Why not take Cousins?

Because he is a known drug user and their is always the possibility of a relapse

If he gets caught it will have huge implications on the club. They could lose sponsorship deals, or worse, premiership points.

I wouldn't want to risk losing premiership points for the sake of picking up a play that MAY do reasonably well, their is no guarantee he will come back the same player.

Their is also the fact that he has a dodgy hamstring.

The club will be under constant scrutiny and media pressure 24/7 and this could have a big impact on other players at the club.

At the end of the day the negatives far outweigh the potential positives so I think picking him up would be a risk that I certainly would not be willing to take.

There is no doubt that Ben would be an asset to many teams in the AFL. Unfortunately, Mr Demetriou and co obviously do not want him back as they have imposed the "any club who takes him and he regresses will lose premiership points" rule. No club is going to risk that.

EDIT: The word over here in the West is that he had a relapse about 4 months ago.....

hi, good question.

well, i don't want to upset anyone but there's more to it than meets the eye.

apart from the drugs, there was the metro nightclub incident, someone was shot, someone else was stabbed in a gangland standoff with bikie(coffin cheater troy mercanti), mafia (gangster and pimp jon kizon)and street gang(scorpion boys),it was caught on video ben was there, all were charged, all charges dropped.

2 trips to america for rehab, well we now know that ben didn't do the rehab, just went on a bender in another country.

DEATH of CHRIS MAINWARING, you couldn't meet nicer bloke than MAINY, ben was the last to see him alive, claimed to be delivering food, but what didn't come out is that ben couldn't describe the food he supposedly delivered and none was found either in the house or during MAINY'S autopsy, ben left the house and MAINY was dead less than an hour later.

THIS is what the clubs find out when they have their secret talks with the afl and ben's management AND THIS is one of the reasons why he wont get a guernsey.

I was all for St.Kilda taking on Cousins until he decided to go fully shaven and therefore not allow hair sample testing for drugs. Either he was still dirty or he just thought he could continue to be a smart-ass and avoid the test. Both possibilities suggest strongly that he has not fully grasped the seriousness of his predicament and has not sorted out his screwed up life enough for any Club to risk taking on board.

I agree, but he is not flavor of the month every team from geelong to melbourne could be better with him on their list but doesn't seem be the way its working out if he had of provided a hair sample things may have been different

I wouldn't mind Cousins at the Bulldogs - awesome player, but there is a reason he hasn't been picked up. Collingwood, St. Kilda, Brisbane, Richmond all expressed interest in him, then pulled out. There must be a reason.

I agree. Ben Cousins would be great for any club with the skill he possesses.

I think he would be best for Essendon who need a leader to direct their young and upcoming midfield. E.g. Reimers, Houli, Nash, Myers.

Cousins is one of the elite players of the AFL & any club that doesn't take him is mad.

The simple answer is the same as it always has been, it's too risky, maybe if he was 25 yeaers old you'd find clubs prepared to risk it. It's the losing premiership pionts if he stuffs up again that is keeping the clubs away.

All toddlers of your organic Aunts and Uncles (the two your mother and father' Sisters and Brothers) are your First Cousins, and you're their First Cousin: All toddlers of your First Cousins are your 2d Cousins, and you're their 2d Cousin: All toddlers of your 2d Cousins are your third Cousins, which makes you their Thrid Cousin; etc, from one era to the subsequent. as an occasion: Your mom's First Cousin is your 2d Cousin. Your mom's 2d Cousin is your third Cousin, etc. each and each huge form (First, 2d, third, etc.) represents one era bumped off (or "down the line.") desire this clarifies the question for you.

He's too much of a risk. I know he's done all the right things with rehab etc. but many clubs would still be wary that he might do the same stupid things again and cost their club.

I know he is a fantastic footballer, but he messed it up for himself.