Afl great Ben Cousins scores job with the afl while...behind bars

[King-Eliagh]

And the news just keeps rolling in during the afl off season!
Yep benny cousins is now on the payroll with the west coast eagles 'Community and Game Development Department'

Look I'm all for giving people a chance, and to be honest I'd be worried about ben cousins chance for successful rehab without a job offer from the one and only org that he was successful in. I really hope Ben can come good.

But... just Get a load of what Bens done in the past.

1996: A 17-year-old Ben Cousins debuts for the West Coast Eagles, kicking two goals in his first game. He goes on to win the AFL's Rising Star award that same year.

1997 – 2006: Cousins is awarded almost every honour during his playing career at the Eagles including a Brownlow Medal in 2005, an AFL premiership the following year, captaincy of the West Coast Eagles from 2001 to 2005 and six All-Australian jumpers.

May 2005: Cousins and teammate Michael Gardiner are interviewed by police after a shootout at a Perth nightclub allegedly involving bikie gangs and John Kizon. No charges are laid against the pair.

September 2005: Cousins wins the Brownlow Medal.

February 2006: Cousins abandons his car near a Perth booze bus with his then-girlfriend in the passenger's seat. He runs and then swims across the Swan River to avoid police. Two weeks later, he relinquishes his captaincy at West Coast.

September 2006: Although no longer captain, Cousins stars in the Eagles' thrilling one-point win against Sydney in the 2006 grand final and is still considered by many the "spiritual leader" of the club.

December 2006: Cousins is arrested after being found asleep outside Crown Casino in Melbourne.

March 2007: Cousins misses a training session and is suspended by West Coast for the first 15 rounds of the season. Rumours of his drug addiction begin to swirl in the media.

April 2007: Cousins flies to the United States and spends a month at an expensive drug rehabilitation centre. He returns to the club and apologises for his conduct. In his come-back match, Cousins has 38 touches in a blistering performance against Sydney.

October 2007: One of Cousins' closest friends and former West Coast star, Chris Mainwaring, dies at his Cottesloe home after overdosing on cocaine. Cousins was with him hours before he died.

October 2007: Six months after leaving rehab, a shirtless Cousins is arrested on the side of the road for alleged drug possession after police search his vehicle. A photo of Cousins with his 'Such is Life' tattoo inked across his torso is splashed across the media. The charges against him are eventually dropped.

November 2007: Cousins is suspended from the AFL for 12 months after being found guilty bringing the game into disrepute and again checks into a U.S based rehabilitation clinic. The league encourages Cousins to address his drug addiction.

October 2008: One of the conditions of Cousins returning to the AFL is that he passes a hair sample test designed to detect if he has taken illicit drugs in the past three months. Cousins shaves his head and waxes his body before the test, and passes.

2009: Following his suspension, the league re-registers Cousins and Richmond offers him a football lifeline, recruiting him to the east after he was passed over during the national draft. He plays for the Tigers for two seasons before retiring from football. He played 270 games during his 15-year playing career.

2010: Cousins releases a two-part documentary into his life titled, Such is Life, and his autobiography Ben Cousins: My Life Story – both providing a candid insight into his personal life, drug addiction and recovery.

2011: Cousins has his first child, Bobby, with his then-partner Maylea Tinecheff.

January 2012: Cousins is again undergoing rehabilitation for his drug addiction issues and is committed to a suburban mental health unit after suffering a drug-induced psychosis.

March 2012: Cousins goes into hiding after being caught by police at an airport trying to smuggle 4.65 grams of methamphetamine, hidden in his anus, into an Esperance-based rehabilitation facility.

April 2012: Cousins is pulled over by police in North Beach and arrested after they discover cannabis and a meth pipe in his car. He pleads guilty and is fined less than $1000 for the March and April incidents.

June 2013: Cousins and his then-partner Ms Tinecheff welcome their second child, a daughter.

March 2015: Cousins leads police on a nine kilometre 'slow speed chase' through the streets of Perth and is charged with three driving-related offences. He later pleads guilty and is fined $2679.

March 2015: Cousins scales two fences at the headquarters of Australia's elite SAS regiment in Swanbourne and is taken to hospital for a mental health assessment.

March 2015: Cousins is detained by police after driving erratically and then scaling roofs in Canning Vale to avoid police. He later pleads guilty and is fined $800 for trespassing and property damage.

Mid-2015: Cousins moves to Collie to take up a fencing job.

May 2016: Cousins' former partner Ms Tinecheff takes out a violence restraining order against him.

June 2016: Cousins is discharged from hospital after being found by police 'directing traffic' on Canning Highway while in a dazed state. He misses the Eagles' 10 year anniversary for its 2006 Premiership which took place the same week.

October 2016: Cousins is arrested in Canning Vale house and charged with breaching a violence restraining order and drug possession.

November 2016: Cousins is involved in a late night car crash with a truck hours after failing to attend an Armadale court hearing in relation to his October charges. He had earlier told the court, through his lawyer, he was unwell. Police charge him with possessing methamphetamine and breaching bail while Cousins is in hospital recovering from minor injuries.

December 2016: Cousins avoids jail and is fined $600 and then $2000 for breaches of the VRO taken out by his former partner and drug charges. The court hears Cousins is seeking counselling to try and beat his drug habit and has no permanent home.

February 2017: Cousins is arrested again, this time for aggravated stalking, breaching his VRO and drug possession. Most of the charges relate to Cousins trying to see his two young children, his lawyer says. His bail is denied and he goes on to spend more than a month behind bars.

March 2017: Cousins pleads guilty to 11 charges and is due to be sentenced in the Perth Magistrates Court on March 28. His lawyer pushes for Cousins to be able to complete a residential rehabilitation program, with the fallen star "happy and willing" to seek treatment. He is sentenced to 12 months jail, eligible for parole after six months.

August 2017: Cousins fails a drug test in prison and is denied parole.

January 2018: Cousins is released from prison.

[King-Eliagh]

After the afls recent sexist office culture of rating women on their looks and the afl CEOs subsequent announcment he'd welcome back shamed slimy senior middle aged executives who decided to jump in the sac with junior female staff. After the welcoming back of jimmy goldeb boy hird, and now benny cousins scoring a job from behind bars, we must question.... Who or what would it take for the afl not to welcome back into the fray with open arms???

I mean, at the moment it seems like absolutely anything goes!

Oh, actually I should correct myself. I guess Adam goodes Isnt really welcomed anymore. what a bloody disgrace!!

[NlolRL]

So the AFL should ignore his desperate situation and just let him rot?

Good on the AFL and eagles for throwing a life line to someone who most employees wouldn't touch

[Terry]

So the AFL should ignore his desperate situation and just let him rot?

Good on the AFL and eagles for throwing a life line to someone who most employees wouldn't touch

I've got no problem with him getting a job with the Beagles. God knows they owe him after they failed their duty of care and responsibility when he was running amok in his playing days with their knowledge and nod and a wink approach to it.

I do however think letting the bloke from fumblehouse come straight back into the fold is a joke. Its like sacking a kleptomaniac and then immediatley giving him a job back with the key to the safe!!!!

[AFLcrap1]

After the afls recent sexist office culture of rating women on their looks and the afl CEOs subsequent announcment he'd welcome back shamed slimy senior middle aged executives who decided to jump in the sac with junior female staff. After the welcoming back of jimmy goldeb boy hird, and now benny cousins scoring a job from behind bars, we must question.... Who or what would it take for the afl not to welcome back into the fray with open arms???

I mean, at the moment it seems like absolutely anything goes!

Oh, actually I should correct myself. I guess Adam goodes Isnt really welcomed anymore. what a bloody disgrace!!

Well this doesn't surprise me . They do call Gary Ablett Senior ..GOD .
& it's well known what a despicable piece of shit he was .

[King-Eliagh]

Yes yes, once again our rugby league supporting members have provided the voice of reason here. Our afl fan nlol has provided an overtly reactive response, not dissimilar to a three year old who has dropped their ice cream on a hot summers day shame on you nlol

As I stated early in the op while it's pretty outlandish (well not really for afl standards) I too am not all that concerned about ben getting the actual job offer but more the precedents the afl has set in the past and the haphazard manner by which the afl has treated individuals with drug issues. I mean, perhaps the afl could have provided appropriate sanctions on ben when he shaved his head and body to pass a "hair sample" drug test rather than letting him thru. This was an opportune time where a more appropriate message should have been given, back in 2008... but no, the afl did, as sport capital has suggested in the past, protected their ahem 'asset' so he could play. Meanwhile ben completely self destructed.

The afl showed poor duty of care to ben, it was absolutely disgraceful actually. The afl should learn how to appropriately respond to:

A) people who clearly abuse and have issues with drugs and drug laws

B) people who suggest Aboriginal superstars of the game should play a role as King Kong

C) ageing male executives in afl hq who decide it's ok to get in bed with junior staffers

And so on and so forth. There's simply too many examples to put down, it's just that bad.

The afl eh?

[NlolRL]

So the AFL should ignore his desperate situation and just let him rot?

Good on the AFL and eagles for throwing a life line to someone who most employees wouldn't touch

I've got no problem with him getting a job with the Beagles. God knows they owe him after they failed their duty of care and responsibility when he was running amok in his playing days with their knowledge and nod and a wink approach to it.

I do however think letting the bloke from fumblehouse come straight back into the fold is a joke. Its like sacking a kleptomaniac and then immediatley giving him a job back with the key to the safe!!!!

So you agree the eagles have done the right thing by employing Cousins?

In you second comment are you referring to the guy who was fired for having a work relationship? The NRL's female gender advisor said he should never have been fired. So how can you complain if he now has a job at an AFL club?

[NlolRL]

As I stated early in the op while it's pretty outlandish (well not really for afl standards) I too am not all that concerned about ben getting the actual job offer but more the precedents the afl has set in the past and the haphazard manner by which the afl has treated individuals with drug issues. I mean, perhaps the afl could have provided appropriate sanctions on ben when he shaved his head and body to pass a "hair sample" drug test rather than letting him thru. This was an opportune time where a more appropriate message should have been given, back in 2008... but no, the afl did, as sport capital has suggested in the past, protected their ahem 'asset' so he could play. Meanwhile ben completely self destructed.

get your hand off it! The NRL's ilicit drugs policy is mainly for show and has resulted in just as many problems

ageing male executives in afl hq who decide it's ok to get in bed with junior staffers

by the sounds of it the NRL woundnt have acted on this at all

[AFLcrap1]

My take on this is its all about being seen to be doing the right thing( being part of the afl it's nearly top of the priority pile ..looking after the image)
It keeps the fans happy who are moronically still ranting with ..good on you Ben we love you ...
& the club have been seen to be giving him a chance .

All the while knowing this bloke is a train wreck ...just waiting for the next train derailment
So Bumbling Ben Is offered a job blah blah ..owed by the west coke eagles. Blah blah .

He won't change .
He's had chance after chance after chance ...

I'll give it 6 months till I bump this thread with a told you so ..

People like him don't change .
They're too stupid to realise they are given chances that ordinary everyday people don't get .

[NlolRL]

My take on this is its all about being seen to be doing the right thing( being part of the afl it's nearly top of the priority pile ..looking after the image)
It keeps the fans happy who are moronically still ranting with ..good on you Ben we love you ...
& the club have been seen to be giving him a chance .

All the while knowing this bloke is a train wreck ...just waiting for the next train derailment
So Bumbling Ben Is offered a job blah blah ..owed by the west coke eagles. Blah blah .

He won't change .
He's had chance after chance after chance ...

I'll give it 6 months till I bump this thread with a told you so ..

People like him don't change .
They're too stupid to realise they are given chances that ordinary everyday people don't get .

yes he probably wont change, but at least he has another chance. Who knows, a stint in jail may have forced him to reassess his priorities

[AFLcrap1]

Lol,
I have a bridge to sell you

[King-Eliagh]

Nlol? has the afl inserted a microchip in you man?

Look, let's get this straight. Benny cousins got given lifeline after lifeline from the afl because:

A) he is white
B) he was marketable

And in the end it did Ben no good whatsoever. Actually, I'd say the afl giving chance after fukking chance to Ben attributed to his self destruction. It's an absolute disgrace what occurred and an institution like the afl should be ashamed with the way in which they dealt with it. I mean, for fukks sake, how do you let a guy get away with shaving his head and whole body just days before he's due for tKing a hair sample drug test? Let alone the rest of bens misdemeanours?

And I'd put money on it that Ben wasn't just doin recreational drugs but was also on the performance enhancers. He was well jacked, just get a load of him in his prime



Marketable??



Duty of care?

[NlolRL]

Nlol? has the afl inserted a microchip in you man?

Look, let's get this straight. Benny cousins got given lifeline after lifeline from the afl because:

A) he is white
B) he was marketable

And in the end it did Ben no good whatsoever. Actually, I'd say the afl giving chance after fukking chance to Ben attributed to his self destruction. It's an absolute disgrace what occurred and an institution like the afl should be ashamed with the way in which they dealt with it. I mean, for fukks sake, how do you let a guy get away with shaving his head and whole body just days before he's due for tKing a hair sample drug test? Let alone the rest of bens misdemeanours?

And I'd put money on it that Ben wasn't just doin recreational drugs but was also on the performance enhancers. He was well jacked, just get a load of him in his prime



Marketable??



Duty of care?

so you would rather Ben stay unemployed and further self destruct?

[Swans4ever]

Yawn........another KE thread saying look at the big bad AFL yet doesnt acknowledge that RL has its own problems. You only have to look at the recent ex-NRL players who have gone to gaol. But KE would tell you that it is totally different.

[King-Eliagh]

Yawn........another KE thread saying look at the big bad AFL yet doesnt acknowledge that RL has its own problems. You only have to look at the recent ex-NRL players who have gone to gaol. But KE would tell you that it is totally different.

Swines! Welcome back to my forums!

Now as for your dull post, errrrmmm I'm first to acknowledge the NRLs issues. It's just, the NRL don't have issues that are so strikingly shameful as the afl.

I mean, did you read bennys indescretions I listed in the op?


Come back to me when you can find where the NRL have acted so irresponsibly by giving chance after chance after chance. And, please provide something that actually contributes to discussion rather than chiming in like a grumpy incontinent fart.

I spose I could help you. Google Todd carney. But even with him you'll notice the NRL finally took firm action, even tho his indescretions were nowhere near as seriou as the afls marketable cousins