by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
Ben Cousins, who hopes for a return to the playing field this season, will do so on a drastically reduced contract. As well as the stringent conditions placed upon him by the AFL, the club is seeking advice from the AFLPA in regard to a revised contract which would see Cousins' salary severely reduced as well as a number of other conditions which will be proposed to Cousins and his advisers in the next few weeks.
While the club footed his California rehab bills, Cousins will also be asked to reimburse the club for those costs, believed to be well over $50,000.
Cousins' contract expires at the end of 2009 and is believed to be worth an estimated $800,000. Gooding said the conditions imposed by the club would be non-negotiable but that both he and club CEO Trevor Nisbett have been encouraged by Cousins' attitude of wanting to overcome his problems and rejoin his teammates.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said Cousins, who still has 3-4 weeks of his rehabilitation program to complete, would be subject to a physical and psychological assessment by League doctors along with target testing, a process expected to last a further four weeks.
Cousins would most likely return to football via WAFL club South Fremantle, but that would have to be approved by the West Australian Football Commission. A return to AFL ranks is not expected until at least Round 17 or 18.
Source: Melbourne Age
Ben Cousins, who hopes for a return to the playing field this season, will do so on a drastically reduced contract. As well as the stringent conditions placed upon him by the AFL, the club is seeking advice from the AFLPA in regard to a revised contract which would see Cousins' salary severely reduced as well as a number of other conditions which will be proposed to Cousins and his advisers in the next few weeks.
While the club footed his California rehab bills, Cousins will also be asked to reimburse the club for those costs, believed to be well over $50,000.
Cousins' contract expires at the end of 2009 and is believed to be worth an estimated $800,000. Gooding said the conditions imposed by the club would be non-negotiable but that both he and club CEO Trevor Nisbett have been encouraged by Cousins' attitude of wanting to overcome his problems and rejoin his teammates.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said Cousins, who still has 3-4 weeks of his rehabilitation program to complete, would be subject to a physical and psychological assessment by League doctors along with target testing, a process expected to last a further four weeks.
Cousins would most likely return to football via WAFL club South Fremantle, but that would have to be approved by the West Australian Football Commission. A return to AFL ranks is not expected until at least Round 17 or 18.
Source: Melbourne Age
Article last changed on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 6:09 PM EDT
