If a football fan was asked whether a six-time All Australian, premiership-winning Brownlow Medallist was worthy of induction to the Hall of Fame, I think we all know what the answer would be.
However, if I was to tell you the same football fan that the player was Ben Cousins, there is a good chance that they might change their mind.
Cousins debuted at 17 for the West Coast Eagles in 1996, where he went on to play 238 games for the club, kicking 205 goals in the process, as well as receiving all the previously mentioned awards among others. He then played 32 games for Richmond before retiring from the game in 2010.
At this point, everything seems cut and dry for Cousins to be a Hall of Fame inductee, but as most fans would tell you, it isn’t that simple.
Cousins had a ‘party lifestyle’, to put a generic term on what mostly involved drinking and using recreational drugs, sometimes with other West Coast players.
While it wasn’t properly identified that Cousins had a substance abuse problem until 2007, Cousins had his captaincy stripped due to fleeing a booze bus in 2006. In 2010, a documentary came out after his retirement, revealing that he had a drug problem well before this point.
Things would only get worse for Cousins. After his mandatory break from the AFL in 2007 to attend rehab, he had his car searched in the October of the same year and was arrested for drug possession and refusing to give a blood test. He was sacked by the Eagles the following day.
This article won’t discuss Cousins’ life after football for the same reason it won’t discuss his life before it. It isn’t relevant when looking at a player’s football career to determine Hall of Fame eligibility.
Ben Cousins should be a Hall of Fame inductee – his playing career demands it.
Mike Sheahan, one of the sport’s greatest journalists, has Cousins in his top 50 players to have ever played the game. Not only are the rest of the players on the list inductees, but there are a lot more besides which one can unequivocally say Cousins was better than.
In terms of being a role model, an argument many people try to use against him, it shouldn’t be a requirement for being considered. They are football players, not politicians.
Also, the AFL has had no problem inducting Gary Ablett Senior, a man who also used illegal drugs. What about Barry Hall? He punched a man in the jaw without provocation and was recently sacked from his radio station for an inappropriate comment. It’s difficult to call either of these players role models.
In terms of cheating, Cousins never failed a drug test so it could easily be argued that he was never gaining an illegal advantage during games. Besides, the drugs that Cousins was taking have very little in the way of performance enhancement; they would have just as much chance of hurting his performances.
It really goes back to the original question: if you were to ask a fan if a player with Cousins’ credentials should be in the Hall of Fame, the answer is yes.
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
And say at half time in a GF?
Russ
Roar Rookie
Then why are amphetamines banned by WADA as performance enhancing?
ScottD
Roar Guru
No mate, I didn’t miss the point at all. The difference is that I’m neither an advocate of Cousins nor against him. I am a simple observer so I can look without your tinted glasses. FACT: Ablett was not elected in the hall of fame until +10 years after he finished playing in a large part because his behaviour was considered to have brought disrepute to the AFL. His admission was acted on after a lot of debate. Cousins is in the same situation. Whether people think that is fair or not is irrelevant it is simply a fact of the ambivalence that people have when they consider his admission. In any event, love it or hate it, it is at least a consistent position to take. FACT: There are other players that are not yet in the hall of fame, that had a stellar career as a player/coach/administrator (or all three) who have not generated negative headlines in relation to the game and common sense tells us that they should and will be selected first. Its not hard to work out that those who have no negatives will likely be selected first. And finally – this is an opinion site mate and you are welcome to present other facts or have a different opinion to me. Also note that just because I don’t think Cousins will be in the Hall of Fame this decade that doesn’t mean he won’t be.
Smee
Guest
Point missed, again. So what it took them 20-30 years, FACT is Ablett is still in the hall of fame, along with others with tarnished reputations. It is your OPINION that Cousins shouldnt be inducted, and that those others on that list should. Opposite to that there are still a lot of people who love Ben Cousins, sins and all, who are of the opinion that he should be inducted. So who wins? So the fact is if all that is keeping Ben Cousins out of the hall of fame is his off field reputation, while simultaneously other bad boys stay in it, that is wrong. If their footy was good enough, all bad boys are either allowed in, or they all are not. That is all.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yep, it took them 20-30 ? years to get themselves to that point. Yep, it is a sad fact. Cousins is unfortunately better known for his poor news headlines than his football reputation. And, there are 49 other people on Sheans list that are both great footballers and have less negative impact on the reputation of AFL footballers .
Smee
Guest
1. So the AFL had a problem with Ablett being in there, but he still went in. If bad behaviour is enough to keep someone out, apply it to all. What is true for one should be true for all. 2. This isn't a fact. It's an opinion.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
That's the spirit. Eat those cookies like a fat kid eats ice cream.lol. :laughing:
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I’m not going to comment cause l had another cookie
ScottD
Roar Guru
Actually, just to keep the facts alive; 1. The AFL did have a problem with Gary Ablett Snr and there was a lot of discussion and angst about him in the context of Hall of fame; 2. If Shean had Cousins in his top 50 players of all time then lets put them in the Hall of Fame first before we put in a guy who is better known for his bad behaviour today than his football There are many players deserving of Hall of Fame before Cousins is considered.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
That's better, get into it. To help you out I've got ess to win, Merritt for 25+ and stringer for 2 goals. Nothing like an Adam Jinx to help ya team along.lol.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Your right Adam it’s against my nature Dog started barking told the bloody dog to get me my beer!
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
mmmm cookies, I love cookies especially the cookies I'm thinking of.lol.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
lmfao imagine if you win though and you were all well behaved and mannered, wheres the fun in that. Lose ya sht and go wild.lol.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Had some cookies to calm down before the bounce
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Yea l know but if l get to worked up the wild animals flee the loopy wild dog’s screams! The wife said she will lock me up in my cellar :silly:
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
invest invest invest man, All In i say, you don't get these chances every year so might as well enjoy it while you can.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Think the are petrified haven’t seen any around amazing how agile & fleet of foot cats are, once fed they are off , if you yell at them they tend to hold grudges & you don’t seem them for weeks.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
No nerves cause I’m not invested in game
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
How's your nerves going this morning?
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
I reckon so, gws beat them with there b team a couple of weeks ago didn't they definitely some nervous cats out there I'd say.