Were the AFL too soft on Ben Cousins?

Question

What a massive slap on the wrist. Cousins had already announced that he would be having 2008 off from AFL and they go and suspend him for that year. Plus, he can still play at any level other than AFL. What a crock. He used illicit drugs and should have been banned for a minimum 2 years. Even Cricket Australia had the guts to give Warnie a ban from all levels of cricket for 12 months. It probably gets back to the pathetic three strikes drugs policy that the AFL have. It's time for them to get tough before the competition starts to lose a following. Maybe the supporters of the three strikes policy will then be charged with bringing the game into disrepute. LOL

Answer 1

No i dont think, a year of not playing football is big

Answer 2

I reckon they should have given him more...One month at a rehab clinic isn't enough to kick drug addiction, and that's how much time Benny boy spent in America the first time around. If the WCE want him to return and be clean they need to give him more time to beat the habit.

Answer 3

He has been through enough. Just leave him alone

Wait a sec am i turning into Chris Crocker?

Answer 4

The Man,

We all know it's a crock, but what do ya do ?

It's very similar to different rules for rich and poor.

If Ben was a crappy player the AFL would have had no hesitation than to give him the flick permanently.

Regardless of which club that he finely goes to, Ben is a draw card, and the AFL will take credit for that. He is a protected species, and nobody can deny the obvious.

After all the grilling yesterday with the AFL committee, they have told him to go away and straighten himself out, like how bloody amateurish is that. Certainly doesn't look good for professional drug councillors, does it ?

At the end of yesterday, the public knew what the decision would be,and the AFL meeting was just a massive PR. exercise for Andy's gang of soft c##ks

Answer 5

I'm a WCE supporter but I agree Ben needed suspending. Even though the media has been feasting on his exploits there is still quite a bit that has gone on behind the scene that the greater public is unaware of.

Having said that, what evidence did the AFL have against him - other than admissions made by him?

1. He never ever tested positive to illicit drugs despite being tested 14 times before his return to football & numerous times since.

2. He had both recent drug related police charges against him dropped.

3. Police in the US are not preferring charges against him for cocaine use - as they have no evidence (Cousins claims he was admitted to hospital for a mental breakdown!).

4. Cousins did not breach any of the rules set down by the AFL re his return to football late this year.

Yes, most of us know what he has been up to - but one cannot be crucified on heresay evidence alone.

Answer 6

I guess we'll know soon enough if / when he makes his return to AFL.

Ben needed more time in rehab the first time not a month, maybe the 12 months away from the game will make him realise just how fortunate he is to be playing in the AFL in the first place.

I wish him the best ............ but please the verdicts in can we talk about other things now

Answer 7

I think they were a bit too soft the thing, with drugs is like alcoholics you have to resist the temptation for the rest of your life if you have upsets in your life some people use the booze as well as drugs as a crutch and unfortunately the temptation is always there.

Answer 8

I think it's fair enough.

He has been tested for drugs and has never come out positive.

There have been many other AFL players admitting to drug taking and they are hidden,and have not been punished for it.

I say he was caught up in a media frenzy.

yes he is a drug addict ,but there are many other AFL players in the same boat. He is a high profile player and an easy target.

Let him be.

Answer 9

they did what was right

Answer 10

Yes! He ignored the rules more than once and was caught countless times, he can't stay in rehab, he blatantly doesn't want to recover from his addiction, and all he gets is a one year ban?

Pfft.

Answer 11

I think the penalty is harsh enough for a guy who has never tested positive to drugs when there are other players running around who have tested positive at least once.

Anyway, what good does banning him do? If he isn't playing football what else will he do? Sit at home doing drugs until he dies at the age of 35. At least playing football gives him something to do, something to set goals at, something to take up his time apart from abusing his own body.

Banning him is pointless. The AFL should finally take some responsibility and work with Ben to help him and get him back to footy rather than casting him aside.

Answer 12

He had no intention of getting clean, therefore, he should be banned from all forms of AFL for life.

Answer 13

If it were proven that he took drugs while on the field then I agree, they were too soft on him.

He has already used up his 3 strikes policy but I think the punishment is just.

12 months should hopefully get him back on track and back on the field...fingers crossed.

Answer 14

I found myself agreeing with too many tonight but the fact is AFL have no drug evidence against Cousins.  Remember this is no Mickey Mouse hearing anymore - these guys are engaging Queen's Counsel and are subject to appeals and huge costs in a range of courts.

Finding a solution that coincided with and enforced Ben's own stated "plans" for rehab was always the most likely outcome of that.  This is all stage managed stuff.  The outcome would be known BEFORE they walk into the room or the QC's will seek an adjournment or appeal the right of the AFL to hear the case and all that stuff.  Very costly and even more 'disrepute' for the AFL.

I think it's a good fair outcome really.  If he keeps playing up and/or gets proven to be using drugs, then expect there will be more hearings.  I really hope that won't be the case.

Answer 15

I think 12 month band be a waste of time for Ben he need alot longer than that to sort his life out. I don't believe he will ever change. But  miracles do happen. He just need to grow up and  realise the world doesn't owe him anything.

Answer 16

nahh a year is pretty long.

looking forward to his comeback in 09.