Mcguire Keeps Mum On Cousins

The Sunday Age

Sunday September 7, 2008

Karen Lyon

COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire has refused to be drawn on speculation the Magpies will resurrect the career of former West Coast captain Ben Cousins or chase his former teammate, Daniel Kerr, who continues to be at the centre of trade speculation.

Yesterday, McGuire said the Magpies were yet to decide whether to pursue Cousins or act on rumours that Kerr wanted to leave Western Australia.

Rumours have linked Cousins with the Magpies after the delisted Brownlow Medallist was spotted at Collingwood's training base, the Lexus Centre, earlier this year.

Cousins was banned from football for 12 months at the end of last year after his battle with drug addiction became public. He was sacked by the Eagles and his progress has been monitored by the AFL. Only with the approval of the league and its medical officers will the champion midfielder be allowed to enter this year's draft and attempt to rebuild his career.

There has been constant speculation this year that Kerr, 25, was seeking to continue his career in Melbourne.

Asked on Fairfax radio if the Magpies could get a deal done with Kerr, McGuire said the club was yet to make a decision on whether "to go down that track".

Asked about rumours that the Magpies had offered Lions forward Jonathan Brown a five-year deal, McGuire said: "We didn't ever get to the stage of finding out whether he wanted to be a Collingwood player." Brown re-signed with the Lions this week.

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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