Cousins’ toughest task will be Mad Monday

Now that his playing days are over, Cousins will party with his Tiger mates. But he promises he will no longer “lead the pack” in hard partying.

“Some of my best work was done on Mad Mondays,” Cousins joked on Friday night.

“Yeah, it’s a shame. (Mad Monday) it’s a thing of the past for me.

“I’m sure I’ll sneak in the opportunity to have a couple of beers with the boys but the days are gone of me leading the pack.”

It will be interesting if Cousins gets through Mad Monday on just “a couple of beers”. Good luck to him. He’ll need to keep busy from now on, to keep his addictive tendencies in check.

I reckon the best thing for a bloke like Cousins would be training for triathlon races. It will be a healthy outlet for Cousins’s competitive urges, plus it suits his obsessive-compulsive nature.

Hey, maybe he’s got the potential to contest the Hawaiian ironman? He’s loves to catch a big wave as well.

Cousins’s will pursue business interests after football, which will keep his mind busy. Let’s hope he can find fulfilment after drugs threatened to destroy his life.

Meanwhile, it’s been a crackerjack final home-and-away round, with Essendon coach Matthew Knights sacked after guiding the Bombers to just seven wins for the year.

There was tension at Bomberland for weeks and Knights had to go. No question. It’s the way of elite sport. At least he’ll have a wack of money, after severing his contract.

As the finalists tried to fend off malaise, slogging it out on the rain-soaked grounds during August, Collingwood is suffering a bad case of the yips.

The flag favourite surrendered to the Hawks by three points, as the Pies failed to kick straight.  Alarm bells were ringing after the Pies lost. Have they peaked too early? I’m tipping the Pies are past their physical peak. The Magpies’ forwards are missing set shots. They are looking sloppy and tired.

If Malthouse can lift the Pies in their first qualifying final against the Bulldogs at the ‘G on Saturday night, he’s a wonder.

It will be a test of the young Magpies’ resolve, and their coaching staff, if they can fire up and kick accurately against the Dogs.

Hawthorn has turned the corner after its dressing down by president Jeff Kennett. There’s nothing as powerful as sticking a rocket up a bunch of proud and confident athletes. Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson has his troops firing at the right time.

Expect them to win against Freo in the eliminator at Subiaco on Saturday.

I’m also tipping the Cats to whip the Saints in the second qualifying final at the MCG on Friday night and Sydney shouldn’t have too much trouble against Carlton in the eliminator at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

The teams who survive this weekend will show their toughness to survive the “malaise” period of August.