OT/ Ben Cousins.

[rayven]

I am simply not understanding this.

Ben Cousins return to west Coast is being greeted with conditions from the AFL.
Regular Drug Tests and such.

Why? Has he been convicted and done his third strike?

Theres three guys out there on two strikes and are not getting this.

Has there been a rule change?

I found it quite sickening listening to certain clubs saying about there no drug problem simply because of censorship on the results.

But Ben gets this.

Then Theres what happened in the Gambling Issue.

WTF'S going on?

 

[Crow-mo]

there's something very funny going on with the WC/AFL/cousins threesome.

it's obviously very PR & spin related, but difficult to see where the lines are.

 

[jenny61_99]

there's something very funny going on with the WC/AFL/cousins threesome.

it's obviously very PR & spin related, but difficult to see where the lines are.

On a mirror perhaps?

 

[rayven]

West Coast making a full apology and Cousins has to to play again.

Its the same as Goodwins penalty except Goodwin broke rules.

Your name dictates your punishment. not your crime.

I suppose its better than America where you get off because of your name.

I keep mentioning The AFL fully backed West Coast not to long ago. I dont see them apoligising.

 

[Eggzoi]

Well the guys on two strikes do get tested a lot more than anyone else.
Are you saying that the AFL should have just ignored what happened because he didn't test positive? I think a month in a rehab clinic is good enough as a positive test or two.
I'm not totally sure what point you're trying to make.

 

[rayven]

Isnt it suppose to be secret what goes on with your drug use and the dealings with it unless you get three strikes?

 

[Vader]

They can nail him for "bringing the game into disrepute", rather than the 3-strikes drugs policy (which is incredibly weak).

 

[sharpie]

I am simply not understanding this.

Ben Cousins return to west Coast is being greeted with conditions from the AFL.
Regular Drug Tests and such.

Why? Has he been convicted and done his third strike?

Theres three guys out there on two strikes and are not getting this.

Has there been a rule change?

I found it quite sickening listening to certain clubs saying about there no drug problem simply because of censorship on the results.

But Ben gets this.

Then Theres what happened in the Gambling Issue.

WTF'S going on?

these conditions are being set down by our club - not the AFL - though he will be target tested.

Woosha has lost all faith in ben cousin's honesty - until he earns it back - he is going to have to toe the line or ship out

 

[Crow-mo]

They can nail him for "bringing the game into disrepute", rather than the 3-strikes drugs policy (which is incredibly weak).

for missing a couple of training session?

what has he actually been found guilty of?

 

[Crow-mo]

On a mirror perhaps?

glass coffee table dahling...

 

[rayven]

these conditions are being set down by our club - not the AFL - though he will be target tested.

Technically yes.

but he has to make a public opology just like you club did so I somehow I dont think these conditions are all of your clubs own doing.

How much did the AFL spend on the leak about three players on 2 strikes to keep there names suppressed?

 

[jackson_rules]

Technically yes.

but he has to make a public opology just like you club did so I somehow I dont think these conditions are all of your clubs own doing.

How much did the AFL spend on the leak about three players on 2 strikes to keep there names suppressed?

how do you know cousins hasnt been busted 3 times

 

[Vader]

for missing a couple of training session?

what has he actually been found guilty of?

The AFL could charge him with bringing the game into disrepute. Not the Weagles.

Hasn't been found guilty of anything to date. From what has been publicly announced, he hasn't even failed a single drug test - which says more about how poorly run and inadequate the drug testing is than anything else.

 

[rayven]

how do you know cousins hasnt been busted 3 times

Because they publicise the third strike and suspend you.

 

[sharpie]

Because they publicise the third strike and suspend you.

and because AD has said that Cousins is yet to test positive at all!

 

[Crow-mo]

The AFL could charge him with bringing the game into disrepute. Not the Weagles.

Hasn't been found guilty of anything to date. From what has been publicly announced, he hasn't even failed a single drug test - which says more about how poorly run and inadequate the drug testing is than anything else.

I hear what you're saying, and I particularly agree with the last paragraph.

but I can't see how he can be said to have brought the game into disrepute - he'd need to be guilty of something first?

 

[Markthirtytwo]

Is it his erratic behaviour or something else that is the reason WC are re negotiating his contract?

He must now complete a target of different things before they will even entertain the idea of playing him again.

Woosha stated on Melbourne radio that the players have had enough of him and they don't need him. That is a big public statement. Was it for his attention? Perhaps. Another player said the same thing on a television interview as well.

 

[Vader]

but I can't see how he can be said to have brought the game into disrepute - he'd need to be guilty of something first?

Cousins' list of offences is as long as your arm. The beauty of the "bringing the game into disrepute" thing is that it doesn't actually require you to be found guilty of anything else. The rule itself is about protecting the image of the game, and there is no doubt that Cousins' activities have tarnished the image of the game.

 

[sharpie]

Cousins' list of offences is as long as your arm. The beauty of the "bringing the game into disrepute" thing is that it doesn't actually require you to be found guilty of anything else. The rule itself is about protecting the image of the game, and there is no doubt that Cousins' activities have tarnished the image of the game.

this furore is all over his drug taking.

the only reason the game has been brought into disrepute is becaue the media got hold of it and went bananas - which is there prerogative.

However - there are 25-odd other players who have tested positive to drug use and their actions are the same - it is just that they haven't been bandied around the media.

Surely one's actions can't be judged by the media it attracts - surely it must be assessed on the severity of the crime.

People are calling for punishment with cousins - remembering a 12 week suspension is applied to third strike people. Cousins will get 12 weeks from the club anyway - so he is still being punished.

But IF the AFL choose to punish cousins further for his actions - they have to punish the other 25 equally.

 

[- PC -]

Maybe its the silent way to do a failure of the drug test

How would it look for a Brownlow Medallist to be suspended for drug use? Might make the AFL look a bit silly.... but a silent sanction may just go unnoticed.

And for those who dont think he had/has a drug problem need to ask why he went to the US...certainly wasnt a holiday

 

[Stiffy_18]

Maybe its the silent way to do a failure of the drug test

How would it look for a Brownlow Medallist to be suspended for drug use? Might make the AFL look a bit silly.... but a silent sanction may just go unnoticed.

And for those who dont think he had/has a drug problem need to ask why he went to the US...certainly wasnt a holiday

I am not saying that he doesn't have a problem. What I am saying is that he has never come out and admitted it and his father said that Ben has a "substance abuse problem". Just what exactly is substance abuse? It can be alcohol, pain killers, non banned drugs....

The Cousins clan has covered their backsides pretty well here. AFL really has no ground to suspend him as he hasn't admitted to drug problem nor has he tested positive.

 

[jenny61_99]

Well then how come everyone KNOWS he has a drug problem???

You don't go into private rehab in another country for heavens sake if you don't have a serious drug problem.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Well then how come everyone KNOWS he has a drug problem???

You don't go into private rehab in another country for heavens sake if you don't have a serious drug problem.

Yeah and how exactly can AFL prove what his addiction is? Do they have access to his medical records?

They join the dots together and come up with an answer but you know what they say about assumptions.

He never publicly admitted to any problem. His father said Ben has "substance abuse problem". AFL can't treat him like someone who has tested positive because all they have to back up their claim is circumstantial evidence. They go hard on Ben and treat him like a positive tester, he goes to court and all AFL have to back their argument up is circumstantial evidnce. Ends result, Cousins wins.

 

[jenny61_99]

Yeah and how exactly can AFL prove what his addiction is? Do they have access to his medical records?

They join the dots together and come up with an answer but you know what they say about assumptions.

He never publicly admitted to any problem. His father said Ben has "substance abuse problem". AFL can't treat him like someone who has tested positive because all they have to back up their claim is circumstantial evidence. They go hard on Ben and treat him like a positive tester, he goes to court and all AFL have to back their argument up is circumstantial evidnce. Ends result, Cousins wins.

Entering into a private drug rehabilitation centre in the United States is a public admittance of a problem. What else do you need? Cocaine dripping from his nose? He, and the WC Eagles, HAVE brought the game into disrepute - firstly, by creating one of the biggest scandals to hit the media in AFL history. The Eagles handled it poorly. They knew he had a problem in July last year, but decided to sweep it under the carpet for the sake of winning games. The lad kept spiralling out of control, failed to turn up to training a few times, had run ins with the police, association with shady characters, until the Club couldn't let it go any further. I think the Club should impose the 12 week ban (5 down, 7 to go) to show they are serious. I am not sure the AFL should have any further say, but they certainly have grounds to IMO.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Entering into a private drug rehabilitation centre in the United States is a public admittance of a problem. What else do you need? Cocaine dripping from his nose? He, and the WC Eagles, HAVE brought the game into disrepute - firstly, by creating one of the biggest scandals to hit the media in AFL history. The Eagles handled it poorly. They knew he had a problem in July last year, but decided to sweep it under the carpet for the sake of winning games. The lad kept spiralling out of control, failed to turn up to training a few times, had run ins with the police, association with shady characters, until the Club couldn't let it go any further. I think the Club should impose the 12 week ban (5 down, 7 to go) to show they are serious. I am not sure the AFL should have any further say, but they certainly have grounds to IMO.

What problem?! Addiction to Panadol? Alcoholism?

You don't ban someone for bringing the game into disrepute by missing a few training sessions, or partying until early hours of the morning. AFL can do jack shit, because there would have to be a case of repetitive behaviour and previous warnings from the AFL and we didn't have those warnings.

AFL CANNOT tell someone who to associate with and who their friends are. They simply do not have the right to do so. He was never caught in any drug bust. So he had a run ins with the police but you are forgetting he didn't get charged with anything. So in other words what illegal activity has he done. Has he punched a bouncer like Farmer? No!

AFL simply don't have a leg to stand on here. Its a bunch of circumstantial evidence that wouldn't stand a chance if challenged. Assumptions don't make for good facts. Missing training sessions is not exactly bringing the game into direpute and apart from his "Run Benny Run" incident, there is nothing really that he as come out and admitted to. Booking into a rehab center is not the same as coming out and publicly saying, yes I am addicted to a banned substance!

Club has the right to punish him and its sounds like they will but AFL really can't do too much here.