Brisbane Lions Pull Out of the Running for Ben Cousins

Ben Cousins final lifeline for a return to the AFL seems to be all but over after the Brisbane Lions withdrew their interest in the former Brownlow Medallist following a meeting in Melbourne on Friday.

Former West Coast Eagles captain Ben Cousins’ hopes of resurrecting his AFL career appear all but over.

The Brisbane Lions last night officially withdrew all interest in recruiting the 2005 Brownlow Medallist.

Brisbane officials met for more than an hour in their Melbourne hotel on Friday afternoon preparing for Saturday’s AFL National Draft and emerged with their bombshell blow to Cousins.

Lions football operations manager Graeme Allan confirmed his club’s decision, but would make not further comment.

“We’re out of the race for Cousins,” Allan said.

Allan and new Lions coach Michael Voss and their entire football recruitment department were involved in what was reported as an intense meeting and final decision not to pursue their endeavours to recruit the 30-year-old Cousins.

Only early this week the Lions ruled out taking Cousins as a draft pick, but left open the door for him to join Brisbane through next month’s pre-season draft.

This is a major blow for Cousins as his career looks all but over unless another club can come to the party at the last minute. The Lions seemed keen the whole time but when it came to the crunch they obviously had their doubts and thought it would be eaiser to continue on as they are without all the scrutiny that would follow Cousins.

Do you think Cousins career is over? Or do you think he will be thrown a lifeline by another club? Leave us with your thoughts.