TonyK
CibbuanoCousins set to return
June 25th 2008 00:56
FORMER West Coast captain Ben Cousins will play Australian football at state league this year.
Cousins, who is battling a highly publicised substance abuse problem, is likely to register with a Victorian Football League team before Monday's deadline.
The 29-year-old is expected to fill out the necessary paperwork to play in the VFL, which would include a playing contract.
AFL rules do not allow him to play for VFL clubs Collingwood and Geelong - effectively AFL reserves teams - which means Cousins will play for one of 12 VFL clubs, including Tasmania.
Cousins' manager Ricky Nixon said Carlie Merenda, of Flying Start management group, flew to Perth on Tuesday night to finalise his clients immediate future.
"Carlie will be in Perth over the next four or five days doing a number of things for Ben, a part of which is informing him of the processes that need to be put in place by Monday, if he wants to play footy," Nixon said.
"That's something Ben will have to make a decision on over the weekend, which includes which state, which club, etc etc."
Several AFL clubs have contacted Nixon about Cousins playing for them next year, with at least one club reportedly saying they would draft the 2005 Brownlow medallist if he were mentally and physically fit, and if he made himself available.
AFL Victoria chief executive Peter Schwab said he was not aware of Cousins' intentions of playing at VFL level in 2008.
"I haven't heard," Schwab said.
"But if he makes an application, if he applies the right way, and the forms correctly, I can't see any issue with it."
Cousins, who is battling a highly publicised substance abuse problem, is likely to register with a Victorian Football League team before Monday's deadline.
The 29-year-old is expected to fill out the necessary paperwork to play in the VFL, which would include a playing contract.
AFL rules do not allow him to play for VFL clubs Collingwood and Geelong - effectively AFL reserves teams - which means Cousins will play for one of 12 VFL clubs, including Tasmania.
Cousins' manager Ricky Nixon said Carlie Merenda, of Flying Start management group, flew to Perth on Tuesday night to finalise his clients immediate future.
"Carlie will be in Perth over the next four or five days doing a number of things for Ben, a part of which is informing him of the processes that need to be put in place by Monday, if he wants to play footy," Nixon said.
"That's something Ben will have to make a decision on over the weekend, which includes which state, which club, etc etc."
Several AFL clubs have contacted Nixon about Cousins playing for them next year, with at least one club reportedly saying they would draft the 2005 Brownlow medallist if he were mentally and physically fit, and if he made himself available.
AFL Victoria chief executive Peter Schwab said he was not aware of Cousins' intentions of playing at VFL level in 2008.
"I haven't heard," Schwab said.
"But if he makes an application, if he applies the right way, and the forms correctly, I can't see any issue with it."
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