Senior Coach Michael Voss confirmed the Club’s official position before training on Wednesday by stating that the door is ‘not shut’ on the matter.
Clearly, a number of important steps and due diligence needs to occur before the Club would consider adding Ben Cousins to our 2009 playing list.
Firstly, all players must be registered by the AFL Commission and this step has not occurred for Cousins. The AFL will require satisfactory results from a range of high-level medical and psychological tests and impose a series of strict contractual conditions before Ben’s registration proceeds. Essentially, the AFL must pass all players as being fit to be registered in their competition.
Coach Michael Voss, CEO Michael Bowers, and Chairman Tony Kelly have had a number of productive discussions and believe that in this circumstance the Lions Board must approve a recommendation from the Football Department to formally enlist Cousins.
After a number of Club assessments and evaluations the Board will need to be satisfied that Cousins will fit into the Lions’ well regarded Club culture, values and behaviours embodied by Club Captain Jonathan Brown and other senior players before any action is taken to add him to the squad.
The Lions appreciate all feedback to date and will take all information into account when making rulings in the best interests of the Club, its members and supporters.
The Club assures all fans that this matter will be considered thoroughly and any major developments will be fully communicated to members and supporters in due course.
