TonyK
CibbuanoCousins' management in the dark over return
May 20th 2008 23:48
THE football future of former West Coast captain Ben Cousins remains clouded, with his management still in the dark over the rules for his AFL return.
Cousins, who will not play at VFL level this year, is still seeking any criteria he must fulfil to return, two months after the AFL Players' Association sought a ruling.
"The only information we have so far is the AFL saying, 'We just want to see him play' - they'll see him play and then make up their minds,", Cousins' manager, Ricky Nixon said.
Cousins, who is on a surfing trip, is working hard on his rehabilitation and physical condition, and is reportedly in a positive state of mind according to former West Coast teammates, who have kept in contact with the 2005 Brownlow medallist.
The former Eagle must sign with a non-AFL aligned VFL club by June 30 if he wants to play in the VFL competition this year.
Any club that signed Cousins this year would need some sort of AFL approval.
Nixon said Cousins was open to any mental or physical testing from the AFL when he returned to Melbourne in a few weeks time, but questioned whether he should have to prove that he can still play football.
"The reasons he would play would be to get match fitness and see where he is at with his skills," Nixon said. "Some might be confusing that with doing it to prove other things.
"They can test Ben as much as they like, but does he need to prove he can play football?
"He plays better than all of us."
His return to AFL level is not automatic, with Cousins having to apply to the AFL Commission for reinstatement.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said last month he was encouraged by Cousins's progress and believed it was in his best interests to play football at some level this year.
"If he plays football this year, it would probably be good for him at some level - state-based or even locally.
"It's his trade and he needs to play. It gives him much more of a chance to get back. We'll review his progress at an appropriate time this year.
"We're obviously getting reports about how he's travelling."
Cousins, who will not play at VFL level this year, is still seeking any criteria he must fulfil to return, two months after the AFL Players' Association sought a ruling.
"The only information we have so far is the AFL saying, 'We just want to see him play' - they'll see him play and then make up their minds,", Cousins' manager, Ricky Nixon said.
Cousins, who is on a surfing trip, is working hard on his rehabilitation and physical condition, and is reportedly in a positive state of mind according to former West Coast teammates, who have kept in contact with the 2005 Brownlow medallist.
The former Eagle must sign with a non-AFL aligned VFL club by June 30 if he wants to play in the VFL competition this year.
Any club that signed Cousins this year would need some sort of AFL approval.
Nixon said Cousins was open to any mental or physical testing from the AFL when he returned to Melbourne in a few weeks time, but questioned whether he should have to prove that he can still play football.
"The reasons he would play would be to get match fitness and see where he is at with his skills," Nixon said. "Some might be confusing that with doing it to prove other things.
"They can test Ben as much as they like, but does he need to prove he can play football?
"He plays better than all of us."
His return to AFL level is not automatic, with Cousins having to apply to the AFL Commission for reinstatement.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said last month he was encouraged by Cousins's progress and believed it was in his best interests to play football at some level this year.
"If he plays football this year, it would probably be good for him at some level - state-based or even locally.
"It's his trade and he needs to play. It gives him much more of a chance to get back. We'll review his progress at an appropriate time this year.
"We're obviously getting reports about how he's travelling."
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