TUESDAY, November 20:
Police in the United States have confirmed they will not lay charges against suspended AFL player Ben Cousins, despite his alleged cocaine binge a couple of weeks ago.
US Police say safety is the major concern
MONDAY, November 19:
Former West Coast Eagles skipper Ben Cousins has been suspended by the AFL for 12 months for bringing the game into disrepute.
After a marathon seven-hour hearing, Cousins was found guilty by the AFL Commission, on what commissioner Mike Fitzpatrick described as a sad day. Cousins was sacked by the Eagles in October after being arrested by Perth police on two drug-related charges.
However, the police subsequently dropped both charges.
While not revealing the specifics of Cousins' offences, Fitzpatrick and league boss Andrew Demetriou made it clear they owed it to the 95-98 per cent of players doing the right thing off the field to rub the 2005 Brownlow Medalist out.
The league has given Cousins - who admitted to being a drug addict after acknowledging he received a fair hearing - an opportunity to return to football, saying he can apply for the 2008 draft to play in the 2009 season if he fulfils certain criteria.
Listen to Ben Cousins' statement and AFL Commissioner Mike Fitzpatrick
6PR's Howard Sattler discusses the 12-month penalty Cousins received
MONDAY, November 19: Federal Treasurer, and Essendon No.1 ticket holder, Peter Costello, has again said the AFL's stance on illicit drug-taking within its playing ranks is sending the wrong message. Costello's opinion was aired shortly before Ben Cousins' tribunal hearing started, where the disgraced Eagle is defending a charge of bringing the game into disrepute.
Watch Costello in studio
SUNDAY, November 18: Sacked Eagle Ben Cousins faces the AFL tribunal on Monday morning in Melbourne to defend a charge of bringing the game into disrepute. 6PR reporter Adrian Barich explained to 3AW's Sunday Morning program that the league may have little evidence to support its charge.
However, there are reports suggesting Cousins and his legal team will seek a compromise with the AFL, perhaps in the form of the former Eagles skipper and Brownlow Medalist sitting out of the game for a year in return for the charge being dropped.
Listen to Adrian Barich predict what will happen on Monday, November 18
Talkback callers have had enough of Cousins (WARNING: Coarse language) November 18
Are you interested in the Cousins story?
THURSDAY, November 15: Embattled Ben Cousins has broken his silence, saying he wants to play AFL again. The disgraced footballer admits there is a long way to go, however.
Listen to Ben Cousins on Channel 9, November 14
WEDNESDAY, November 14: Shane Brennan, Ben Cousins' lawyer, told 3AW Breakfast the Perth police who arrested his client last month displayed 'ineptitude beyond belief' and he refused to rule out taking action. Meanwhile, AFLPA CEO Brendon Gale explained why the players' union would back the on-field return of the embattled Eagle and the intricacies of the AFL's charge against Cousins of bringing the game into disrepute.
Listen to Shane Brennan, November 14
Brendon Gale makes the case for Ben Cousins' return to the game, November 14
Sports reporter Jon Anderson chimes in as Ross and John poke fun, November 14