The ups and downs of Ben

Quality running midfielders playing in the AFL are usually still close to their peak when they are 30. They are often able to play very well for a few years after that too, especially those who pay particular attention to their physical fitness, even by professional athlete standards, which are already extremely high.

Ben Cousins is a 30 year old quality running midfielder renowned for his fitness, but he has probably played his final game in the AFL. A little over two years ago, when Cousins had not long turned 28, he had 231 games experience, had just been named in the All Australian team for the 6th time and he had a brand new premiership medallion. It capped off a two year period that also included a runners up medal, a Brownlow medal, and a 4th West Coast Eagles best and fairest award. At 28 there was still time for many more entries onto that list of honours.

Cousins has managed only 7 games since then, none of them in the last year. Unfortunately, his demise was reasonably predictable. Rumours of a drug culture at the Eagles had been around for years, and Cousins was thought to be a central figure in that culture. Even if one could ignore the rumours, Cousins’ list of known indiscretions was already lengthier, and about to get lenghtier. Despite all of his on-field achievements, obviously something was going wrong in Ben’s life.

Two years later, and having gone away to get his life sorted out, he is back, and with permission from the AFL to resume his football career in the league. Whether an AFL club is the right place for Cousins to continue his rehabilitation is unclear, but Cousins himself obviously thinks so. However, after being carefully considered by a number of clubs, he was passed over in the national draft. So it appears that the clubs aren’t convinced that he is rehabilitated. Given the resources at the disposal of AFL clubs, one can only assume that a lot of research went into their respective decisions not to draft Cousins, so it is concerning that they all considered the risk in recruiting him too great, despite his undeniable talent.

There is only one slim chance left for Cousins to find his way back into the AFL. If the AFL allow Richmond to rookie list Graham Polak, who was hit by a tram earlier in the year, it is being reported that they are likely to select Cousins in the pre-season draft. The move is being opposed by Polak’s former club, Fremantle. The AFL is meeting to consider Richmond’s submission on Monday, and the pre season draft will be held on Tuesday (December 16th).