The AFL Commission yesterday cleared the path for Ben Cousins to resume his controversial AFL career, subject to former West Coast champion agreeing to strict drug-testing requirements.
Former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy praised the commission's decision and said he would have considered recruiting the former Brownlow medallist if he was still coaching the Bombers.
The conditions set down by the AFL include Cousins submitting to urine testing up to three times a week and hair sample testing up to four times a year.
He may only join a club which has a drug and alcohol program which meets the satisfaction of the AFL.
Cousins must also attend any rehabilitation programs or meetings with experts specified by the AFL.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said Cousins had done everything asked of him to prove he was overcoming his battle with drugs.
''He wants to play football again and he's been given the green light to play football, subject to the conditions,'' he said.
St Kilda is favoured to snare Cousins in the December16 pre-season draft, although the Brisbane Lions could also recruit the 30-year-old recovering drug addict.
Sheedy told The Canberra Times there was no reason Cousins couldn't return to the form that earned him the 2005 Brownlow Medal, despite the fact he sat out the entire 2008 season because of his drug addiction.
When asked if he would have considered recruiting Cousins if he was still at the helm of Essendon, the Bombers great said ''it shouldn't be a problem''.
Sheedy also said any club considering drafting Cousins shouldn't be put off by the hype and potential distractions his recruitment would cause.
''He did the right thing and put his hand up and said 'I need help, I have a problem','' Sheedy said.
''He's mucked up, move on, he's got one more chance.
''Whatever Cousins does, it's going to lead the way for the AFL to look at issues like this in the future.
''James Hird won a best and fairest at 34, so there's no reason why [Cousins] can't be good at 34. Tim Watson came back out of retirement at 30 and won a premiership and so did Stuey Dew.
''It's just about whether you can play or not.''
The Saints were in regular contact with Cousins in the lead-up to yesterday's commission hearing and have publicly declared their interest, although they have yet to make a firm commitment to recruiting him.
The Lions have also expressed an interest, although they have not yet met with him, preferring to wait until the AFL made its decision.
The Lions have the advantage if it comes down to a battle for Cousins' services between the two clubs, as they have earlier picks in both the national and pre-season drafts.
There is also nothing to prevent another club, which has not declared its hand, swooping on Cousins in the draft.
The commission's decision ends the 12-month ban it imposed in November last year, after it found the former West Coast skipper guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.
The AFL has never detailed which of Cousins' breaches led to the ban, saying at the time it was for an accumulation of offences, rather than a particular incident.
Cousins has since spoken publicly about his battle with drug addiction and has undergone rehabilitation and a drug-testing program instigated by the AFL. with AAP