ST KILDA are poised to offer Ben Cousins a football lifeline and accompanying off-field support if the former Eagle is cleared to play again by the AFL.

St Kilda became the clear frontrunners for the services of the recovering drug addict after Collingwood pulled out of the race for the 30-year-old. The Magpies were understood to have taken the extraordinary step of contacting Victorian Police Commissioner Christine Nixon for advice on Cousins and also employed a private investigator to tail the player.

Cousins's manager, Ricky Nixon, yesterday said the Saints believed Cousins's rehabilitation would be best served by returning to football. He can only return to the sport if given the all-clear by the AFL Commission next month.

Nixon suggested his client's future, on and off the field, lay in their hands. "If he can't play football, it's going to be a pretty big hit that we're going to have to work through and it's going to change the whole rehabilitation process," Nixon said.

"I certainly think it's going to go a long way to his rehabilitation. When you set yourself goals to get off this stuff and those goals relate to you playing football, if suddenly that's taken away from you, it's going to make it very, very difficult … it can end in chaos."

The Magpies told Nixon they had decided not to chase Cousins for a number of reasons, including their preference for younger players, injury concerns and his well-documented off-field issues. Nixon was furious about the Magpies' methods.

"[Christine Nixon] should have to come out and say this is what happened and clarified it, and I hope it does happen and quickly. It leaves it open to innuendo and rumour," he said. "I don't have a problem with Collingwood or any club doing their due diligence. In fact, I'd love them to do it and do as much as they can."

Sportingbet Australia have framed a new market on Cousins' likely new home, with St Kilda the $1.30 favourites. Nixon said the Saints were still "very keen" on signing Cousins.

Meanwhile, the AFL will crack down on deliberately rushed behinds, with a rule change certain for next year's NAB Cup and potentially the premiership season. The league's preparedness to consider making the rule change permanent so quickly reflects growing concern about the tactic.

AAP