droping, knows Buckly through business association and has nothing but extreamly positive things to say about him.

Therfore based on information of somebody I trust and based on my own experiance I can honestly say that I think he is a good guy.

You may have your opinion but based on your deragatory manner, towards me, I would much sooner trust myself and my friends as I do not belive that you truely know what respect is. Thank you for your thoughts though and have a great day.

 

[back pocket]

How do other players treat staff at coffee shops?
I'm guessing it would be the same as Buckley, yourself, me and 90 percent of people who might go into one.

Would you wipe your blood on another person and call it showing respect? Buckley can say as many please and thank you's as he likes, still doesn't make him respectful. I doubt Cousins would even think to wipe his blood on another player. Nor did he have a smug look on his face when his appeal against a suspension was upheld. Unlike your friend Nathan.

 

[Mead]

Originally posted by back pocket
How do other players treat staff at coffee shops?
I'm guessing it would be the same as Buckley, yourself, me and 90 percent of people who might go into one.

Would you wipe your blood on another person and call it showing respect? Buckley can say as many please and thank you's as he likes, still doesn't make him respectful. I doubt Cousins would even think to wipe his blood on another player. Nor did he have a smug look on his face when his appeal against a suspension was upheld. Unlike your friend Nathan.

Possibly there is some extreme differences between on and off field conduct? eg,Worsfold on field and Worsfold off field are poles apart.

I don't think its given by any means that players off field are all necessarily nice people. Anecdotally, I've heard enough to suggest that several high profile footballers are real ****ers off field.
If atm-man can say on the basis of his experience that Buckley is basically a nice guy off field, then he probably is.

 

[back pocket]

yeah well, if you'd wipe blood on someone on a footy field, suggests you'd do the same or worse off it. imo buckley is an insufferable prick, don't like him, never did, from the day I heard him sprouting crap about leaving Brisbane to play in finals, and he hasn't done anything to sway my opinion about him and neither has any banker, although I must admit, I've never spent time with him in a coffee shop.

Autobank can have him.