Rookie Draft Twitter

[mighty_west]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

The risk would be whether his body breaks down and or tests positive. I doubt highly he would test positive, so the only potential risk, IMO, is whether his body stands up.

How would you know that? He is a drug addict after all, and he has been given more than one chance, he went over to the States for rehab, yet didn't turn up & ended up on a drug binge....even with the footy world watching his every move!!!

He has a sign on his forehead that clearly states - STAY AWAY, and the 15 other clubs could see that.

Even clubs like Brisbane, Collingwood, St Kilda had a serious look at him, yet all opted out.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

58. StK - Steve Gaertner
Pretty hyped up on the forums last year.
60. Geel - Ranga Ediriwickrama
Isn't this guy an absolute gun? How'd he slip?

Yes, as he was taken under the NSW Scholarship scheme he is just a 'last pick'. Geelong apparently convinced him to join them as the rookie list, I'm sure if he elected not to a few clubs would have looked at him in the ND.


Seems like a couple of interesting picks. Picken seems the safe option, ready to play if we need. Jamson sounds like he'll be working with Henry White, building his body up. I don't mind having a few young whippets on the rookie list.

[Sedat]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

Teflon is trying to save his arse for the short term - he needs wins and plenty of them early in the season, and Cousins has a better chance of helping Teflon achieve this than any young kid ever could. He knows he is a dead man walking if they have as poor a start to the season as they did in 2008. And if the Cousins experiment ends up failing, Richmond have a ready-made scapegoat with the soon-to-be sacked coach. All this Polak/Cousins talk this week has been about one thing - Wallace desperately trying to save his arse.

Richmond will be distracted beyond all belief between now the the start of the season. No club needs this distraction, least of all a club that has a history of eating its own. Not to mention the real possibility of the head of football operations receiving the dreaded unwelcome call at 4 in the morning during the season. One thing for certain, it won't be a dull ride while it lasts.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

Whilst I agree with posters that Wallet's decision to recruit Ben Cousins certainly would of had something to do with him entering his last year of his contract, suggesting Richmond - as a professional AFL football club - will become 'distracted' and lose focus is very naive. Wishful, but naive. I dislike Richmond as much as the next bloke, but there's no denying that adding Cousins to their list has potential rewards. Personal life aside, he's one of the best midfielders we've seen in the modern era. He probably won't be the player he once was, but I dare say he's going to add quite a bit regardless and that includes taking pressure off Deledio, Foley, Tuck etc.

I seem to recall a number of us predicting we'd be a much better side with Akermanis a few years ago when we traded for him. Whilst '07 wasn't flash, he certainly proved his worth in '08 and lived up to our expectations. No reason why Cousins can't/won't do the same - again, personal life aside.

It's a bold move by Richmond but one that IMO has far more reward than risk. If Cousins trips up again, The Tigers won't be blamed. They're being cheered for handing the man a lifeline, they won't 'cop' any of the heat should Cousins' life go pear shaped again. The reality is, Cousins is going to drive membership, exposure, excitement and improvement on the field. No way in hell will a bunch of players and staff be distracted in acheiving their goal though. In any case, surely the excitement would only further drive the club/its players to work harder as the potential success appears in reach.

Not for a minute am I saying Cousins automatically guarantees them a spot in September, but when the competition is as close as it is, it's surely going to put them in a good position.

The biggest risk is basically Cousins himself. If he slips up again, sponsors may be inclined to pull the plug - but I think it's a separate issue, I'm not so sure the two would be tied together (ala TAC). Instead, the burden will lie with Cousins' inability to stay clean, rather than a 'bad move' by Richmond.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

Whilst I agree with posters that Wallet's decision to recruit Ben Cousins certainly would of had something to do with him entering his last year of his contract, suggesting Richmond - as a professional AFL football club - will become 'distracted' and lose focus is very naive. Wishful, but naive. I dislike Richmond as much as the next bloke, but there's no denying that adding Cousins to their list has potential rewards. Personal life aside, he's one of the best midfielders we've seen in the modern era. He probably won't be the player he once was, but I dare say he's going to add quite a bit regardless and that includes taking pressure off Deledio, Foley, Tuck etc.

I seem to recall a number of us predicting we'd be a much better side with Akermanis a few years ago when we traded for him. Whilst '07 wasn't flash, he certainly proved his worth in '08 and lived up to our expectations. No reason why Cousins can't/won't do the same - again, personal life aside.

It's a bold move by Richmond but one that IMO has far more reward than risk. If Cousins trips up again, The Tigers won't be blamed. They're being cheered for handing the man a lifeline, they won't 'cop' any of the heat should Cousins' life go pear shaped again. The reality is, Cousins is going to drive membership, exposure, excitement and improvement on the field. No way in hell will a bunch of players and staff be distracted in acheiving their goal though. In any case, surely the excitement would only further drive the club/its players to work harder as the potential success appears in reach.
Not for a minute am I saying Cousins automatically guarantees them a spot in September, but when the competition is as close as it is, it's surely going to put them in a good position.

The biggest risk is basically Cousins himself. If he slips up again, sponsors may be inclined to pull the plug - but I think it's a separate issue, I'm not so sure the two would be tied together (ala TAC). Instead, the burden will lie with Cousins' inability to stay clean, rather than a 'bad move' by Richmond.

Excellent post, not much in there that I disagree with!

[Sedat]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

TBB, Cousins has become a circus like nothing the game has ever seen. He will have media up his arse walking to the shops to buy a carton of milk. He'll have Hutchy doing 'Agent 13' impersonations hiding in letter boxes every day. He'll have to subject himself to ridiculously over the top, invasive and continuous drug testing for the remainder of his career. He'll require a minder, employed by the club, to be with him constantly. No club will be subjected to the scrutiny that Richmond will be subjected to over the next 12 months, simply because Cousins is now a Tiger. As a young side on the up with some good talent coming through, this will be a difficult balancing act for Richmond (or any club for that matter) to handle. So much care and attention (not to mention finite club resources) will have to be dedicated to just 1 player out of a list of 40+. How will the rest of the playing group cope with this, considering that they have an inexperienced leadership group as it is? Interesting times ahead for the club.

[hujsh]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

The reason I associated with it was Aker's allegations about Braun (Cousin's former team mate). Recruiting Cousins would make us look hypocritical IMO.

Not club comments and Cousins took recreational drugs so not hypocritical to me.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

Every time Cousins goes out for a drink in Melbourne he should expect a dickhead to pick a fight with him. How many pissed idiots will wind him up if he goes out on the town (not to mention every second person in the CBD seems to be stabbed these days). How many media will be watching him have a drink. Sedat is dead on the money, the circus around him could and is likely to infect the club in a negative way. This smacks of Peter Rhode behaviour in drafting/trading to save your hide from Wallet. Short term vision with potentially very serious consequences. For instance, say he blows .051 whilst driving. What will the club do? What if he misses a scheduled drug testing session? The due diligence, at VERY significant cost, undertaken by Collingwood and to a much lesser extent St Kilda and Brisbane should be proof absolute that the guy is a walking, talking train wreck. Last stop, Richmond station.

All that is left is to sit back and watch the re-born hearts of the gerat unwashed Richmond folk spit on their coach, fight with opposition supporters, rip up and cancel memberships and inundate talkback radio with their words of self loathing hate.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

TBB, Cousins has become a circus like nothing the game has ever seen. He will have media up his arse walking to the shops to buy a carton of milk. He'll have Hutchy doing 'Agent 13' impersonations hiding in letter boxes every day. He'll have to subject himself to ridiculously over the top, invasive and continuous drug testing for the remainder of his career. He'll require a minder, employed by the club, to be with him constantly. No club will be subjected to the scrutiny that Richmond will be subjected to over the next 12 months, simply because Cousins is now a Tiger. As a young side on the up with some good talent coming through, this will be a difficult balancing act for Richmond (or any club for that matter) to handle. So much care and attention (not to mention finite club resources) will have to be dedicated to just 1 player out of a list of 40+. How will the rest of the playing group cope with this, considering that they have an inexperienced leadership group as it is? Interesting times ahead for the club.

Exactly.

AFL media is not balanced at the best of times. And the word 'professional' is bandied about loosely by the AFL, but it is over-stated. Commercialisation is not the same as professionalism.

While some parts of AFL have certainly become high-performance/best practice, much of an informal culture based around old-boys-clubs still exists, and there is an incredibly wide range of professionalism of mentality amongst all participants in the sport, to the extent that North players had to paint their own changing rooms at Arden Street, the Demons training on an oval that didn't have goal-posts, Saint Kilda potentially not having an oval to train on etc.

The big end of town may have the resources to ensure the illusion of professionalism, but the lower reaches of AFL are not much better run than your average VFL club.

If anyone is suggesting that Richmond's performance off the field over the last ten years is a shining example of professionalism they need a new dictionary.

This is a shemozzle of a decision made after a shemozzle of a process by the worst run club in the league, and to suggest that their 'professionalism' will protect them is an insult to Collingwood, St.Kilda and Brisbane who opted to pass over the golden opportunity to get f*cked over by Cuz and Nixon.

If the way they went about getting Cuz is an indication of how they'll manage him over the next twelve months, it will be an absolute shambles.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

Exactly.

AFL media is not balanced at the best of times. And the word 'professional' is bandied about loosely by the AFL, but it is over-stated. Commercialisation is not the same as professionalism.

While some parts of AFL have certainly become high-performance/best practice, much of an informal culture based around old-boys-clubs still exists, and there is an incredibly wide range of professionalism of mentality amongst all participants in the sport, to the extent that North players had to paint their own changing rooms at Arden Street, the Demons training on an oval that didn't have goal-posts, Saint Kilda potentially not having an oval to train on etc.

The big end of town may have the resources to ensure the illusion of professionalism, but the lower reaches of AFL are not much better run than your average VFL club.

If anyone is suggesting that Richmond's performance off the field over the last ten years is a shining example of professionalism they need a new dictionary.

This is a shemozzle of a decision made after a shemozzle of a process by the worst run club in the league, and to suggest that their 'professionalism' will protect them is an insult to Collingwood, St.Kilda and Brisbane who opted to pass over the golden opportunity to get f*cked over by Cuz and Nixon.

If the way they went about getting Cuz is an indication of how they'll manage him over the next twelve months, it will be an absolute shambles.

I'm not saying the decision to recruit Cousins is a good one, nor am I going to be naive enough to suggest it'll be smooth sailing because at some point in time, there's probably going to be a hiccup. It depends whether it's him testing positive, him ending up in a brawl, speeding etc. etc. Reality is - there's a high chance because of the amount of exposure he's going to get, he'll be caught doing something wrong.

The point I was trying to make though is that Richmond aren't going to have mud on their faces if at any time Cousins involves himself in such acts. The matters, I guarantee you, will become separate. Richmond and the public will simply say, 'Well, we gave him the opportunity to further his rehabilitation but unfortunately for Ben, he hasn't taken it, and as a result we're left with no other alternative than to lead different paths.' In short terms; we tried, we did the right thing trying to help him, but it didn't work.

That all comes from the public getting so desperate to see Cousins find another AFL home. Richmond stepping in at the last moment to hand him a lifeline has sent shockwaves through the football world. All you have to do is turn SEN on for five minutes to realise the public is literally thanking Richmond, applauding Richmond (the media clapped) and talking positive about the football club. Now I know, as well as anyone without a biased perception knows, that Richmond tried to manipulate the system/Polak/Cousins for their benefit. As a club, they're being glorified for the wrong reasons, but as is the case with everything else in life, timing was the key.

If Richmond committed to Cousins two months ago, would the media cirus be the same? Undoubtedly no. It's because Cousins' saga lasted up until the last minute of the PSD Draft that has actually turned Richmond into a public proclaimed 'hero'. The goodwill of the public to see Cousins rehabilitate and get his life back on track meant that if someone was prepared to take a shot on him within the last few desperate days, they would basically save themselves of great risk should it ultimately not work out. Whilst there is still a risk of Richmond's brand being tarnished through losing sponsors etc. the risk is clearly significantly less than it would have been two, three, four months ago.

Timing is everything, and really, Richmond manipulated the whole situation so as to save their bacon.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

Grant Thomas said if he was coach of St Kilda he would not have even contemplated Cousins because of that exact reason

Grant Thomas also maintained throughout the majority of this season that we were no good, and St. Kilda were the only likely side to defeat Geelong.

I know what you're saying, but GT is a halfwit.

I just don't think AFL players are going to be distracted by Ben Cousins to the extent that their performance on the field takes a battering. He's one player of twenty two to turn up on match day. Their job is to concentrate on their individual and team game, at what point can/does Cousins distract them from that? The players were OK with him coming to the club, they knew what Ben will bring (Plenty of exposure/possible criticism etc.) and what he'll have to go through (Eg. Regular testing). I personally don't think it would effect their on-field performance at all, and as I said, if Cousins can hold up OK then he'll improve their side.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

I'm not saying the decision to recruit Cousins is a good one, nor am I going to be naive enough to suggest it'll be smooth sailing because at some point in time, there's probably going to be a hiccup. It depends whether it's him testing positive, him ending up in a brawl, speeding etc. etc. Reality is - there's a high chance because of the amount of exposure he's going to get, he'll be caught doing something wrong.

The point I was trying to make though is that Richmond aren't going to have mud on their faces if at any time Cousins involves himself in such acts. The matters, I guarantee you, will become separate. Richmond and the public will simply say, 'Well, we gave him the opportunity to further his rehabilitation but unfortunately for Ben, he hasn't taken it, and as a result we're left with no other alternative than to lead different paths.' In short terms; we tried, we did the right thing trying to help him, but it didn't work.

That all comes from the public getting so desperate to see Cousins find another AFL home. Richmond stepping in at the last moment to hand him a lifeline has sent shockwaves through the football world. All you have to do is turn SEN on for five minutes to realise the public is literally thanking Richmond, applauding Richmond (the media clapped) and talking positive about the football club. Now I know, as well as anyone without a biased perception knows, that Richmond tried to manipulate the system/Polak/Cousins for their benefit. As a club, they're being glorified for the wrong reasons, but as is the case with everything else in life, timing was the key.

If Richmond committed to Cousins two months ago, would the media cirus be the same? Undoubtedly no. It's because Cousins' saga lasted up until the last minute of the PSD Draft that has actually turned Richmond into a public proclaimed 'hero'. The goodwill of the public to see Cousins rehabilitate and get his life back on track meant that if someone was prepared to take a shot on him within the last few desperate days, they would basically save themselves of great risk should it ultimately not work out. Whilst there is still a risk of Richmond's brand being tarnished through losing sponsors etc. the risk is clearly significantly less than it would have been two, three, four months ago.

Timing is everything, and really, Richmond manipulated the whole situation so as to save their bacon.

While I appreciate your points, TBB, I think you're giving Richmond far too much credit by assuming they planned the whole thing all along. All through the process they've shown an absolute inability to do even the simplest things (like think logically), and essentially stumbled from one joke to the next, all on their own and without anyone even remotely standing in their way.

They managed to screw themselves over and make themselves look like fools with their Polak application to the AFL etc., and no one was even stopping them from doing anything they wanted! (they got Gourdis via the rookie draft anyway) Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

So to suggest that somehow this shambolic administration will be able to strategically profit from the situation is the stuff of fantasy. They got him because he was floating about and Terry got desperate, and there is no way they've planned for this -- Wallet even admitted as much by saying that he was swayed at the last minute by the fans. How's that for a planning process.

Credit where it is due, but none due here -- Richmond weren't clever, they were just a bumbling club falling over themselves, which somehow qualifies as news in a quiet off-season. If you really think they've done a thorough risk/reward analysis that's not a conclusion I share.

And if you think they'll have any idea of what to do the moment this blows up in their face you have more faith in Tigerland than the greatest optimist. Sure, they COULD disavow any responsibility, but I doubt that will know how, or have the nous to do anything remotely as well as you think they will.

[Sedat]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

I'm not saying the decision to recruit Cousins is a good one, nor am I going to be naive enough to suggest it'll be smooth sailing because at some point in time, there's probably going to be a hiccup. It depends whether it's him testing positive, him ending up in a brawl, speeding etc. etc. Reality is - there's a high chance because of the amount of exposure he's going to get, he'll be caught doing something wrong.

The point I was trying to make though is that Richmond aren't going to have mud on their faces if at any time Cousins involves himself in such acts. The matters, I guarantee you, will become separate. Richmond and the public will simply say, 'Well, we gave him the opportunity to further his rehabilitation but unfortunately for Ben, he hasn't taken it, and as a result we're left with no other alternative than to lead different paths.' In short terms; we tried, we did the right thing trying to help him, but it didn't work.

That all comes from the public getting so desperate to see Cousins find another AFL home. Richmond stepping in at the last moment to hand him a lifeline has sent shockwaves through the football world. All you have to do is turn SEN on for five minutes to realise the public is literally thanking Richmond, applauding Richmond (the media clapped) and talking positive about the football club. Now I know, as well as anyone without a biased perception knows, that Richmond tried to manipulate the system/Polak/Cousins for their benefit. As a club, they're being glorified for the wrong reasons, but as is the case with everything else in life, timing was the key.

If Richmond committed to Cousins two months ago, would the media cirus be the same? Undoubtedly no. It's because Cousins' saga lasted up until the last minute of the PSD Draft that has actually turned Richmond into a public proclaimed 'hero'. The goodwill of the public to see Cousins rehabilitate and get his life back on track meant that if someone was prepared to take a shot on him within the last few desperate days, they would basically save themselves of great risk should it ultimately not work out. Whilst there is still a risk of Richmond's brand being tarnished through losing sponsors etc. the risk is clearly significantly less than it would have been two, three, four months ago.

Timing is everything, and really, Richmond manipulated the whole situation so as to save their bacon.

Some good points there, but really there are more pressing factors at play than the Richmond brand smelling rosy out of a possible future Cousins mishap. If I was a Richmond supporter (I feel dirty even saying that), I would want to see the rest of the young squad given unfettered access to all the footy dept's time, energy and resources. There is no doubt that the arrival of Cousins will have an adverse effect on these factors for the rest of the playing group for reasons previously stated. It's a short-term, highly risky strategy by a coach under pressure to deliver instant results that could very well come at a cost of lack of development to the remainder of the playing group.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

I know what you're saying, but GT is a halfwit.

I just don't think AFL players are going to be distracted by Ben Cousins to the extent that their performance on the field takes a battering. He's one player of twenty two to turn up on match day. Their job is to concentrate on their individual and team game, at what point can/does Cousins distract them from that? The players were OK with him coming to the club, they knew what Ben will bring (Plenty of exposure/possible criticism etc.) and what he'll have to go through (Eg. Regular testing). I personally don't think it would effect their on-field performance at all, and as I said, if Cousins can hold up OK then he'll improve their side.

TBB, you can't have it both ways -- GT was a senior coach of a 'professional' AFL team. If he's a halfwit what makes the 'professionals' at Richmond so much better?

If professional sportspeople never got distracted because of personality issues, media attention etc. and have their performances affected by the above, we're wasting a lot of money in our football departments on player welfare and the like. They're people. Young people. Young, impressionable, and in many cases, formerly sheltered young people. You can slap a 'professional' tag on them, doesn't make them any less human. Didn't stop a whole club (West Coast) disintegrating into a drug-riddled mess that imploded after one premiership when it could have gone on to many more, or players urinating in front of police stations, driving over the limit etc. etc. etc.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Rookie Draft Twitter

Cousins to Richmond (From HUN)

UPDATE 2:11pm: RICHMOND coach Terry Wallace says fans lobbying for the drafting of Ben Cousins was a key factor in their decision to draft him.

The Richmond Football Club used its number six draft pick to recruit the champion player after a move overnight to head off a fan revolt.

Sources at the club said the membership lines had been "running hot" since news of the Cousins selection broke.

"There's been a mass of interest in membership for next year," the source said.

Wallace said the positive reaction of their fans and players to the prospect of drafting Cousins had been instrumental in the club taking a punt on the confessed drug addict.





FOR F**K SAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ONE - Fans dictate what the club does??? In that case, Cam, Rocket and David - please bring back strippers tp pie nights, sack Cameron Wight and demand games at the Whitten Oval.

Get on board everyne, AFL clubs makes high risk decisions based on what a handful of fans want.

BULLSHIT!

TWO - He is already blaming someone else for the decision.

THREE - What kind of spiritual leader or even shithouse manager doesn't take responsibility for their decision making. At least say, Sheedy, would come out and say "I think Tye Zantuck is an ok kid and can play". He might not have been right, but at least he took responsibility.


Disgraceful on all levels. Just come out and say "I wanted him because i think he will stay on the straight and narrow and has lpenty of talent still to burn".


FOUR - You don't do covert survelllance, interview associates and other things like other cubs. You decide a few loud mouth dickheads who wont pay up anyway make one of the most high risk decision in recent AFL history. It's called due diligence. Either he was a good prospect or he wasn't.


FIVE: Don't try to shite in the face of the other clubs and use emotional blackmail saying it was like Adam Ram. Adam was fighting cancer AND was out of contract. Richmond were to bloody lazy to perofrm due diligence and make he right moves when they should have.


SIX - Interest in memberships??? How many loud mouths ACTUALLY signed up, AND put their hard earned where their loud mouth is?


SEVEN - God i hate Richmond and Wallace should just commit AFL hari-kari and leave us all to peace. I can't wait to see this blow up. These words will coe to haunt that club and man.