Booze bus Benny

[swantastic]

Has done a hammy at training and will not play this week,if not for a few.It must be like music to your ears.

 

[lionbear]

Has done a hammy at training and will not play this week,if not for a few.It must be like music to your ears.

Source?

 

[blackclaw]

It's on the AFL website.

 

[lionbear]

The positive is we don't have a reigning Brownlow Medalist to Tag. Negative is he hasn't played footy in about 15 weeks a rusty footballer might have been to our advantage. Oh well I guess another club will now have to worry about his return.

 

[blackclaw]

I would much rather Ben Cousins NOT play rather than plaing even if he is "rusty". He is one of the best players in the league - if he hadn't played for 2 years I would still fear he would demolish us.

Great news for the Lions, especially if he was set to take Judd's place. With a bit of luck Judd will be out for one more week too.

 

[lionbear]

I would much rather Ben Cousins NOT play rather than plaing even if he is "rusty". He is one of the best players in the league - if he hadn't played for 2 years I would still fear he would demolish us.

Great news for the Lions, especially if he was set to take Judd's place. With a bit of luck Judd will be out for one more week too.

Don't worry I was leaning alot more to the positive then the Negative. It's amazing how often these sought of players have a blinder first game back.

 

[king and i]

Ben Cousins' long-anticipated return to the AFL is expected to be delayed for another two weeks after he injured his hamstring during training today.

The former captain and Brownlow medallist, who has not played since last year's grand final after a very public battle with drug addiction, was set to make his return for West Coast against Brisbane tomorrow night.

However, West Coast spokesman Gary Stocks announced this afternoon that Cousins would not play.

"Ben Cousins suffered a minor hamstring strain at training this morning and will not be considered for selection this week, regardless of the results of an AFL medical report," Stocks said in a statement.

"The club and Cousins are still awaiting the outcome of a report from AFL medical commissioners..."

AFL doctors Peter Harcourt and Harry Unglik travelled from Melbourne last night to psychologically assess Cousins.

They performed further tests on Cousins this morning before flying back to Melbourne and are set to announce by 7pm AEST whether he is cleared to play.

However, that decision was pre-empted this morning when Cousins clutched at his hamstring 15 minutes into West Coast's light training session at Subiaco.

Cousins then stretched his leg a few times before disappearing into the players' rooms.

Assistant coach Peter Sumich said the playing group was ready to welcome Cousins back and hoped the Eagles champion could make his return on their home ground in front of his supporters, rather than next week when West Coast play Port Adelaide.

Cousins, 29, has not played this season because of his battle with substance abuse, which saw him indefinitely suspended from the club and the then spend a month at a Californian drug rehabilitation clinic.

At a sponsor's breakfast this morning, Eagles coach John Worsfold confirmed Cousins would play his first AFL match in 280 days if cleared.

Worsfold said the player group and the match committee believed Cousins was ready to play - while rival coach Leigh Matthews also said he was expecting the superstar to make an appearance.

However, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou told Melbourne radio station
3AW he thought it strange the Eagles would immediately inject the Brownlow medallist back into their team.

"I keep reading they want to play him ... which seems a bit odd given that they are going pretty well, they have had all these other players playing throughout the season and he hasn't had a run under his belt,'' Demetriou said.

with AAP


Nice choice of words, but anyway I wish him a speedy recovery.

 

[*Danni*]

Fingers crossed this is not a 'let's err on the side of caution and say he won't play, but if he turns out ok we'll name him on the team sheet 20min pre-game and wear the sanction/fine' type of announcement.

I'll never forget being at Brown's 'return' game v Bombers after his GF suspension. What was it, 9 goals? Before Leigh took him off during the last qtr?

Mind games? Open book policy? Media deflection? what is really going on - I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[notting18]

Fingers crossed this is not a 'let's err on the side of caution and say he won't play, but if he turns out ok we'll name him on the team sheet 20min pre-game and wear the sanction/fine' type of announcement.

I'll never forget being at Brown's 'return' game v Bombers after his GF suspension. What was it, 9 goals? Before Leigh took him off during the last qtr?

Mind games? Open book policy? Media deflection? what is really going on - I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Definitely out! - i heard on SEN his "walk out of the ground" today and he was not at all happy.... "such is life."

 

[*Danni*]

Definitely out! - i heard on SEN his "walk out of the ground" today and he was not at all happy.... "such is life."

Crikey I hope you are right! Personally, if they had reported he had 'limped' out instead of walking.........I'd be feeling a little more confident. But that's just me.

We can be 15 goals up at half time........but unless we are 46+pts up at 3/4 time I'm not comfortable (note I said comfortable - not 'happy'). I'm the worlds biggest pessimist when it comes to footy hoodoos/gurus/traditions/superstitions. The good old bears still hold that record for the comeback from 3/4 time vs hawks at the Gabba in 1995 - the win that started the run to their first ever finals appearance. Unless we are above that threshold I'm still a nervous wreck about the result. And if only slightly above it I'm worrying about a new record being set. Yes, I am continually told at home I'm overly neurotic about things like this - but it's all part of the footy experience - or so I keep explaining to mr un-initiated.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I've been one who has refused to demonise him over the recent controversy.

I firmly believe that drug addiction is an illness, not a crime, and the media scrutiny he was exposed to was almost inhumane.

One of my favorite players and am looking forward to seeing him back out there, as long is its not against us.

 

[notting18]

Crikey I hope you are right! Personally, if they had reported he had 'limped' out instead of walking.........I'd be feeling a little more confident. But that's just me.

Okay - the also reported that he made a loud duck referance as he left the field and he made some comment along the lines of things just go wrong sometimes as well.

 

[*Danni*]

I've been one who has refused to demonise him over the recent controversy.

You're not the first nor the last in the non-demonising boat. But that's really not here nor there in relation to his predicted performance.

I couldn't give a rats if he's been out for 10 days or 10 months - is he going to really play or not? (the reasons behind it come even further down the list than the actual time off he has had)

Do we want to be the ones that could possibly end up wearing the tag of the team that got flogged by a blinder he plays on his return after a huge
absence let alone the scandal that caused the absence? I bloody hope not!

And for the record - Yes, I do believe he has the potential to play a blinder his first outing after all the turmoil. I'd loved to be proven wrong- yet (as long as it isn't against us) I suppose I'd love to be proven right too!

 

[Hollow Knight]

You're not the first nor the last in the non-demonising boat. But that's really not here nor there in relation to his predicted performance.

Okayyyyyy....

 

[*Danni*]

Okayyyyyy....

No confusion necessary. Just my response to what looked like to me a self pontification of holier-than-thou self-commentary that really had no relevance until we got to your last line that included the 'as long as it isn't against us' bit.

But hey just my take/interpretation/musings/wonderings on why you said it.

No offence intended, non inferred either.

 

[Hollow Knight]

No confusion necessary. Just my response to what looked like to me a self pontification of holier-than-thou self-commentary that really had no relevance until we got to your last line that included the 'as long as it isn't against us' bit.

But hey just my take/interpretation/musings/wonderings on why you said it.

No offence intended, non inferred either.

EDIT: I originally posted a response that I deemed proportionate to the insulting nature of this post by Dannii but I decided that I did not wish to be dragged down to that level, nor did I want to participate in returning this board to the nightmare that existed before the appointment of Weevil and TFB as moderators.

 

[*Danni*]

Bit of a reach to imply that I have a holier-than-thou attitude then say no offence was intended or inferred.

But since we are making interpretations/musings/wonderings, you're post seemed like a bit of the self-importance and arrogance and the need to patronise and condescend that can sometimes come with modship may have accumulated internally during your absence.

No offence intended or inferred of course.

None taken.

I don't have the energy or time to waste energy on trying to type messages that sorta do/sorta don't seem like a dig. They either are or aren't. And if in doubt on how it will be perceived, a disclaimer/not a dig statement appers to clarify.


Best policy practice and all that.

 

[Grimreepah]

I've been one who has refused to demonise him over the recent controversy.

I firmly believe that drug addiction is an illness, not a crime, and the media scrutiny he was exposed to was almost inhumane.

One of my favorite players and am looking forward to seeing him back out there, as long is its not against us.

Yep, that's how I feel too.

 

[Hollow Knight]

None taken.

I don't have the energy or time to waste energy on trying to type messages that sorta do/sorta don't seem like a dig. They either are or aren't. And if in doubt on how it will be perceived, a disclaimer/not a dig statement appers to clarify.


Best policy practice and all that.

Unfortunately, its hard to see how being called 'holier-than-thou' can be seen in a positive light, even followed by a disclaimer.

Its a similar level of contradiction to when people say "I'm not racist but...<insert racial slur here>" .

 

[Hollow Knight]

Yep, that's how I feel too.

Yeah, and I felt like I needed to clarify my position considering I was participating in a thread called "Booze Bus Benny".

Unfortunately it appears my intentions have been interpreted in another way.

 

[since82eags]

Benny busted his hammy and you guys are still getting pumped closest thing to a sure thing

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Benny busted his hammy and you guys are still getting pumped closest thing to a sure thing

Was this meant to be a potshot? Maybe focus on coherence next time. Or had we gone a cone too far?

 

[king and i]

Yep, that's how I feel too.

Drug addiction is an illness, playing professional sport while under the influence of performance enhancing drugs is breaking the rules. Knowing a little bit about these drugs, I find it incredulous that he was able to function for so long under the influence, because although they are performance enhancing to a point, beyond that point they simply lead to breakdown and total disfunction, which was the climax that we all saw. He was lucky to come away unscathed. I think I read along the lines of a $3000 a week habit (-can't remember source sorry). That is nothing short of an awesome habit.
I believe for his sake he should be out of the game for much longer. The habit can take years to break, and the less pressure on him the better. If the counsellors think it's time, well I guess it's their call.

 

[Grimreepah]

Drug addiction is an illness, playing professional sport while under the influence of performance enhancing drugs is breaking the rules.

What performance enhancing drugs was Ben Cousins taking? To my knowledge his drug use was purely recreational.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Drug addiction is an illness, playing professional sport while under the influence of performance enhancing drugs is breaking the rules.

Ben Cousins hasn't tested positive to, seeked treatment for, or admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs. Only illicit drugs are involved.