Ben Cousins

Ben Cousins Early Football and West Coast Eagles Career

Ben Cousins was born June 30, 1978 in Geelong, Victoria.  He rose to prominence as an outstanding footballer, playing for Bull Creek, East Fremantle and most notably West Coast Eagles in the AFL, where he made his seniors debut at Subiaco in Round 4 v. Geelong in 1996.  He won the AFL’s Rising Star Award in 1996.

Sporting the number 9 jumper for the Eagles, he starred in the midfield as he demonstrated a great balance of skill, strength, intensity and creative flair to create opportunities on field and capitalise on them.

Ben Cousins at West Coast Eagles

Ben Cousins - West Coast Action Video

(love the spectacular goal at 3:27!)

Cousins captained the West Coast Eagles from 2001 to 2005, won the 2005 Brownlow Medal and the Leigh Matthews Trophy (for the AFL’s MVP) and was club best and fairest in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005 (click once on the video below to see footage of Ben Cousins' Brownlow win)

Ben Cousins Brownlow

In 2006 Cousins helped the Eagles to win the AFL Premiership, beating the Sydney Swans by one point (West Coast 12-13-85 to Sydney Swans 12-12-84) and he played a major role in the grand Final with 18 possessions and kicking two goals.

Ben Cousins Off-field Incidents

In September 2002 Cousins was involved in a fight with team mate Daniel Kerr at a Perth nightclub.

In 2005, Cousins was involved with a police investigation regarding a nightclub shooting, when it was revealed that he and then teammate Michael Gardiner had conversations with one of two men charged with disposing of a gun fired in a Melbourne nightclub.  He came under criticism for declining to explain phone conversations he had with one of the men charged over the incident.

On February 12, 2006, Cousins abandoned his car as he neared a booze bus. Cousins parked his four-wheel drive across the middle lane of a Perth highway, grabbed his keys, ran off “to answer a call of nature” and didn’t return.  The incident cost Cousins the West Coast captaincy.

In late 2006, Cousins was arrested for being drunk outside Crown Casino in Melbourne.

In March 2007, West Coast announced that Ben Cousins had been suspended indefinitely for his failure to attend two training sessions.  It was also revealed that month that Cousins had a substance abuse problem.

After his car was observed driving erratically, Cousins was arrested on 16 October 2007 in Perth. Police searched his car and found drugs. He was charged with possession of a prohibited drug, and failing to comply with a Police ordered drug assessment.  His West Coast Eagles playing contract was terminated the next day. The charges against Cousins were later dropped.

Throughout this time, Cousins was subject to intense ridicule and scorn from sections of the media and the public.  (click on the video below to see one example of making fun of Ben Cousins)

Ben Cousins Life in Dance

Ben Cousins banned for 12 months, snubbed by several clubs at the end of his ban

The AFL called Cousins to answer accusations of bringing the game into disrepute. On 19 November, 2007 AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou announced that Cousins was banned from playing in the AFL for 12 months.

The AFL drew widespread criticism for its action against Cousins, particularly as he had reportedly never tested positive to an AFL drug test.  The ban was seen as the AFL going outside its own policies to target a single player.

Cousins publicly resolved to beat his addiction and committed to rehabilitation in the USA.  He also announced that he was planning to make a documentary about his rehabilitation to help other people understand the process and to serve as a cautionary tale for others. 

During his playing ban, he still featured regularly in mainstream media, including an interview with The Footy Show (click on the video below to watch Ben Cousins' interview with The Footy Show).

Ben Cousins Interview

Although considered for a while by Collingwood (see below), after being cleared to play by the AFL in November 2008, Cousins was considered by both St Kilda and Brisbane Lions.  Despite both clubs were rumoured to be interested in Cousins, both declined the opportunity to secure Cousins’ services.

Ben Cousins secretly investigated by Collingwood

On October 17, 2008, it was revealed that, while considering to draft Cousins, Collingwood   club management had hired a private investigator to secretly observe Ben Cousins' actions and movements.  Furthermore, Collingwood management had approached the Victorian Police Commissioner Christine Nixon and secretly discussed Ben Cousins with her.  Both Collingwood and Nixon have remained tight-lipped about the exact nature and outcomes of those discussions.

Collingwood subsequently decided not to pursue Cousins.  Some have speculated that Collingwood would have invested their Private Investigation fees better had they sent their PI to observe Alan Didak.

Football commentators joined Cousins' manager Ricky Nixon in criticising Collingwood's actions to secretly monitor Cousins, especially due to the implied condemnation of Cousins when Collingwood refused to consider signing Cousins and yet refused to comment on the details of their observations and enquiries about Cousins.

Kevin Sheedy support for Ben Cousins return to AFL

On the evening of November 26, 2008 in a public Q&A at a Tom Hafey dinner, Kevin Sheedy grilled Richmond football operations manager Craig Cameron about the Tigers' reluctance to consider recruiting Cousins.

It's also been reported that Sheedy met with Cousins in Perth and met with various members of the Richmond board to encourage dialogue between Cousins and the club with a view to Cousins playing for the Tigers.

Ben Cousins drafted by Richmond

On December 16, 2008 Richmond gave Ben Cousins an opportunity to resume his AFL Career, selecting him in the AFL pre-season draft.  In the days prior, Richmond sought the AFL's approval to have the recovering-from-injury Graham Polak moved to their rookie list effectively giving Richmond another pick in the draft. After what was reported to be massive deliberation, including soliciting the opinions of all other clubs, the AFL refused Richmond's request. Richmond then decided to relax their youth-focus recruiting policy enough to use their one pre-season draft pick (no. 6) to secure Ben Cousins. 

The decision was publicly supported by many Richmond fans, the Richmond players and Kevin Sheedy.

(click on each of the two videos below to see on Ben Cousins' press conference on joining Richmond)

Ben Cousins - Richmond Press Conference Part 1

Ben Cousins - Richmond Press Conference Part 2

Tom Hafey Criticism of Ben Cousins

On February 26, 2009 the Melbourne Herald Sun reported that Tommy Hafey had criticised Richmond's decision to draft Cousins. Hafey was quoted as saying: "People ask me, 'Doesn't he deserve a second chance?' I say, 'No, he doesn't'; he had his chance and he blew it."  Another former Richmond champion, Kevin Bartlett was asked his thoughts and in stark contrast to Hafey, he said: "Actually, I'm all for people having a second chance and that includes Ben."

Ben Cousins Comeback - Richmond Tigers No. 32

On the evening of February 26, 2009, Ben Cousins made his return to Seniors AFL in an NAB Cup match for Richmond against Collingwood.  Although Richmond lost the match, there was strong visible and audible support for Cousins from the crowd. In jumper number 32 for the Tigers, Cousins showed strong commitment at the ball, gathered 21 disposals mostly gained in the first half before he 'ran out of legs' and was left concussed by a heavy bump which forced him from the field.  TV footage showed him vomiting on field at one stage.  Post-match, Richmond coach Terry Wallace expressed his satisfaction at Cousins' performance in the game at this early stage in his return to top level football. 

The day of Ben Cousins' return to playing AFL, his father publicly expressed his surprise and gratitude for the level of public support for Ben in his return to senior football.

On March 27, 2009, Cousins played his first game of the regular season for the Tigers against Carlton. A hamstring injury kept him sidelined for several weeks of the 2009 competition and he returned in May, 2009.

Ben Cousins Finger

Ben Cousins in GQ Australia

The August/September 2009 issue of GQ Australia magazine features an interview and phot shoot with Ben Cousins.  GQ editor Nick Smith expressed admiration for Ben Cousins' strength and tenacity in putting distance between himself and addiction. Perhaps better suited to the pages of a women's magazine, the video below shows part of Cousins' photoshoot for GQ. 

Ben Cousins knocked out by Lance 'Buddy' Franklin

In round 21 of the 2009 season, Ben Cousins was knocked out by a clash with Hawthorn's Lance Franklin and Cousins subsequently left the MCG playing arena with concussion. Cousins had possession and Franklin could have extended an arm to attempt a tackle, but instead kept his arm in.  This exposed Cousins moving head to Franklin's shoulder.  The match review panel reported Franklin for the incident and the AFL tribunal imposed a two-week suspension on Franklin, which outraged Hawthorn and caused extensive controversy in the football media. 

Ben Cousins back at Subiaco Oval

In 2009 Ben Cousins made two significant returns to his former home ground, Subiaco Oval.  In round 10, Richmond thrashed Fremantle and Cousins was among his new club's best players with 25 possessions. 

In round 22, Richmond played West Coast at Subiaco.In the week preceding the match, West Coast's administration invited the four-time club champion and club captain to West Coast's club champion voting and presentation night on Spetember 11.  Cousins was originally in doubt for the West Coast game with a suspected fractured cheekbone after he was knocked out by Hawthorn's Lance 'Buddy' Franklin in a clash the preceding week, but was cleared to play.

Although not named in his team's best players in the Richmond v West Coast match, Cousins topped his team's disposals with 28, as Richmond went down to the Eagles by 80 points.

Bruce McAvaney interviewed Cousins in the week leading up to the game.

Ben Cousins signs for second year at Richmond

On 16th September, 2009, Richmond announced that they have signed Ben Cousins for at least another year.  The announcement was made by club president Gary March at the club's Best & Fairest function.

Ben Cousins - Jack Dyer Medal

On the night of 16th September, in Richmond's best and fairest voting for the 2009 Jack Dyer medal, Ben Cousins ranked 5th with 145 points, behind Brett Deledio (1st), Daniel Jackson (2nd), Chris Newman (3rd) and Richard Tambling (4th). 

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