United we stand... divided we fall?

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drexel

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Thread starter #1
In the mid 90's, West Coast drafted a kid who had 3 good options to chose from. His old man's team (Geelong), Fremantle or the Eagles, who at that time were a powerhouse, with greats like Matera, Jako, Kempie, Woosha, Mckenna and co all in their prime.

He chose West Coast but sadly he jumped on a sinking ship. Soon all the greats had gone... our coach deserting the sinking ship and a young superstar was left to pick up the pieces.

For two years under Ken Judge, we were a broken vessell and the only light was a Champion called Ben Cousins... who ran all day racking up 30 poss' each week while all around him were ageing veterans, other club's rejects... and no young prospects (apart from Wirra and Gardiner).

After 2 years, Ken Judge was fired... Neil Craig was signed... only for the West Coast faithful to be outraged that we would overlook a favorite son in John Worsfold... who had no experience, hadn't said much in the media and was by all acounts, pretty dissapointing during his Job application/presentation.... so much so that even Freo overlooked him for Chris Connolly (lol).

But the outrage was too much, the board caved... and the rest is history....

The point of this story? It's easy to make decisions on paper, go with the odds, play it safe... but without Heart, Loyalty, Courage and Belief.... the Club is an empty shell... a faceless entity controlled by shadowy figures in a boardroom who have not the tiniest understanding of playing AFL in a team that is as close to a Band of Brothers in the midst of war, as you'd want to get.

If things go wrong, sure we may lose a few draft picks, attract some negative press, spend an extra year down the bottom... but the price of NOT sending a message to the football world that 'we look after our own' would reverberate to the core of every player, coach and fan of this great club. One that will effect us 50 years from now because it showed just how cold and soulless a football club can be. And that club would never deserve success again IMO.

"what we do in life, echoes in eternity"
 

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bunsen burner

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#2
In the mid 90's, West Coast drafted a kid who had 3 good options to chose from. His old man's team (Geelong), Fremantle or the Eagles, who at that time were a powerhouse, with greats like Matera, Jako, Kempie, Woosha, Mckenna and co all in their prime.

He chose West Coast but sadly he jumped on a sinking ship. Soon all the greats had gone... our coach deserting the sinking ship and a young superstar was left to pick up the pieces.

For two years under Ken Judge, we were a broken vessell and the only light was a Champion called Ben Cousins... who ran all day racking up 30 poss' each week while all around him were ageing veterans, other club's rejects... and no young prospects (apart from Wirra and Gardiner).

After 2 years, Ken Judge was fired... Neil Craig was signed... only for the West Coast faithful to be outraged that we would overlook a favorite son in John Worsfold... who had no experience, hadn't said much in the media and was by all acounts, pretty dissapointing during his Job application/presentation.... so much so that even Freo overlooked him for Chris Connolly (lol).

But the outrage was too much, the board caved... and the rest is history....

The point of this story? It's easy to make decisions on paper, go with the odds, play it safe... but without Heart, Loyalty, Courage and Belief.... the Club is an empty shell... a faceless entity controlled by shadowy figures in a boardroom who have not the tiniest understanding of playing AFL in a team that is as close to a Band of Brothers in the midst of war, as you'd want to get.

If things go wrong, sure we may lose a few draft picks, attract some negative press, spend an extra year down the bottom... but the price of NOT sending a message to the football world that 'we look after our own' would reverberate to the core of every player, coach and fan of this great club. One that will effect us 50 years from now because it showed just how cold and soulless a football club can be. And that club would never deserve success again IMO.

"what we do in life, echoes in eternity"
Sorry, but that's just nonsense. It's just as courageous to stand firm and not allow Cousins back.

I lean towards bringing Cousins back, but there will be no long term effect or "loss of soul" if we don't.

And that second last sentence - go support another club if you feel that way.
 

Jimbob

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#4
Don't let facts get in the way of a good story...Neil Craig never signed with West Coast and was never ever going to coach WCE...
 

spEKTre

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#5
Don't just fob this principle off because you don't like Cousins, to look after your own sends a message back onto the players and future players about loyalty shown back from a club.

Clubs are always rabbiting on about wanting players to "show commitment" or to show loyalty. The message being sent currently is that when a player has had enough ( Judd ) just select your team of choice and leave a sinking ship, or when a player falls on hard times you will be dropped like a hot potato even for all your loyalty.

For all those willing to just fob this off as another "get Cousins" thread look deeper and see that West Coast could easily become a club that drafties regularly have their parents declare their kids off limits ? ( remember Cotchin ) or were returning WA greats like Buddy simply just say Freo are my only option as I wouldn't want to be screwed over by WCE.
 

Jafa

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#7
Don't just fob this principle off because you don't like Cousins, to look after your own sends a message back onto the players and future players about loyalty shown back from a club.

Clubs are always rabbiting on about wanting players to "show commitment" or to show loyalty. The message being sent currently is that when a player has had enough ( Judd ) just select your team of choice and leave a sinking ship, or when a player falls on hard times you will be dropped like a hot potato even for all your loyalty.

For all those willing to just fob this off as another "get Cousins" thread look deeper and see that West Coast could easily become a club that drafties regularly have their parents declare their kids off limits ? ( remember Cotchin ) or were returning WA greats like Buddy simply just say Freo are my only option as I wouldn't want to be screwed over by WCE.
Please - I would think that parents would rather their kids end up at a club that stuck to their principles and didn`t go back on their judgement and allow a self confessed drug addict back into the fold.
 

wirra44

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#9
i think its officially over now fellers just saw on sunrise that the eagles want ben to resume his career at another club.:(
 

West Coast 06

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#10
AS far as I am concerned, we already looked after Cousins plenty. He made his choices and has been making them for a long, long time. They are not choices that put the club first, or his team mates first, he put himself first.

Cousins himself said there was no guarantees that he would not relapse in his interview the other day. Good on him for being honest, but a relapsing drug addict is the very last thing our club needs.

As for your little story, I have heard Craig himself say he never had any intention of coaching West Coast. He applied to get experience in the process and never expected to get as far as he did. He said he was never moving to WA.
 
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#11
Don't just fob this principle off because you don't like Cousins, to look after your own sends a message back onto the players and future players about loyalty shown back from a club.

Clubs are always rabbiting on about wanting players to "show commitment" or to show loyalty. The message being sent currently is that when a player has had enough ( Judd ) just select your team of choice and leave a sinking ship, or when a player falls on hard times you will be dropped like a hot potato even for all your loyalty.

For all those willing to just fob this off as another "get Cousins" thread look deeper and see that West Coast could easily become a club that drafties regularly have their parents declare their kids off limits ? ( remember Cotchin ) or were returning WA greats like Buddy simply just say Freo are my only option as I wouldn't want to be screwed over by WCE.
Well said. :thumbsu: This is a point I previously attempted to make and failed. It does not matter whether you want Ben back or not, it goes beyond that. For me yes I would love to have Ben back as I believe it is the right thing to do, but the message it sends by not taking him back speaks volumes as to the loyalty or rather lack of it that is presently associated with our club. For the club to take Ben back it would take courage, faith, commitment, loyalty and strength. If those words sound familiar they should, they are from the list that made up our banners this season. With our clubs current attitude and willingness to kiss the AFL’s butt those words are only good for one thing at our club…..toilet paper.

Although some people may appear ridiculous to others over the continuing Ben saga, it clearly demonstrates to me something else that has been clearly lacking of late around West Coast....Passion:rolleyes:
 

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greennick

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#13
Well said. :thumbsu: This is a point I previously attempted to make and failed. It does not matter whether you want Ben back or not, it goes beyond that. For me yes I would love to have Ben back as I believe it is the right thing to do, but the message it sends by not taking him back speaks volumes as to the loyalty or rather lack of it that is presently associated with our club. For the club to take Ben back it would take courage, faith, commitment, loyalty and strength. If those words sound familiar they should, they are from the list that made up our banners this season. With our clubs current attitude and willingness to kiss the AFL’s butt those words are only good for one thing at our club…..toilet paper.

Although some people may appear ridiculous to others over the continuing Ben saga, it clearly demonstrates to me something else that has been clearly lacking of late around West Coast....Passion:rolleyes:
We need to make a stand by NOT taking him back. If you **** this club over, we are not interested in you. But we wish you luck in continuing your career elsewhere. :thumbsu:
 

drexel

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Thread starter #14
We need to make a stand by NOT taking him back.
A stand against who? The fans, the players, the coaches?
Who are u really standing for?

People need to see the bigger picture... its not about 'does Ben deserve this or that' . It's a question of the West Coast brand... a creed.

If it fails, then it will only be bad for Cousins... West Coast can hold their heads high that they did everything they could and be ultimately respected for their efforts.

And don't say they gave him a chance last year... thats BS, we all know they still wanted him back for finals and that was the sole purpose. He knew it too.

Honestly, last year they gave the Captaincy to a guy that had every intention of going back to Victoria... and he did.... and that sums up the value of the West Coast jumper right now.

Next to nothing... which is why i'll happily turn my back and support Freo even though ive supported this club more than most other fans from day one.
 

Eagle87

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#15
A stand against who? The fans, the players, the coaches?
Who are u really standing for?

People need to see the bigger picture... its not about 'does Ben deserve this or that' . It's a question of the West Coast brand... a creed.

If it fails, then it will only be bad for Cousins... West Coast can hold their heads high that they did everything they could and be ultimately respected for their efforts.

And don't say they gave him a chance last year... thats BS, we all know they still wanted him back for finals and that was the sole purpose. He knew it too.

Honestly, last year they gave the Captaincy to a guy that had every intention of going back to Victoria... and he did.... and that sums up the value of the West Coast jumper right now.

Next to nothing... which is why i'll happily turn my back and support Freo even though ive supported this club more than most other fans from day one.
Or alternatively we could be seen as being prepared to overlook our principled stand at the end of 2007 because we are now shit i.e. win at all costs.

I like Ben Cousins, he is possibly the best player in our clubs history, he was a loyal servant. That said, he also flagrantly disregarded basic team rules. He took a view that whatever I do off-field is ok as long as I am a gun on-field (i.e. the culture that our club has spent 2 years trying to erase). He repeatedly lied to the coaches and others. He caused enormous harm to our club. He also was an absolute key to us winning a flag. I get the dilemma but I also think that at some point you have to move on. Ben back to West Coast resumes the circus - all the old innuendo and all the old ground.

I like the fairytale ending idea but the club is always bigger than the individual and the club has decided for very sound reasons to move forward.

Remember, it was Ben who ended this not the club.
 
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