Collingwood are the short-priced favourites to hand disgraced former West Coast captain Ben Cousins the chance to restart his AFL career in 2009.

Cousins, a recovering drug addict, has spent the past year out of football after being delisted by the Eagles.

He was then banned for 12 months by the AFL for bringing the game into disrepute.

The 30-year-old will need to gain the go-ahead from the AFL medical staff this month before being allowed to nominate for December's pre-season draft.

Assuming he gets the OK form the AFL, Sportingbet Australia have listed Collingwood as the $1.25 favourites to select Cousins, whose coach Mick Malthouse was in charge at the Eagles when the champion midfielder made his senior debut back in 1996.

Sydney are the second favourites at $7 to secure the services of the 2005 Brownlow medallist, followed by St Kilda at $9.

"The Magpies are $1.25 to secure Cousins' services, as Malthouse coached the superstar for the first four years of his career and Collingwood has plenty of salary cap room with Scott Burns and Shane Wakelin retiring in 2008," Sportingbet Australia chief executive Michael Sullivan said in a statement.

"Sportingbet Australia's market takes into consideration the fact that Sydney are always in the market for experienced players and Cousins could help the falling club return to premiership form.

"The Swans have been tipped to struggle next year due to their ageing list but Cousins could have the ability to rejuvenate Sydney's competitiveness for several years."

The West Coast board has ruled out any prospect of reclaiming Cousins in the pre-season draft.

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