Amidst all the deliberation going on at practically every AFL club over whether or not Ben Cousins would make a good pick up, one thing seems to have slipped off the radar: just how good a footballer he is.
He’s won a Brownlow. And a premiership. He was a vital part of West Coast’s success during his time at the club. There are few midfields in the league that would be disadvantaged by adding Cousins.
Some question his age. But, at 30, he still has a lot to offer. Players of Cousins’ quality have proven that they can keep up well in to their thirties. Look at recent retirees Robert Harvey (who ran out for his last game at age 37) and Shane Crawford (at 34.)
Some question his relationship with drugs. But there would be a level of hypocrisy in ignoring him for that reason, as there are several AFL players sitting on two strikes under the AFL’s recreational drugs policy. He bucked the trend by going public and is committed to moving on with his life.
(And, technically, Cousins never even sat on one strike. No AFL test found drugs in his system.)
Some question the public relations risk. But, now more than ever, Ben Cousins is his own entity. If he hits the news for the wrong reasons again, the media will hang Ben Cousins out to dry. Not the club. They won't be immune to the media, but Cousins will definitely take the spotlight.
Besides, you can be assured they’d be a bunch of positive news stories if he does come good. Which, remembering his age and ability, is a genuine possibility.
Yet most clubs still seem to baulk like signing him would be the worst move since Bold & the Beautiful to 6.00 weeknights. No club drafted him at the national draft last weekend. His only hope is this month's pre-season draft.
It makes no sense. Ben Cousins has much more talent to offer than a draft day reject lingering in the pre-season draft.
Sure, the kids have potential. In fact, the clubs with a genuine youth policy would be crazy to draft a 30-year-old.
But clubs on the verge of September action, such as Richmond, have few excuses. Clubs looking to replace a recent retiree in the midfield (which obviously included St Kilda, who sadly do not have a pick at the pre-season draft) would also need to think twice before giving him the flick.
Even legendary coach Kevin Sheedy, now employed at Richmond, has grilled the Tigers’ football operations manager Craig Cameron on the issue based on that exact line of thinking. In public, too.
Those in the room at the time say it was a heated discussion.
Of course no club can draft him without forking out extra resources to accommodate Cousins’ unique needs. But let’s face it, given he’ll only be on a draftee’s salary, it’d be like paying for a star outside of the salary cap.
Cousins has accepted the AFL’s tough testing regime and has come a long way during his time away from the game. He’s committed to returning to the sport he loves.
All that’s needed now is a home for this fallen superstar.
Essendon, Richmond, Brisbane, Port Adelaide, Carlton and Melbourne all have picks at the December 16 pre-season draft. Of those clubs, only the Bombers, Power and Demons can truly hide behind a focus on recruiting youth.
Brisbane has reneged on their once keen stance on Cousins. With a first year coach in Michael Voss, it is hard to blame them.
Carlton already has a reasonably stacked midfield. The romance of a reunion with Chris Judd would wear off quickly.
That leaves the Tigers.
Considering a finals appearance in 2009 is likely, the club would be perfectly justified in bringing in someone of Cousins’ experience. He could easily be the Stuart Dew to their Hawthorn.
Now is clearly the time for someone to take a punt at Punt Road.
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