Dockers won't rule out recruiting Ben Cousins
October 30, 2007 12:00am
WITH the late-night behaviour of West Coast players again under scrutiny, Fremantle has left the door ajar for disgraced Eagle Ben Cousins.
West Coast was forced yesterday to hose down reports of a punch-up between vice-captain Andrew Embley and midfield superstar Daniel Kerr.
No sooner was Cousins out of the country for his continued rehabilitation program in the US than Perth's jungle drums began beating again, this time about two Eagles teammates allegedly squaring off in the car park of a city nightspot in the early hours of Sunday morning.
WA Police confirmed they had been called to an incident outside the Niche bar, but by the time officers had arrived any trouble had dissipated.
The news came on the day Dockers coach Mark Harvey refused to rule out the possibility of taking Cousins should he nominate for the pre-season draft.
"What's got to happen with Ben Cousins, and every club is in the same position, (is) the AFL actually has to give him the OK to go in the draft," Harvey said.
"Nobody knows that yet, so it's not even relevant to answer the question really.
"That's OK (for other clubs to rule him out). That's their prerogative. But just let us see what happens to Ben, whether the AFL do let him play."
Cousins' football career appeared over after he was sacked by West Coast two weeks ago for repeated breaches of the club's rules of conduct, the final straw a charge of possessing the prohibited drug diazepam.
Although that charge was later dropped by police, Cousins is due in court on January 21 for refusing to comply with a driver assessment test.
As he left the country last week, Cousins said he was keen to resume his 238-game career and get back into training.
For that to happen, the AFL Commission, in its meeting on November 19, will have to give Cousins the green light to nominate for the national and pre-season draft.
But yesterday the attention had switched to two of Cousins' 2006 premiership teammates. After local radio stations began reporting that Embley was one of those involved, the Eagles vigorously denied any wrongdoing by their players.
"As far as we are concerned the players have done nothing wrong. They are on leave, and they were out at the pub," an Eagles spokesman said.
"It was light-hearted byplay . . . a bit of push and shove . . . and suddenly it has become a big thing."
Kerr and Embley are no strangers to controversy.
Embley and teammate Daniel Chick were involved in a brawl over Cousins around the time of his suspension from the club in March.
Kerr was caught up in his own troubles, arrested twice over separate assault allegations.
Those scandals forced the Eagles to fine Kerr $10,000, impose a $20,000 suspended fine and warn the star any more incidents could result in suspension.AAP |
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