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What will Cousins cost us?

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stfan said:
If we get him I have no idea how good he will be.

I doubt at 30 that he would replicate his best form, though he might still deliver very good form.

However it is VERY VERY likely that his form would at least be better than what was delivered in 2008 by McQualter, Fiora, Birss, Armitage, Geary, Eddy Gwilt and Jones. Though I might bea bit hard on Jones, but his footskils limit his usefulness.

Like Harvey, or Crawford (or his playing on into 2009 @34) he is a fitness freak and I have little doubt that unless soft tissue injuries strike him down that he can play at least 2 years and probably more.

Also like the above two he is a class player that knows how to read the play and to use the ball well.


With Harvey retired and our midfield already underperforming as a unit in 2008 things were looking quite gloomy for 2009.

However with Ray now aquired (so ditto on it is VERY VERY likely that his form would at least be better than what was delivered in 2008 by McQualter, Fiora, Birss, Armitage, Geary, Gwilt, Eddy and Jones) if we can also add Cousins then our midfield unit looksa lot better....even if Cousins only delivers useful rather than very good games.

Hopefully also Armitage can step up a bit more as he will be in his third year, with Jack Steven graduationg for a few cameo games as he starts to emerge in his first true year (he was bottom age last year), and maybe, just maybe Baker can succesfully come back to provide a tagging option where the tagger can win his own ball.

Goddard too really started to come on in 2008 again post- knee. However Hodgelike he may remain down back setting up play rather than playing as a pure midfielder.

Gram is our midfield wildcard in 2009 along with Ball:

  • Gram showed glimpses of great midfield form in 2008. Hopefully he has learnt from it and can stepp up to more consiteantly good football in this role in 2009. His pace in the midfield can be lethal., and Cousins along with Ball could feed him well.
  • With Bal. we all know that he can bea great in and under player for us with his grunt and class vital at the stoppages. Can he get his body right? That is the $64 question.
So there are lots of ifs and buts but IF they all click:
  • A fit Ball
  • A revitalised Cousins
  • A useful Ray for run
  • A consitent Gram in the midfield
  • A consiteant Dal
  • A stepped up Armo
  • Lenny just being Lenny
  • BJ rulling the back half setting up the midfield
  • And Baes as the tag who can win ball.
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I agree.
We lost the prelim in the midfield. Now replace Eddy, McQualter, and Fiora with Ball, Ray, and Cousins and say we would not have got the ball forward a lot more.
I don't think you are bagging Jones when you expect that Cousins would be better. He was a great improver for the 2008 season, but I would expect Cousins to be playing at a level above that. ( Hopefully Jones can work at his weaknesses and get close to that level as well ).

Cousins can kick a few goals as well, as can David Armitage if he gets a spot on the team. Goal Kicking midfielders now there is a novel idea!
 
Collingwood has described sending a private investigator to Perth while considering a move for Cousins as "due diligence", but Nixon dismissed their strategy as over the top.


"(St Kilda) has led the way in talking to us about making the playing side of it and his involvement in the community part of his rehabilitation," Nixon said.

..//heraldsun
 
IllBeTheJudge said:
BEN Cousins is set to make his much-anticipated comeback with St Kilda next year.
The move will be approved if the recovering drug addict is given the go-ahead to play again by the AFL.
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9 :)

Still be wary of Brisbane though. Nothing's signed yet.

If the AFL approve his re-registration i believe he's good to go. AFL will test him hard to make sure he's right. Collingwood are out because if Ben happens to relapse it will reflect badly on the club. Who already had to deal with Shaw and Didak. Which made their board split on the decision of recruiting him or not.

Proud of the club for devloping a plan to get his life back on track. Not only on the field but off it as well. :thumbsu:
 
Cousins in the number 9, oh it would look good. Gehrig, followed by Cousins to use it. I'd take that. :D

Seems like we're the team that made the plan, and it looks like we're gonna back him well with his rehabilitation.

All is looking good.

Now can't you just see the AFL for one reason or another, not allowing him to play, :p Oh Im gonna have nightmares now.
 

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SaintsSeptember said:
Cousins can kick a few goals as well, as can David Armitage if he gets a spot on the team. Goal Kicking midfielders now there is a novel idea!
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Could actually set up midfield rotations not just with the bench but with a forward pocket also since we've dabbled with Milne & Schneider in the midfield, would then also help release forward options and change up at a drop of a hat.
 
Defacto said:
why the hell is everyone bagging jones. he's quality.
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I did not bag Jones. I also did not bag the other players. Indeed I also implied that Jones was the best of the group listed.

I just listed a group of St Kilda players that I thought Cousins would at least be better than (and depending on form the list may be seasons end prove to be bigger and if so that would be a good thing as long as it was due to good form by Cousins).

Many of these players I would expect to playa lot of senior games for the saints in 2009.

In 2009 who would you believe would bea better player: Cousins or Jones?
 
Now, the next question I have is, how do you think Ross Lyon will go coaching Ben Cousins? I'm not saying either way - just getting the thought juices flowing. Does he need to be tough? Kind? In his ear? What?
 

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Persevering Saint said:
Now, the next question I have is, how do you think Ross Lyon will go coaching Ben Cousins? I'm not saying either way - just getting the thought juices flowing. Does he need to be tough? Kind? In his ear? What?
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He should really just treat Cousins as a normal footballer, after all it isn't his job to be dealing with any of his off field issues. I'm sure there will be club psychologists/player liason officers available that can handle any off field problems he may have. Having said that Lyon probably needs to lay down the ground rules initially in terms of team rules etc. but he shouldn't be too heavy handed. I'm sure Cousins himself wouldn't want to be treated any differently to any of the other players.

As for football matters the guy can probably just coach himself, I doubt Lyon will be able to teach him much he doesn't already know. In my opinion he will need some discipline and guidance from the club off the field but on field he should be given plenty of free reign to just do his own thing. It wouldn't surprise me if he actually has a hand in coaching or setting up our midfield as I'm sure he has picked up plenty of good ideas in his time.
 
Cousins shouldnt be played in the midfield for at least half the year. Play him on the HFF or FP (where he started his career) to ease him into the AFL tempo.

If Maguire can get his body right and Kosi/Insert player here can be a solid target at FF you will have a very very good team.

Oh and dont let Gardiner anywhere inside the forward 50.
 
Agree with the previous thread play Cuz on the half forward line and ease im in for the first 6 to 8 weeks, he will still be damaging when he gets the ball as he will kick goals and create goals.

Its going to be hard seeing him in another jumper but at least its not at the pies and its at the saints a team i respect
 
If Cousins and Gardiner go back to their West Coke Eagle days it's really going to piss me off. That's gonna screw up the whole club, I'd hate to see the club go down YET AGAIN with off field stuff.
 
Signd Sealed Saint said:
If Cousins and Gardiner go back to their West Coke Eagle days it's really going to piss me off. That's gonna screw up the whole club, I'd hate to see the club go down YET AGAIN with off field stuff.
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But on the bright side , if we take him we need to make room on the list and it could be the straw that pushes your friend out the door.
What would be worse , spaced out players swimming in the river to get away from police, or playing Fiora on the team?
 

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What will Cousins cost us?

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