Decision not to draft Ben Cousins

[Hawks to fly]

Hope Saints supporters do not mind me visiting your site to get an opinion. I am sorry if this has been discussed in recent times.

I would like to start by congratulating the St Kilda football club for playing so superbly this year,love watching them play. I would also like to congratulate them on their brave decision not to draft Ben Cousins. Brave because they built up the hopes of Saints supporters then decided against drafting him which listening to talkback was not a popular decision.

Why have I brought this up? It is now 10 weeks into the season, a long time since that decision was made. The Saints are 10-0, playing as a team in every sense of the word with an obvious spirit of playing for each other. Richmond who drafted Cousins ("they had nothing to lose") are 2-8, playing for themselves and the coach has been sacked voluntarily! I watched the interview with Cousins on Sat night after they luckily beat Freo and all I could think was what a d...head! This bloke plays only for himself, that is absolutely clear. I had never seen a post match interview where the player's thoughts are all about himself.

I cannot work out what Cousins could have brought to St Kilda that a Hayes, Goddard, Montagna, Dal Santo etc couldn't do. He runs hard but his skills are not elite and he is a link player at best. What he could have brought though is an attitude of playing for yourself. Could he have been the virus that has pervaded through the Richmond FC that has caused it to unravel? Could one player like Cousins affect the whole fabric of the place.

If I was a Saints supporter I would be very thankful for their thoroughness in investigating Cousins and deciding that he didn't fall in the category of "we have nothing to lose". 10000 extra Richmond members does not make up for disunity within a football club. I would appreciate your thoughts

 

[StFly]

For what it's worth, I could not have cared either way if we did or not since the club was doign what it deemed to be in its best interests. Since this ended up as it did and he went to Richmond "hey, yeah, congrats, keep it to yourself" and that wad done and dusted as far as I was concerned.

Sure some could say brave decision, what a pack of wussies, waste of time and all that but at this point it's utterly and unequivocally irrelevant. The only thing that is relevant to me at this time is the current playing list, how they are going, how they could be better and what we have to look forward to instead of constantly being dragged kicking and screaming in the past to validate someone elses opinion or desire to cause a ruckus.

I'm already sick and tired hearing about the man, oh no he made a rude gesture, collective sigh everyone!

 

[Disco7]

I think at the time alot of Saints supporters were disappointed and going by talk back radio alot had lost faith and threatened to hand back their memberships, but the reality is that Ross and the club knew which direction we were heading and as you say thats a direction which they felt we could get to without Cousins. We have the midfield to lead us and we've certainly gained not lost by not signing him. Joey,Lenny,Dal,BJ,CJ and Bally are doing a great job at the moment.

 

[Squizz]

Like StFly, I was pretty ambivalent. He brought things to the table, which could be positives (premiership experience, gut running, ability to kick goals at top speed, extra memberships) or negatives (injuries after time out of the game, questionable character, short term impact only). We've seen the lot already it seems.

I think the boys at Tigerland have alot of respect for Cousins, and players tend to forgive little things like flipping the bird at the media which most of them would like to do depending on the write-ups of their performances.

Obviously given our 10-0 position you'd say we should not have done anything different, but realistically who knows for sure. It could have been the X factor we need as things get tougher later in the season, or it could have disrupted us completely.

 

[dg102]

I think theres a culture difference at tigerland compared to the saints. Ben Cousins might have become a nicer person at the saints.
Didnt we get Dawson instead.

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

I don't give a shit, we're 10 and zip. I don't think one man would've affected that either way.

 

[Hawks to fly]

I think theres a culture difference at tigerland compared to the saints. Ben Cousins might have become a nicer person at the saints.
Didnt we get Dawson instead.

Didn't think I'd ever say this but we could really do with Zac Dawson at the moment. Happy to see him get an opportunity, keep his place in the side and play well

 

[deliberate!!]

Hope Saints supporters do not mind me visiting your site to get an opinion. I am sorry if this has been discussed in recent times.

I would like to start by congratulating the St Kilda football club for playing so superbly this year,love watching them play. I would also like to congratulate them on their brave decision not to draft Ben Cousins. Brave because they built up the hopes of Saints supporters then decided against drafting him which listening to talkback was not a popular decision.

Why have I brought this up? It is now 10 weeks into the season, a long time since that decision was made. The Saints are 10-0, playing as a team in every sense of the word with an obvious spirit of playing for each other. Richmond who drafted Cousins ("they had nothing to lose") are 2-8, playing for themselves and the coach has been sacked voluntarily! I watched the interview with Cousins on Sat night after they luckily beat Freo and all I could think was what a d...head! This bloke plays only for himself, that is absolutely clear. I had never seen a post match interview where the player's thoughts are all about himself.

I cannot work out what Cousins could have brought to St Kilda that a Hayes, Goddard, Montagna, Dal Santo etc couldn't do. He runs hard but his skills are not elite and he is a link player at best. What he could have brought though is an attitude of playing for yourself. Could he have been the virus that has pervaded through the Richmond FC that has caused it to unravel? Could one player like Cousins affect the whole fabric of the place.

If I was a Saints supporter I would be very thankful for their thoroughness in investigating Cousins and deciding that he didn't fall in the category of "we have nothing to lose". 10000 extra Richmond members does not make up for disunity within a football club. I would appreciate your thoughts

What's the point of pissing in the pocket of the Saints fans here by bringing up something that never happened? (Their drafting of Cousins)
Did you do this on the other 14 teams that didn't draft Cousins? Hmmm...

The Saints are traveling fine and bringing up Cousins is futile, and irrelevant to their year.
'Signd Sealed Saint' made the right point here. And you should have thought about that before you posted.

I came here to see how Gilbert was traveling (injury wise) from the Saints supporters, and I noticed this inane post.
Praise the Saints for their year (and I love watching the way the are playing at the moment) but can can leave the bizarre and weak, sledging posts to yourself.
The Richmond Football Club is not in the best position at the moment, and the state our squad was in, we could afford to give Cousins a chance. Cousins may not have been the best thing for the St.Kilda Football Club, but he suited us. Did you happen to see Tambling (and the jury is still out on him) run through 2 lines against the Dockers? Well if Cousins is rubbing off on just some of our players on how to 'gut run'....then I'll take Cousins for a couple of years. Football wise, he is showing players like Foley and Cotchin to run as hard and prepare as do Del Santo and Montagna. We've never had that before.

I bet the Saints don't give 2 shits what is happening to Cousins at the moment.
They are trying to win a flag.

Posts like this sound like you want to be a Saints supporter, just for season 2009.
Weak!

Good Luck to you Sainters this year.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I'm not sure he would have played.
Assume that round 1 he played in place of ... say Farren Ray, got injured as he did with the Tigers.
Would he have gotten another game by now or would he be running round with the Zebra's re-injuring himself.

And if he was fit the problems with our young guys ( Eddy, Armitage, Steven ) not getting any chances, and being tempted to go elsewhere, would be worse.

 

[Fehring]

Cousins vs say Jarryn Geary or McQualter or Gwilt. It's a no-brainer. Cousins by a mile. The way he's playing now with a bit of game-time under his belt, there's no doubt we'd be even better with him.

Do we need to be "even better"? Well, that one we'll answer at the end of the season. Now rack off back to your own board.

 

[sainter12riewoldt]

Cousins vs say Jarryn Geary or McQualter or Gwilt. It's a no-brainer. Cousins by a mile. The way he's playing now with a bit of game-time under his belt, there's no doubt we'd be even better with him.

Do we need to be "even better"? Well, that one we'll answer at the end of the season. Now rack off back to your own board.

no, not with his injury and drug history. we got rid of the clubs "BAD BOY" status years ago.

 

[Herfooty]

I am pretty sure that the saints r very happy with the decisions they have made regarding their recruiting this year.

 

[camsmith]

no, not with his injury and drug history. we got rid of the clubs "BAD BOY" status years ago.

How's Gardiner going these days?

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

He's tested positive to less than 3 drug tests.

Is about all anyone can say haha.

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

I am still not ashamed (and never will be) to admit that I would have loved to see Ben Cousins play for St Kilda.

We have a phantastic midfield now and I have no doubt whatsoever that with Cousins it would have been even better.

But it was not to be and he will not play for St Kilda.

But I wish him well, he is and always will be one of my all time favourite footballers.

 

[Squizz]

Before the Game was pretty darn funny tonight.

They had footage of Ben Cousins mooning the camera!

didn't seem to matter that it was a lookalike (no, not that part of his body!)

 

[Prem87]

If Richmond let him go at the end of this year he would be a very handy pick up for you. Hasnt lossed any of his class and will get back to his elite best very soon.

Even adding Nathan Brown to your team along with Cousins would make you unstoppable. Both still have a lot to give.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

If Richmond let him go at the end of this year he would be a very handy pick up for you. Hasnt lossed any of his class and will get back to his elite best very soon.

Even adding Nathan Brown to your team along with Cousins would make you unstoppable. Both still have a lot to give.

Nathan Brown? I don't think so brother. He is well past his best.

 

[StFly]

Do we need yet another midfielder? No not really.
Do we need a forward in the Brown mould? Yeah.
Do we need Nathan Brown? No not really.

I mean we're 12-0 which is currently unstoppable outside of Geelong you would think this year, so I don't see what these two players in particular who are reaching the end of their careers and in Cousins' case have rubber hammies and now a bung hand give to the club compared to what we'd then have to give up for them.

 

[BrianSpeaking]

Last full draft this year for a few years so it will be 'load up on kids'.

 

[krisholio14]

It's proven to be a blessing to you lot that you didn't pick him up.

You don't need the circus that goes with him, and he's completely superfluous to your needs anyway.

 

[Suma]

I don't give a shit, we're 10 and zip. I don't think one man would've affected that either way.

Still don't give a shit? Call me a troll if you like or whatever, but I'm certain that Ben Cousins would have made you atleast a 13 point better team yesterday. St Kilda needed to take a chance and roll the dice, that is what it takes to win premierships. People can suck up to little Gary Ablett all they want. Cuz is a ten time better player and would have destroyed Geelong, especially with quality around him

 

[sirviv]

I think theres a culture difference at tigerland compared to the saints. Ben Cousins might have become a nicer person at the saints.
Didnt we get Dawson instead.

No we got Colm Begley. I Know you i would have preferred. The only question I have is was it a Football department decision. Or a Committee/Sponsers decision. If the latter I would be very disappointed. But with Ben the result may have different yesterday. But we will never know

 

[SnowCool]

I think Collingwood also payed a heavy price for not picking Ben up this year.

 

[StFly]

Still don't give a shit? Call me a troll if you like or whatever, but I'm certain that Ben Cousins would have made you atleast a 13 point better team yesterday. St Kilda needed to take a chance and roll the dice, that is what it takes to win premierships. People can suck up to little Gary Ablett all they want. Cuz is a ten time better player and would have destroyed Geelong, especially with quality around him

Still don't, who would he have kept out? would he have played the same, better or worse game on the day than said player? he's not a forward so you can't drop a forward for him, he's not a backman so you can't drop a backman for him. who then out of Hayes, Ball, Dal Santo, Montagna, Goddard, Ray would have missed out for him?

Goddard who could go forward and did so exposing Ablett?
Ray who could go back?
Hayes, Dal Santo and Montagna who were all AA?
Ball who was one of our better players?