View source for Ben Cousins

{{short description|Australian rules footballer (born 1978)}}
{{distinguish|Ben Cummins}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Ben Cousins
| image = Ben Cousins.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Cousins with West Coast in 2006
| fullname = Benjamin Luke Cousins
| nickname = Cuz, Prince of Perth
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|6|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Geelong]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = [[East Fremantle Football Club|East Fremantle]] [[West Australian Football League|WAFL]]
| draftpick = [[Father–son rule|Father–son selection]], [[1995 AFL Draft|1995]] <small>({{AFL WC}})</small><br />6th overall, [[2008 AFL Draft#2009 Pre-season Draft|2009 Pre-season Draft]] <small>({{AFL Ric}})</small>
| height = 179&nbsp;cm<!--automatic conversion--><ref name="richmondfc.com.au">{{cite web |url=http://www.richmondfc.com.au/players/playerprofile/tabid/8473/default.aspx?playerid=19974&typeid=2 |title=Player profile |access-date=10 May 2009 |publisher=Richmond Football Club |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622034432/http://www.richmondfc.com.au/players/playerprofile/tabid/8473/default.aspx?playerid=19974&typeid=2 |archive-date=22 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| weight = 78&nbsp;kg<!--automatic conversion--><ref name="richmondfc.com.au" />
| position = Midfielder
| statsend = 2010
| repstatsend = 1999
| years1 = 1996–2007
| club1 = {{AFL WC}}
| games_goals1 = 238 (205)
| years2 = 2009–2010
| club2 = {{AFL Ric}}
| games_goals2 = {{0}}32 {{0}}(12)
| games_goalstotal = 270 (217)
| nationalyears1 = 1999
| nationalteam1 = [[Australian International rules football team|Australia]]
| nationalgames_goals1 = 2 (0)
| careerhighlights = '''AFL'''
* [[List of VFL/AFL premiers|AFL premiership player]]: [[2006 AFL Grand Final|2006]]
* [[Brownlow Medal]]: [[2005 Brownlow Medal|2005]]
* [[Leigh Matthews Trophy]]: 2005
* 6× [[All-Australian team]]: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006
* [[AFL Rising Star]]: 1996
* [[International Rules Series]]: 1999

'''West Coast'''
* {{AFL WC}} [[List of captains of the West Coast Eagles|Captain]]: 2001 (co-captain), 2002–2005
* 4× [[John Worsfold Medal|West Coast Club Champion]]: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
* [[Geoff Christian Medal]]: 2001
* {{AFL WC}} Life Member: 2003
* {{AFL WC}} [[West Coast Eagles#Team 20|Team 20]]: 2006
* [[Western Australian Sports Star of the Year]]: 2005
}}

'''Benjamin Luke Cousins''' (born 30 June 1978)<ref>{{cite news |title=Cousins and Cats: so nearly |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/07/1052280325389.html |work=The Age |date=8 May 2003 |access-date=21 December 2008 |location=Australia}}</ref> is a former professional [[Australian rules football]]er and media personality who played for {{AFL WC}} and {{AFL Ric}} in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL). Cousins is listed by journalist [[Mike Sheahan]] as one of the fifty greatest players of all time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=55909 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310025812/http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=55909 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 March 2008 |title=Mike Sheahan's top 50 players |date=6 March 2008 |access-date=28 March 2012 |publisher=Australian Football League}}</ref> During his 12-year, 238-game career with West Coast, he won several of the league's highest individual awards, including a [[Brownlow Medal]], [[Leigh Matthews Trophy|Most Valuable Player]] and a [[premiership medallion]]. He was also selected six times in the [[All-Australian Team]] and represented [[Australia international rules football team|Australia]] in the [[International Rules Series]]. He was West Coast's [[West Coast Eagles Club Champion Award|club champion]] for four seasons and [[List of captains of the West Coast Eagles|captain]] for five seasons.

Cousins' football career was marred by highly publicised off-field incidents involving illegal [[recreational drug use]], traffic convictions and association with criminal elements. On several occasions he was fined or sanctioned by West Coast, culminating in the termination of his contract in October 2007.<ref name=sacked>{{cite news |title=Magistrate adjourns case and allows Eagle rehab trip |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22601779-952,00.html |work=The Courier-Mail |date=18 October 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> The following month, he was banned from AFL for one year by the [[AFL Commission]] for "bringing the game into disrepute".<ref name="disrepute">{{cite news |title=Cousins banned by AFL for 12 months |url=http://news.realfooty.com.au/sport/cousins-banned-by-afl-for-12-months-20071119-1b9l.html |work=Real Footy |date=19 November 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> Amid predictions that he would remain undrafted, Richmond claimed Cousins with the last pick of the [[2008 AFL Draft|2008 draft]]. He played 32 games across two seasons at the club, retiring from the AFL at the end of the [[2010 AFL season|2010 season]].

Cousins co-produced a documentary film titled ''[[Such is Life: The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins]]'', saying he hoped it would serve as a cautionary tale against drug use. Released days after his retirement, it was "one of the most-watched documentaries in Australian history."<ref name=toohey>Toohey, Paul (18 September 2010). [https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/a-perth-funeral-that-triggered-that-cousins-doco/news-story/5ab3702a4f36a3229047a9450a31a99e "A Perth funeral that triggered that Cousins doco"], ''The Advertiser'' (Adelaide). Retrieved 7 July 2018.</ref> Post-football, Cousins continued to struggle with his drug addiction and have run-ins with the law, and in 2017 he received a 12-month prison sentence for a variety of offences including stalking and breaching a restraining order. [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-29/ben-cousins-former-afl-star-jailed-for-stalking-fined-over-drugs/8393604] In 2023, after beating his addictions, Cousins joined the [[Seven News]] team in Perth where he reads the morning news sports bulletin and is emerging as one of the city’s leading sports reporters.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 September 2023 |title=How Ben Cousins regained crown as city's prince |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/how-ben-cousins-regained-crown-as-citys-prince/news-story/2c94e154f0f56a5c68b52f44823a3b0f |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=The Australian}}</ref> In 2025, he joined the Hit Network to co-host the WA breakfast radio show, ''Pete & Kymba with Ben Cousins''.

==Early life==
Cousins was born in [[Geelong]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], on 30 June 1978, to Stephanie and [[Bryan Cousins|Bryan]], an [[Australian rules football]]er who had moved from [[Western Australia]] to play for the [[Geelong Football Club]] in the [[Australian Football League|Victorian Football League]]. When Cousins was 18 months old, his family moved back to [[Perth]], Western Australia,<ref name="sweeney">{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Sweeney |title=Fastest gun in the west |work=Herald Sun|date=25 July 1999 |page=13}}</ref> where he was raised with younger siblings Matthew, Sophie and Melanie. He played junior football for the Bull Creek-Leeming Junior Football Club<ref>{{cite news |first=Craig |last=O'Donoghue |title=Bull Creek Australia's top junior club |work=The West Australian |date=12 June 2004 |page=182}}</ref> and for his private school, [[Wesley College, Perth|Wesley College]]. In his last year at Wesley in 1995, he was recruited to join the [[East Fremantle Football Club]]'s senior side in the [[West Australian Football League]] (WAFL) and played for both his school and East Fremantle throughout the season.<ref name="sweeney" />

While Cousins was still at school, three AFL teams competed to draft him under the [[father–son rule]]: the Geelong Football Club, the [[West Coast Eagles]], and the newly formed [[Fremantle Football Club]]. Cousins' father Bryan played 238 games for [[Perth Football Club|Perth]] in the WAFL and 67 games for Geelong in the VFL during the 1970s and 1980s. Geelong's recruiting manager, Stephen Wells, said, "Ben barracked for Geelong and we tried everything to get him here."<ref name="sweeney" /> However, Cousins preferred to remain based in Western Australia and chose West Coast in October 1995.

==AFL career==

===West Coast Eagles===
====1996–1997: Rising Star Award and increasing popularity====
At 17, a week after his tenth WAFL game for East Fremantle, Cousins played his first AFL match and kicked two goals for West Coast against Geelong.<ref name="sweeney" /> He won the [[Norwich Rising Star]] award for his debut season in 1996, polling 15 votes from the six judges to beat [[Shannon Grant]] by one point.<ref>{{cite news |first=Malcolm |last=Conn |title=Rising star wants to stay put |work=The Australian |date=11 September 1996 |page=22}}</ref>

Cousins' popularity continued to increase over the following seasons. In 1998, the ''[[Herald Sun]]'' ran a two-page article across its centre pages about 20-year-old Cousins, titled "West goes wild for the kid". The article portrayed Cousins as a [[sex symbol]] and "football's answer to [[Brad Pitt]]". When asked about the article, he said the popularity "comes with the territory... If you want to be a league footballer you have to accept that it is part of the game."<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=McGrath |title=Cousins lives up to the publicity |work=The West Australian |date=27 July 1998 |page=6}}</ref> Sports agent [[Ricky Nixon]] approached Cousins in 1998 about managing his endorsement deals, because "He's good-looking, he elected to stay in Perth and not play in Victoria, opposition coaches take notice of him and on top of that he's a future leader."<ref>{{cite news |first=Pam |last=Casellas |title=Ben no longer a bargain |work=The West Australian |date=22 October 1998 |page=2}}</ref> In 1999, [[International Management Group]], who managed sports stars such as [[Tiger Woods]] and [[Pete Sampras]], said they would like to sign Ben, as "There is no doubt that he is now in the top bracket of players and has great marketing potential... Apart from being an outstanding footballer, he is a quality young man."<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=McGrath |title=IMG has sights on Cousins |work=The West Australian |date=22 June 1999 |page=76}}</ref> Ross Nicholas, West Coast's marketing manager, said:<ref name="sweeney" />

<blockquote>"He's easily the most sought-after Eagle... No player was, or is, as popular as Ben. His appeal is so diverse. Kids want his autograph and photograph. Sponsors want him to sit next to them. They want him to push their product... If Ben's well managed, the sky's the limit for him... They've got to find the balance between his commercial potential and his contribution to the community. The club offers protection, but it's up to Ben what demands he puts himself under."</blockquote>

====1997–2000: First finals appearance and first All-Australian selection====
In 1998, Cousins was selected in the [[All-Australian Team]] and was runner-up in West Coast's [[West Coast Eagles Club Champion Award|Best and Fairest]].<ref name="hero">{{cite news |title=Ben Cousins: hero |work=The West Australian |date=2 April 2002}}</ref> He played in his first AFL finals game in 1997 against the [[Adelaide Crows]] in a qualifying final at [[Football Park]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Davis |title=Captain Cousins for sure |work=The Australian |date=11 September 1999 |page=61}}</ref> and the year included another selection in the All-Australian Team and representing [[Australian international rules football team|Australia]] in the [[International Rules Series]].<ref name="hero" /> In 2000, Cousins signed a new three-year contract with the West Coast Eagles, reportedly worth nearly A$1&nbsp;million.<ref name="coghlan">{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Coghlan |title=Captaincy next for Cousins |work=The Australian |date=5 August 2000 |page=55}}</ref>

====2000–2003: Best and Fairest at West Coast and appointed co-captain====
He played his 100th game amid speculation he would take over the captaincy from [[Guy McKenna]], who was due to retire after the same game. Cousins said, "After you play two or three seasons, you think of the possibility of a leadership role down the track, but the talk of it has certainly come a lot earlier than I would have thought."<ref name="coghlan" /> In 2001, Cousins was named co-[[List of captains of the West Coast Eagles|captain]], sharing the role with [[Dean Kemp]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Young Eagle jumps Jako |work=Herald Sun |date=8 February 2001 |page=98}}</ref> He won his first club Best and Fairest at the end of the season, a feat which he repeated in 2002 and 2003,<ref name="connolly">{{cite news |first=Rohan |last=Connolly |title=Bred to win a Brownlow |work=The Age |location=Australia |date=20 September 2005 |page=2}}</ref> and he was again named in the All-Australian Team in 2001 and 2002.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ben Cousins |work=The West Australian |date=15 July 2005 |page=6}}</ref> Kemp's retirement saw Cousins become the captain in 2002, a role he filled until 2006. In 2005, West Coast coach [[John Worsfold]] said of Cousins' fifth year as captain, "Ben is improving all the time and with the way this group is coming along, I think he is going to be a great leader".<ref>{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Butler |title=Eagles stick with leadership |work=The West Australian |date=3 February 2005 |page=63}}</ref>

====2003–2004: Continued individual success and injuries====
In early 2003, Cousins injured his ankle in a game against [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] but played on through five weeks of pain-killing injections.<ref name="beacham">{{cite news |first=Digby |last=Beacham |title=Top Eagle dreams of soaring higher |work=Herald Sun|date=10 July 2005 |page=56}}</ref> In Round 15, 2004, he injured his back and missed six games. Cousins said, "That injury is something that I got over and am probably no chance of getting a relapse... The other side to it is, because I have played 10 years of consistent AFL footy, I've probably got an older back than someone my age".<ref name="beacham" /> In Round 1, 2005, he dislocated a finger and missed one round after undergoing an operation.<ref name="beacham" /> West Coast chief executive Trevor Nesbitt said, "There's no doubt that he's at his best when under pressure and he's so resilient; he plays with injuries that other players wouldn't".<ref name="beacham" />

====2004–2006: Brownlow Medal and Grand Final berth====
[[File:Ben Cousins warming up, 2005 AFL Grand Final.jpg|thumb|upright|Cousins warming up before the 2005 Grand Final]]
After Cousins played his 200th game in July 2005 he was given a "rousing reception from 41,524 grateful fans",<ref name="davutovic">{{cite news |first=David |last=Davutovic |title=Situation normal as Cousins shines |work=The Sunday Times |location=Western Australia |date=17 July 2005 |page=89}}</ref> as video clips of his ten years at West Coast were shown at the end of the game. Cousins was "possibly the highest-profile sportsman in Western Australia",<ref name="beacham" /> the youngest of the 10 West Coast players to reach 200 games and the 14th youngest in the history of the AFL/VFL.<ref name="beacham" />

Cousins won the [[Brownlow Medal]], the AFL's highest individual player award, on 19 September 2005 with 20 votes, ahead of teammate [[Daniel Kerr]] on 19 votes and [[Nick Dal Santo]] on 18 votes.<ref name="hand">{{cite news |first=Guy |last=Hand |title=AFL: Eagle Ben Cousins wins Brownlow Medal |work=Sports News |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=19 September 2005}}</ref> Cousins was the favourite to win with bookmakers, after five previous top-10 finishes.<ref name="hand" /> He did not attend the award ceremony in Melbourne, remaining in Perth to prepare for West Coast's Grand Final match against [[Sydney Swans]] the following weekend.<ref name="hand" /> His celebration was "very quiet, I went over to the bar, bought the folks a bottle of champagne, had one lemonade and went up to the (hotel) room. I managed to get to sleep before midnight, which was a bonus."<ref name="gleeson">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Gleeson |title=The genuine article now wants a final victory |work=The Age |location=Australia |date=21 September 2005 |page=6}}</ref> West Coast's last training session in Perth before travelling to their first Grand Final game since 1994<ref name="hand" /> was attended by 3,000 fans.<ref name="gleeson" /> Trevor Nesbitt, West Coast's chief executive, said he expected that the combination of the team's Grand Final appearance, Cousins' Brownlow win, and [[Chris Judd]]'s Brownlow win in the previous year, would lead to a turnover of around $2&nbsp;million in club merchandise.<ref name="butler">{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Butler |title=Brownlow double fires merchandise madness |work=The West Australian |date=22 September 2005 |page=9}}</ref> Nesbitt added:<ref name="butler" />

<blockquote>"It's quite a special time for the club and it's probably worth $1&nbsp;million to WA footy as a minimum I would think... The performances of Chris and Ben assist us in raising more money for WA football and their contribution is just outstanding. They're marquee players and, apart from everything else that happens with them, they are extremely beneficial for all West Australians."</blockquote>

West Coast lost the [[2005 AFL Grand Final|2005 Grand Final]] to Sydney by four points, but as well as his Brownlow win, Cousins was awarded another West Coast Best and Fairest and the players' [[Leigh Matthews Trophy|Most Valuable Player]] award, with 159 votes compared to runner-up [[Matthew Pavlich]]'s 99 votes.<ref name="sheahan">{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Sheahan |title=The buzz on Cuz |work=Herald Sun |date=1 October 2005 |page=40}}</ref> He was runner-up to [[Barry Hall]] in the coaches' player of the year award,<ref name="sheahan" /> and in statistics, had 612 disposals, 24 goals, and ranked in the top five of the league in nine of the 12 categories.<ref name="sheahan" />

====2006–2007: Premiership Cup, off-field misconduct and captaincy resignation====
In February 2006, Cousins resigned his captaincy after an off-field incident where he fled a [[sobriety checkpoint|booze bus]].<ref name="chargeslikely">{{cite news |title=Charge likely over booze-bus incident |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/charge-likely-over-boozebus-incident/2006/02/26/1140888738655.html |work=The Age |location=Australia |date=26 February 2006 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> In May 2006, he signed a new three-year contract with West Coast, and in September 2006, West Coast won the [[2006 AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]], defeating Sydney by one point.<ref name="highsandlows">{{cite news |title=Ben Cousins highs and lows |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22596692-2863,00.html |work=Herald Sun |date=16 October 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> Cousins was suspended indefinitely by West Coast on 20 March 2007 after missing two training sessions.<ref name="atwar">{{cite news |title=Teammates 'at war' over suspended AFL star |url=http://www.news.com.au/news/teammates-at-war-over-suspended-afl-star/story-fna7dq6e-1111113188494 |work=Fox Sports |date=20 March 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> It was later confirmed that Cousins had a [[substance abuse]] problem.<ref name="Heinrich">{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Heinrich |title=Does new Tiger Ben Cousins have what it takes to change his stripes? |work=Fox Sports Australia |date=16 December 2008}}</ref>
After returning from four weeks of rehabilitation in [[Malibu, California]], for substance abuse,<ref name="highsandlows" /> Cousins was offered an amended contract by West Coast, rumoured to contain strict conditions such as repaying the cost of rehab and undertaking regular drug tests.<ref>{{cite news |first=Caroline |last=Wilson |title=Cousins' contract row looms |url=http://www.realfooty.com.au/articles/2007/06/12/1181414299396.html |work=Real Footy |date=13 June 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> On 29 June 2007, Cousins was given clearance by the AFL to resume training with the West Coast Eagles, which he did the following Monday.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hawks beat Magpies in a classic |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Hawks-beat-Magpies-in-a-classic/2007/07/01/1183228959841.html |work=The Age |date=1 July 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008 |location=Australia}}</ref> However, he injured a [[hamstring]] in training,<ref>{{cite news |first=Jon |last=Pierik |title=Cousins comeback hamstrung |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22028084-23211,00.html |work=Fox Sports |date=6 July 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> delaying his comeback until West Coast's home game against Sydney on 21 July at [[Subiaco Oval]]. He gained 38 disposals and six marks in the game,<ref>{{cite news |title=Cousins returns, Eagles down Swans |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Cousins-classy-as-Eagles-down-Swans/2007/07/21/1184560115356.html |work=The Age |date=21 July 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008 |location=Australia}}</ref> inspiring West Coast's win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cousins stars in Eagles comeback |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/21/1984716.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028143800/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/21/1984716.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 October 2007 |work=ABC News |date=21 July 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref>

====2007–2008: Drug possession arrest, delisted by West Coast Eagles and 12-month AFL ban====
On 16 October 2007, Cousins' car was stopped in [[Northbridge, Western Australia|Northbridge]] and searched.  He was arrested for drug possession and refusing to submit to a blood test.  The Eagles sacked him the next day, which meant that he was no longer a registered AFL player.<ref name="sacked" /> On 19 November, he was banned from playing senior football for 12 months by the AFL Commission for "bringing the game into disrepute",<ref name="disrepute" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Cousins slapped with 12-month ban |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/19/2095135.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120043238/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/19/2095135.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 November 2007 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=19 November 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> and was formally delisted by West Coast on 30 November.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Burgan |title=Cousins now officially no longer an Eagle |url=http://afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=53954 |publisher=Australian Football League |date=30 November 2008 |access-date=21 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103000925/http://afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=53954 |archive-date=3 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Eagles officials said that he would never appear in an Eagles guernsey again, and AFL CEO [[Andrew Demetriou]] said it would be "extremely difficult" for him to ever return to the AFL.<ref name="sacked" />

===Richmond Tigers===
====2008–2010: Career renewal at Richmond Tigers and retirement====
[[File:Richmond Carlton MCG 2009.jpg|thumb|left|"The man who sold out the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|MCG]]": Cousins' AFL return helped break the attendance record for a Richmond versus Carlton match.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-03-24/blues-tigers-mcg-clash-sold-out/1629216 "Blues-Tigers MCG clash sold out"] (24 March 2009), ''ABC News''. Retrieved 9 July 2018.</ref><ref>Wilson, Caroline (26 March 2009). [https://www.theage.com.au/news/news/the-man-who-sold-out-the-mcg/2009/03/25/1237656995732.html "The man who sold out the MCG"], ''The Age''. Retrieved 9 July 2018.</ref>]]
In November 2008, the AFL Commission cleared Cousins to play AFL football in 2009. The Commission ruled that Cousins must submit to regular [[drug tests]], including urine testing up to three times per week and hair testing up to four times annually.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Pinkney |title=Ben Cousins cleared by AFL Commission after drugs scandal |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24669579-11088,00.html |work=Herald Sun |date=18 November 2008 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> Cousins attended drug testing in early November with no body hair long enough to sample.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Noakes, C |author2=Niall, J. |title=Cousins on notice over hair length |url=http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/cousins-on-notice-over-hair-length/2008/11/20/1226770550394.html |work=Real Footy |date=20 November 2008 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref>

Several teams showed an interest in [[Draft (sports)|drafting]] Cousins for 2009, including [[Collingwood Football Club]], [[St Kilda Football Club]] and [[Brisbane Lions]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Rielly |title=Brisbane the last hope for Ben Cousins |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24707524-601,00.html |work=The Australian |date=26 November 2008 |access-date=29 December 2008 }}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Collingwood sent a [[private investigator]] to Perth to follow Cousins for several days. After meeting with Victorian Chief Commissioner of Police [[Christine Nixon]] in October 2008, Collingwood announced that they would not draft Cousins.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ainsworth |first1=Michelle |last2=Mawby |first2=Nathan |title=Eddie McGuire reveals call to Christine Nixon about Ben Cousins |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24514049-662,00.html |work=Herald Sun |date=27 August 2010 |access-date=28 September 2012}}</ref> In November, after reviewing Cousins and consulting stakeholders for five months, St Kilda said they would not draft him.<ref>{{cite news |title=St Kilda shun Ben Cousins |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24707870-5001023,00.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=Australia |date=25 November 2008 |access-date=29 December 2008}}</ref> The day before the national draft, Brisbane issued a media release that said they would not be drafting Cousins.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brisbane Lions say they don't want Cousin's |url=http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/brisbane-lions-say-they-dont-want-cousins/2008/11/28/1227491826524.html |work=Real Footy |date=29 November 2008 |access-date=29 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218220301/http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/brisbane-lions-say-they-dont-want-cousins/2008/11/28/1227491826524.html |archive-date=18 December 2008  |url-status=live}}</ref> On 29 November 2008, Cousins was not selected in the [[AFL National Draft]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Watts top draft pick, Cousins ignored |url=http://news.theage.com.au/sport/watts-top-draft-pick-cousins-ignored-20081129-6n8s.html |work=The Age |location=Australia |date=29 November 2008 |access-date=29 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206072617/http://news.theage.com.au/sport/watts-top-draft-pick-cousins-ignored-20081129-6n8s.html |archive-date=6 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Cousins and Davey, Melb. v Rich. 2009 (3791345963) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Cousins (right) playing for Richmond in 2009]]
Ahead of the [[AFL Pre-season Draft]] in December 2008, Richmond Football Club approached the AFL Commission for approval to move injured senior player [[Graham Polak]] to its [[rookie list]] in order to obtain a second draft pick in the pre-season draft, which it said it would use to select Cousins.<ref>{{cite news |first=Courtney |last=Walsh |title=Richmond's risky bid for Ben Cousins |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24783691-5012432,00.html |work=The Australian |date=11 December 2008 |access-date=29 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220072303/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0%2C25197%2C24783691-5012432%2C00.html |archive-date=20 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The AFL Commission had given approval to [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] two years earlier to do similar with [[Adam Ramanauskas]] during his battle with cancer. The commission, with the support of the AFLPA and most of the clubs, denied Richmond's request.<ref>{{cite news |title=League denies Tigers' rookie plans for Polak |url=http://afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=70846 |publisher=Australian Football League |date=15 December 2008 |access-date=29 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218005720/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=70846 |archive-date=18 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, Richmond selected Cousins with its only Pre-season Draft selection (#6 overall) on 16 December.<ref name="backflip">{{cite news |author1=Flower, W |author2=Schulz, M |author3=Barrett, D |author4=Wright, A. |title=Richmond backflip gives Cousins a lifeline |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/richmond-recruit-ben-cousins/story-e6frg12c-1111118330270 |work=PerthNow |date=16 December 2008 |access-date=29 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531105501/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/richmond-recruit-ben-cousins/story-e6frg12c-1111118330270 |archive-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following this Richmond received an influx of new club members<ref name="backflip" /> and Cousins trained with the team the following day in front of a crowd of around 2,000.<ref>{{cite news |first=Katherine |last=Firkin |title=Ben Cousins expresses his gratitude to Richmond |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24813003-19742,00.html |work=Herald Sun |date=17 December 2008 |access-date=29 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220100221/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0%2C26576%2C24813003-19742%2C00.html |archive-date=20 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> In Richmond's Round 1 game against [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]] on 26 March, Cousins strained his [[hamstring]] during the final quarter.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Sheridan |title=Cousins, Raines out for month |url=http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/cousins-raines-out-for-month/2009/03/27/1237657151097.html |work=Real Footy |date=28 March 2009 |access-date=10 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331114734/http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/cousins-raines-out-for-month/2009/03/27/1237657151097.html |archive-date=31 March 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> He played a game with the [[Coburg Football Club]] in the [[Victorian Football League]] before returning to the AFL in Round 7 against [[Brisbane Lions|Brisbane]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Cousins |title=I thought someone might clock me: Ben Cousins |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25449876-19742,00.html |work=Herald Sun |date=9 May 2009 |access-date=10 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511141121/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C25449876-19742%2C00.html |archive-date=11 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Glenn |last=McFarlane |title=Willing Ben Cousins shines |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25454854-19742,00.html |work=Herald Sun |date=10 May 2009 |access-date=10 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514052216/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0%2C26576%2C25454854-19742%2C00.html |archive-date=14 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 17 August 2010, after weeks of speculation by the media, Cousins announced his retirement in front of his family and huge crowd. During the speech, he thanked everyone who had assisted him during his career, acknowledged his encounters with drugs and the law, and apologised to his family for the situation he had put them in:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sheahan |first=Sheahan |title=Hard road for Ben Cousins |newspaper=Herald Sun|date=21 August 2010 |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/hard-road-for-ben-cousins/story-e6frepf6-1225907998440 |access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref>
<blockquote>I'll always regret what I've put my family through. There's a lot of shame and regret. People wonder why I haven't broken down or shed a tear (in public). My tears are something that I hold close to me; they're for me and my family.</blockquote>

==Statistics==
:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/B/Ben_Cousins.html |title=AFL Tables – Ben Cousins – Stats – Statistics }}</ref>

{{AFL player statistics legend}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background:#CFECEC; width:1em"|
| Led the league for the season only
|-
| style="background:#b7e718; width:1em"|
| Led the league after finals only
|-
| style="background:#DD6E81; width:1em"|
| Led the league after season and finals
|}
{{AFL player statistics start}}
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1996 AFL season|1996]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 35 || 20 || 34 || 15 || 170 || 106 || 276 || 61 || 24 || 1.7 || 0.8 || 8.5 || 5.3 || 13.8 || 3.1 || 1.2
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1997 AFL season|1997]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 35 || 18 || 22 || 13 || 149 || 114 || 263 || 48 || 21 || 1.2 || 0.7 || 8.3 || 6.3 || 14.6 || 2.7 || 1.2
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1998 AFL season|1998]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 9 || 23 || 20 || 13 || 294 || 195 || 489 || 63 || 33 || 0.9 || 0.6 || 12.8 || 8.5 || 21.3 || 2.7 || 1.4
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1999 AFL season|1999]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 9 || 22 || 14 || 13 || 310 || 205 || 515 || 75 || 25 || 0.6 || 0.6 || 14.1 || 9.3 || 23.4 || 3.4 || 1.1
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2000 AFL season|2000]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 9 || 17 || 9 || 11 || 261 || 170 || 431 || 67 || 34 || 0.5 || 0.6 || 15.4 || 10.0 || 25.4 || 3.9 || 2.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2001 AFL season|2001]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 9 || 22 || 15 || 7 || 335 || 265 || bgcolor="b7e718" | '''600''' || 63 || 34 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 15.2 || 12.0 || 27.3 || 2.9 || 1.5
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2002 AFL season|2002]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 9 || 23 || 16 || 11 || 327 || 229 || 556 || 56 || 57 || 0.7 || 0.5 || 14.2 || 10.0 || 24.2 || 2.4 || 2.5
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2003 AFL season|2003]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 9 || 23 || 20 || 8 || 295 || 225 || 520 || 68 || 42 || 0.9 || 0.3 || 12.8 || 9.8 || 22.6 || 3.0 || 1.8
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2004 AFL season|2004]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 9 || 17 || 8 || 7 || 203 || 166 || 369 || 52 || 38 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 11.9 || 9.8 || 21.7 || 3.1 || 2.2
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2005 AFL season|2005]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 9 || 24 || 24 || 11 || bgcolor="b7e718" | '''391''' || 221 || 612 || 146 || 33 || 1.0 || 0.5 || 16.3 || 9.2 || 25.5 || 6.1 || 1.4
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2006 AFL season|2006]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 9 || 22 || 20 || 13 || 312 || 241 || 553 || 107 || 39 || 0.9 || 0.6 || 14.2 || 11.0 || 25.1 || 4.9 || 1.8
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2007 AFL season|2007]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL WC}}
| 9 || 7 || 3 || 3 || 90 || 85 || 175 || 19 || 16 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 12.9 || 12.1 || 25.0 || 2.7 || 2.3
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2009 AFL season|2009]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL Ric}}
| 32 || 15 || 5 || 3 || 154 || 204 || 358 || 42 || 45 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 10.3 || 13.6 || 23.9 || 2.8 || 3.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2010 AFL season|2010]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{AFL Ric}}
| 32 || 17 || 7 || 6 || 156 || 220 || 376 || 68 || 48 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 9.2 || 12.9 || 22.1 || 4.0 || 2.8
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3 | Career
! 270
! 217
! 134
! 3447
! 2646
! 6093
! 935
! 489
! 0.8
! 0.5
! 12.8
! 9.8
! 22.6
! 3.5
! 1.8
{{AFL player statistics end}}

==Honours and achievements==
{| style="margin-right:4px; margin-top:8px; float:right; border:1px #000 solid; border-radius:8px; background:#fff; font-family:Verdana; font-size:8pt; text-align:center;"
|- style="background:#fff;"
| colspan="2;" style="padding:3px; margin-bottom:-3px; margin-top:2px; font-family:Arial;" | '''[[Brownlow Medal]] votes'''
|-
! style="width:50%;" | Season
! style="width:50%;" | Votes
|-
| [[1996 Brownlow Medal|1996]]
| 3
|-
| [[1997 Brownlow Medal|1997]]
| 1
|-
| [[1998 Brownlow Medal|1998]]
| 18
|-
| [[1999 Brownlow Medal|1999]]
| 15
|-
| [[2000 Brownlow Medal|2000]]
| 8
|-
| [[2001 Brownlow Medal|2001]]
| 18
|-
| [[2002 Brownlow Medal|2002]]
| 16
|-
| [[2003 Brownlow Medal|2003]]
| 21
|-
| [[2004 Brownlow Medal|2004]]
| 4
|- style="background:#D9F9E9;"
| '''[[2005 Brownlow Medal|2005]]'''
| '''20'''
|-
| [[2006 Brownlow Medal|2006]]
| 13
|-
| [[2007 Brownlow Medal|2007]]
| 4
|-
| [[2009 Brownlow Medal|2009]]
| 5
|-
| [[2010 Brownlow Medal|2010]]
| 2
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''148'''
|-
| colspan=2 | <small>Key:</small>
|- style="background:#d9f9e9; border:1px solid #aaa; width:2em;"
| colspan=2 | <small>Green / '''Bold''' = [[List of Brownlow Medal winners|Won]]</small><!--
<br />* = joint winner</small>
|- style="background-color:#FFCCCC; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:2em;"
| colspan=2 | <small>Red / ''Italics'' = [[Brownlow Medal#Ineligibility|Ineligible]]</small>
-->
|}

* '''Team'''
** '''[[AFL Premiership]] ([[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]])''': 2006
** '''[[McClelland Trophy]] ([[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]])''': 2006
* '''Individual'''
** '''[[Brownlow Medal]]''': 2005
** '''[[Leigh Matthews Trophy]] (AFLPA MVP Award)''': 2005
** '''[[All-Australian team|All-Australian]]''': 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006
** '''[[Australian Football Media Association Player of the Year]] Award''': 2005
** '''[[John Worsfold Medal]] (West Coast Eagles Best & Fairest)''': 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
** '''[[Herald Sun Player of the Year]] Award''': 2005
** '''[[Lou Richards Medal]]''': 2005
** '''[[Australian international rules football team|Australian Representative Honours in]] [[International rules football]]''': 1999
** '''[[West Coast Eagles#Team 20|West Coast Eagles – Team 20]]'''
** '''[[Geoff Christian Medal]]''': 2001
** '''[[Western Australian Sports Star of the Year]]''': 2005
** '''[[Goal of the Year (AFL)|Goal of the Year]]''': 1999
** '''[[AFL Rising Star]] Award''': 1996
** '''[[AFL Rising Star]] Nominee''': 1996 (Round 12)
** '''[[West Coast Eagles]] Life Membership Inductee''': 2003

==Media career==
In June 2023, Cousins commenced presenting the sport on ''[[Seven News#Seven Morning News|7NEWS Morning Edition]]'' in Perth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=2023-06-20 |title=Ben Cousins lands Seven News role {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/06/ben-cousins-lands-seven-news-role.html |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=[[TV Tonight]] |language=en-AU}}</ref>

In early 2024, Seven Network announced that Cousins will appear as a contestant on the forthcoming twenty-first season of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)|Dancing with the Stars Australia]].''<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFL premiership player Ben Cousins announced as first member of Dancing With the Stars 2024 |url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/dancing-with-the-stars/afl-premiership-player-ben-cousins-announced-as-first-member-of-dancing-with-the-stars-2024-c-13441871 |website=7 News}}</ref> He was the fifth contestant to be eliminated.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-11 |title=Did Ben Cousins and Samantha Jade do enough to earn GF spot? |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/tv/dancing-with-the-stars-2024-ben-cousins-bows-out-of-finals-race-as-pro-samantha-jade-soars-into-decider-c-15644055 |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=PerthNow |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2025, Cousins joined the [[Hit Network]] to co-host the WA breakfast radio show ''Pete & Kymba'', with Pete Curulli and Kymba Cahill, with the show subsequently being renamed ''Pete & Kymba with Ben Cousins''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patterson |first=Sarah |date=2025-02-07 |title=Ben Cousins begins new Breakfast radio chapter with Mix94.5’s Pete & Kymba in 2025 |url=https://radiotoday.com.au/ben-cousins-begins-new-breakfast-radio-chapter-with-mix94-5s-pete-kymba-in-2025/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Radio Today |language=en-AU}}</ref> The show—and, indeed, the network itself—came under fire from the press and the public at large in April 2025 after the show tried to get Cousins a new girlfriend despite his history of domestic violence, which included violating a violence restraining order at least 20 times, as well as aggravated stalking, which led to a protracted jail sentence.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-03-28 |title='Tale of despair': Fallen AFL star Cousins handed one-year jail term |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-29/ben-cousins-former-afl-star-jailed-for-stalking-fined-over-drugs/8393604?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-04-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 April 2025 |title='Sick': Hit Network slammed for encouraging listeners to help domestic violence perpetrator Ben Cousins find a new girlfriend - after AFL star was jailed for stalking ex-partner |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity-life/sick-hit-network-slammed-for-encouraging-listeners-to-help-domestic-violence-perpetrator-ben-cousins-find-a-new-girlfriend-after-afl-star-was-jailed-for-stalking-expartner/news-story/601bba95e535c8d244f13c578aa624af}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Early professional career===
In 1997, Cousins took part in an education campaign for the WA [[Asthma]] Foundation. During his first year in the AFL, Cousins said his chest often felt tight and he had difficulty playing, "but if I monitored my asthma correctly and took the right medication, I was able to overcome those effects".<ref>{{cite news |first=Amanda |last=Bower |title=Cousins helps tackle asthma |work=The West Australian |date=25 June 1997 |page=42}}</ref> In 1999, he had a mild asthma attack while warming up for a game against [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]], then fainted while at a restaurant after the game. West Coast's football manager, [[Rod Lester-Smith]], said Cousins may have been affected by asthma, low blood pressure from playing the game earlier, and a corked leg that caused some internal bleeding. He was taken to Murdoch Hospital and recovered quickly.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Duffield |title=Restaurant scare for Eagles star |work=The West Australian |date=5 July 1999 |page=5}}</ref>

West Coast coach [[Ken Judge]] was told by a Perth detective in 2001 that Cousins and two of his teammates may have been using illegal drugs. Judge passed this information on to the club's administration but no action was taken.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Robinson |title=West Coast Eagles warned of Ben Cousins' ways in 2001 |url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22595619-5006301,00.html |work=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=20 October 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref>

In September 2002, Cousins punched teammate [[Daniel Kerr]] at the club's best and fairest award celebrations, after an argument about Kerr's relationship with Cousins' sister Melanie.<ref name="gleeson" /><ref name="highsandlows" /> The altercation resulted in Cousins breaking his arm.<ref name="Ben Cousins: Rise and fall">{{cite news |title=Ben Cousins: Rise and fall |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/17/2061526.htm |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=17 October 2007 |access-date=1 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331071316/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/17/2061526.htm |archive-date=31 March 2010  |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In May 2005, Cousins and teammate [[Michael Gardiner]] were questioned about their acquaintance with John Kizon and Troy Mercanti, two Perth underworld figures who were allegedly involved in a stabbing and shooting at Perth's [[Metro City Concert Club|Metro City]] nightclub.<ref name="legrand">{{cite news |first=Chip |last=Le Grand |title=Eagle pair ordered: sever ties with crims |work=The Australian |date=6 May 2005 |page=27}}</ref> Cousins was in Melbourne at the time of the shooting, but it was claimed that he and Gardiner had received phone calls from the figures both before and after the incident at the nightclub.<ref name="Heinrich" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Eagles put Cousins and Gardiner on notice |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1361126.htm |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=6 May 2005 |access-date=1 April 2010}}</ref> Police questioned Cousins and Gardiner about the incident but they refused to co-operate.<ref name="warning">{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22595619-5006301,00.html |work=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |title=West Coast Eagles warned of Ben Cousins' ways in 2001 |author=Robinson, Mark |date=19 October 2007 |access-date=28 March 2012}}</ref> Newspaper columnists at ''[[The West Australian]]'' and talkback radio callers demanded Cousins resign his captaincy.<ref name="legrand" /> His judgment had previously been questioned by West Coast management after he and Gardiner were photographed entering [[Crown Perth|Crown Casino]] with Kizon in 2001.<ref name="legrand" /> However, no disciplinary action was taken. Trevor Nesbitt, the team's chief executive, said:<ref name="legrand" />

<blockquote>"We are prepared to give them more than one chance. In this case, it is maybe their last chance... They have had chances before, they have had opportunities before, they have made mistakes before. It gets to the point where those mistakes can't be tolerated any longer. This hurts us. It hurts our brand. It hurts our image."</blockquote>

===Troubled years===
On 12 February 2006, Cousins fled a [[Random checkpoint#Australia|booze bus]], abandoning his [[Mercedes-Benz]] and girlfriend Samantha Druce in the middle lane of Perth's [[Canning Highway]] and running from police with a male passenger.<ref name="chargeslikely" /> The male passenger was later caught and [[Breathalyzer|breath-tested]], but Cousins eluded the police by swimming into the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]].<ref name="chargeslikely" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Cousins admits fleeing abandoned car |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1572583.htm |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=17 February 2006 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> On 20 February, Cousins resigned as captain of the West Coast Eagles.<ref name="chargeslikely" /> He pleaded guilty to obstructing the path of another driver and obstructing a public officer in court in March 2006 and was fined $900 plus costs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cousins fined over booze bus bolt |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Cousins-fined-over-booze-bus-bolt/2006/03/21/1142703338468.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=21 March 2006 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> He was fined an additional $5,000 by West Coast.<ref>{{cite news |first=Will |last=Brodie |title=Cousins and controversy |url=http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/cousins-and-controversy/2008/12/15/1229189514162.html |work=Real Footy |date=17 December 2008 |access-date=21 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220183538/http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/cousins-and-controversy/2008/12/15/1229189514162.html |archive-date=20 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 3 December 2006, Cousins was arrested for [[public intoxication]] after passing out in front of [[Crown Melbourne|Crown Casino]] in Melbourne and spent four hours in jail.<ref name="Ben Cousins: Rise and fall" /> He was released without being fined or making a court appearance.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Edmund, S |author2=Dowsley, A. |title=Cousins' night ends in jail |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20865760-661,00.html |work=Herald Sun |date=4 December 2006 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> The West Coast Eagles later announced that the club would not discipline Cousins, stating that the media scrutiny was sufficient punishment.<ref name=thewest>{{cite news |title=Champion's Rise And Fall |work=The West Australian |date=21 March 2007 |pages=8–9 }}</ref>

In early March 2007, Cousins and his girlfriend of 13 years, Samantha Druce, ended their relationship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/ill-never-take-ben-back/news-story/585d0838b7f6ef9e415b4488b04e53ca|title=I'll never take Ben back|date=2007-05-19|language=en|access-date=2018-09-28}}</ref> On 20 March, Cousins was suspended indefinitely from West Coast after failing to attend two training sessions.<ref name="atwar" /> West Coast club chairman [[Dalton Gooding]] stated at a press conference that Cousins was facing a "number of personal and professional issues" and that "Over the past few weeks those issues have come to the surface and it's time that Ben was suspended from the club to go away and try to tackle those issues head on." He also said:<ref name="atwar" />

<blockquote>"We always said we would suspend players if they reoffended and Ben has reoffended by missing training, and we have been very consistent with that … We believe he's breached his contract and acted unprofessionally and that's why he's been suspended and that's why we're giving him every opportunity to fix up his personal and private issues."</blockquote>

It was later revealed that Cousins underwent an AFL drug test on 19 March 2007,<ref name="7:30">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s1878222.htm |title=Cousins sacking highlights AFL drug suspicions |author=Knight, Ben |date=23 March 2007 |access-date=17 October 2007 |work=The 7.30 Report |format=transcript |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020000822/http://abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s1878222.htm |archive-date=20 October 2007  |url-status=live}}</ref> and it was later confirmed that he had a [[substance abuse]] problem.<ref name="Heinrich" /> On 21 March, Cousins was admitted to [[drug rehabilitation]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Robinson, M |author2=Edmund, S. |title=Ben Cousins admitted to rehab |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21426120-2,00.html |work=Herald Sun |date=22 March 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201041658/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C21426120-2%2C00.html |archive-date=1 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 22 March, his father [[Bryan Cousins|Bryan]] released a statement in a video broadcast by [[Network Ten]]:<ref>{{cite news |author1=Beacham, D |author2=Butler, S |author3=Duffield, M. |title=Dad confirms Cousins' drug problem |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/dad-confirms-cousins-drug-problem/2007/03/22/1174153261601.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=23 March 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref>

<blockquote>"I am making this statement today not on behalf of Ben, but as a father on behalf of his son... Ben's problem relates to substance abuse and he faces a great challenge... We acknowledge the public scrutiny that comes with the opportunities and privileges that Ben has had, but I ask now with the issues that Ben faces, that my son be given the privacy and the opportunity that he needs to deal with this problem... Ben, you are not alone with this challenge. Your family, your friends, your fans and your footy club want you to overcome this issue and win in the same manner in which you have done throughout your whole career."</blockquote>

===Rehabilitation commences===
At the end of March 2007,<ref name="highsandlows" /> Cousins flew to [[Malibu, California]], for rehabilitation at the Summit Center where he stayed for four weeks.<ref name="goodtobehome">{{cite news |title=Good to be home, says Cousins |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Good-to-be-home-says-Cousins/2007/04/30/1177788036694.html |work=The Age |location=Australia |date=30 April 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> He returned to Perth on 30 April 2007, with much attention from the media.<ref name="goodtobehome" /> On 4 May, he released a televised apology, saying:<ref>{{cite news |title=Ben Cousins' full statement |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/text-of-ben-cousins-statement/story-e6frf3bc-1111113471332 |work=Fox Sports |date=4 May 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref>

<blockquote>"As you are aware, I have been at an overseas rehabilitation centre for the past month undergoing treatment for a number of personal issues, including illness as the result of substance use... I apologise to the West Coast Eagles Football Club, sponsors, the AFL and the community for my actions... I know that in order to play football again I will have to be accepted back by the players and staff of the West Coast Eagles and the AFL, and I'm willing to fulfil any obligations imposed on me. At the present time I don't know when I'll play again. My priority is to regain my health, my life and my standing."</blockquote>

[[Chris Mainwaring]], a former West Coast Eagles player and close friend of Cousins, died of a drug overdose on 1 October 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mainwaring died of drug cocktail: report |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=302988 |work=NineMSN |date=17 October 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606101914/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=302988 |archive-date=6 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Cousins received renewed media attention, as he was the last person to see Mainwaring alive, having visited him twice on the night of his death to provide emotional support and deliver food.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Cowan, S |author2=Wilson, R. |title=Cousins rushed to friend |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/afl/cousins-twice-rushed-to-mainwaring/2007/10/02/1191091042328.html |work=The Age |date=2 October 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008 |location=Australia}}</ref> On 16 October, Cousins was arrested in the Perth suburb of [[Northbridge, Western Australia|Northbridge]] after police pulled over his vehicle because of "the manner of his driving".<ref name="policecharge">{{cite news |title=Ben Cousins charged with drug possession |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Ben-Cousins-charged-with-drug-possession/2007/10/16/1192300752583.html |work=The Age |date=16 October 2007 |access-date=28 September 2012}}</ref> Cousins' vehicle was searched, and he was charged with failure to comply with a police-ordered drug assessment and possession of a prohibited drug,<ref name="policecharge" /> the police having found quantities of prescription drugs [[diazepam]], [[Viagra]], [[oxycodone]] and [[Caverta]] as well as traces of [[MDMA|ecstasy]] and [[cocaine]] on a $20 note in the car.<ref>{{cite news |first=Janet |last=Fife-Yeomans |title=Chemical cocktail but Ben Cousins charge axed |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22615769-5001021,00.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=Australia |date=20 October 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> Cousins was sacked by West Coast for serious breaches of his agreement with the club the day after his arrest.<ref name="sacked" /><ref name="Ben Cousins: Rise and fall" /> On 19 October, Cousins's lawyer, Shane Brennan, reported that police would drop the drug-related charges against him.<ref name="Ben Cousins: Rise and fall" /> On 27 October, Cousins flew to Los Angeles to continue his drug rehabilitation at the Summit Center.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ben Cousins touches down in Malibu for rehab |url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22661497-5014215,00.html |work=PerthNow |date=28 October 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> The media reported that Cousins was missing and had failed to attend treatment in Malibu,<ref>{{cite news |title=Ben in rehab, says dad |url=http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/ben-cousins-missing-in-la/2007/11/01/1193618984193.html |work=Real Footy |date=1 November 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> and he was admitted to hospital several days later after an alleged cocaine binge.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Edwards |title=Cousins makes headlines after alleged cocaine binge |url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s2087253.htm |work=AM (ABC Radio) |location=Australia |format=transcript |date=10 November 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> No charges were laid by US police.<ref>{{cite news |title=US cops: no charges against Cousins |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/20/2095424.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716030502/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/20/2095424.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 July 2012 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=20 November 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> He returned to Australia and told a packed media conference that he was "overcoming a drug addiction". A week later he flew to the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] for a three-day alcohol and drug binge during [[Schoolies week]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ben Cousin parties during Schoolies |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/ben-cousins-is-a-toolie/story-e6freq7x-1111114958466 |work=The Courier-Mail|location=Australia |date=24 November 2007 |access-date=21 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= |date=26 November 2007 |title=Ben Cousins – Toolie on the Gold Coast |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OHgjQJKkF8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/4OHgjQJKkF8 |archive-date=2021-12-12 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

A painting of Cousins titled ''Waiting for the Day'' reached the finals of the 2009 [[Archibald Prize]]. Painted by South Australian artist Megan Roodenrys, it shows Cousins in bed battling through a sleepless night during his drug scandal. The painting was bought at auction by a Melbourne businessman the following year for $18,000.<ref>Rickard, Jane (18 November 2010). [https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/18000-for-cousins-painting-ng-ya-191306 "$18,000 for Cousins painting"], ''The West''. Retrieved 6 July 2018.</ref>

In March 2010, Cousins was twice admitted to Epworth Hospital after suffering from abdominal pain and cramping. The Richmond Football Club denied reports that it had warned Cousins to curb his drinking amid fears his AFL career could be shortened by excessive alcohol consumption.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ben Cousins discharged from hospital, awaits test results |url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ben-cousins-discharged-from-hospital-awaits-test-results-20100316-qbe7.html |work=Real Footy |date=16 March 2010 |access-date=4 April 2010 |first=Scott |last=Spits |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322204909/http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ben-cousins-discharged-from-hospital-awaits-test-results-20100316-qbe7.html |archive-date=22 March 2010  |url-status=live}}</ref> On 12 April, Cousins was among four Richmond players suspended by the club after a drunken escapade at the team hotel in Sydney earlier that week. Although Cousins was not intoxicated, the club deemed that he had not acted responsibly or in a manner expected of him by the club, and he was suspended for one week.<ref>{{cite news |first=Malcolm |last=Conn |title=Richmond suspends quartet after drunken Sydney escapade |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/richmond-suspends-quartet-after-drunken-sydney-escapade/story-e6frg7mf-1225852865884 |work=The Australian |date=12 April 2010 |access-date=12 April 2010}}</ref> On 5 July, Cousins was admitted to hospital after a "severe reaction to prescribed sleeping medication".{{citation needed|date=April 2015}} His hospitalisation prompted debate over the use of legal stimulants such as caffeine and legal sedatives such as sleeping pills among sportspeople, with the Premier of Victoria, [[John Brumby]], disapproving of their use.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cousins wants drug test to prove he's clean |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/06/2946290.htm |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=6 July 2010 |access-date=6 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709053200/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/06/2946290.htm |archive-date=9 July 2010  |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| width   = 32em
| bgcolor = #F9F9F9
| align   = right
| quote="It's pretty damning. There's no point putting something to air only [for Cousins] to be deregistered for life two minutes after it goes to air."
| source  =  {{mdash}} Cousins' former manager [[Ricky Nixon]] on why ''[[Such is Life: The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins|Such is Life]]'' was not broadcast publicly until after Cousins retired<ref>[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/ben-cousins-likely-to-hold-documentary/news-story/d96930b23feeb07e8eabf4189ad63f53 "Ben Cousins likely to hold documentary"] (26 November 2009). ''The Advertiser'' (Adelaide). Retrieved 10 December 2016.</ref>
}}
[[Such is Life: The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins|A feature-length documentary]] on Cousins' personal problems, filmed over a two-year period, aired on the [[Seven Network]] in August 2010. Titled ''Such is Life'', it is named after [[bushranger]] and outlaw [[Ned Kelly]]'s alleged last words, which Cousins got tattooed across his torso in 2007.<ref>Quartermaine, Braden (8 September 2007). [http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/tatts-life-for-cousins/news-story/cfd7a9d68a13a7c36962888dc37e07de "Ben Cousins reveals 'Such is Life' tattoo"]{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Perth Now''. Retrieved 10 December 2016.</ref><ref>Ash (26 August 2010). [http://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/news/to-fallen-heroes-ben-cousins-such-is-life-/21765.htm "To Fallen Heroes: Ben Cousins' 'Such is Life'"], Pedestrian TV. Retrieved 26 March 2010.</ref> Cousins is featured taking illicit drugs, speaking candidly about his addiction and saying that he hopes his story will ultimately help to save lives. It was one of the year's most-watched programs in Australia, with over two million viewers nationwide.<ref>Idato, Michael (26 August 2010). [http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/cousins-drug-doco-delivers-ratings-windfall-for-seven-20100826-13sp8.html "Cousins drug doco delivers ratings windfall for Seven"], ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. Retrieved 26 March 2010.</ref><ref>Knox, David (5 December 2010). [http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/12/2010-the-top-100.html "2010: The Top 100"], ''TV Tonight''. Retrieved 2 April 2015.</ref> In November of that year, Cousins released an autobiography, ''Ben Cousins: My Life Story'', published by [[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan Australia]].

==Legal issues==
In May 2011, it was reported that since Cousins' departure from AFL football his life had lost direction: he had failed to commit to a mining job in Western Australia and was struggling to find focus. His father confirmed that his son's attempt to rebuild his life had taken a "couple of bad turns" in the previous three months and that he was battling "troubled times".<ref>{{cite news |title=Ben Cousins and partner Maylea Tinecheff are expecting a baby |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/fear-for-fragile-ben-cousins/story-e6frfmqi-1226065113662 |work=Herald Sun|date=29 May 2011 |access-date=14 January 2012}}</ref> In September 2011, Cousins' partner Maylea Elizabeth Tinecheff gave birth to their first child, a son, Bobby Ernest Cousins.

On 9 January 2012, Cousins was admitted to [[Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital]] after suffering a fall at a drug rehabilitation clinic. He slipped while getting out of a shower, striking his head on a basin and injuring his neck. It was reported that Cousins had been experiencing continuing problems with illicit drugs, despite seeking help at several drug rehabilitation clinics, and that he had "never been clean for more than three months."<ref>{{cite news |title=Experts say Ben Cousins could have brain injury |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/top-stories/experts-say-ben-cousins-could-have-brain-injury/story-e6frg12l-1226243048780 |work=PerthNow |date=12 January 2011 |access-date=13 January 2011}}</ref> It was also reported that he had recently undertaken an extreme drug binge lasting for approximately eight days.<ref name="Mark Duffield 2011, p. 9">{{cite news |first1=Gareth |last1=Parker |first2=Mark |last2=Duffield |title=Cousins in psychiatric unit |work=The West Australian |date=14–15 January 2011 |page=9 }}</ref> Cousins was committed by doctors to a suburban mental health unit under police escort on 13 January 2012 after suffering a four-day episode of [[drug-induced psychosis]] while being treated at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital.<ref name="Mark Duffield 2011, p. 9" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Ben Cousins reportedly in mental health unit |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/ben-cousins-reportedly-in-mental-health-unit/story-e6frg13u-1226244200255 |work=PerthNow |date=14 January 2011 |access-date=14 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115012213/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/ben-cousins-reportedly-in-mental-health-unit/story-e6frg13u-1226244200255 |archive-date=15 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 27 March 2012, Cousins was arrested by police at [[Esperance Airport]], in the south of Western Australia, on suspicion of possession of drugs. He was [[strip-search]]ed and found to have [[methamphetamine]] secreted in his anus. The initial charge of intent to sell or supply the drug was later downgraded to simple possession, to which Cousins pled guilty and was fined $800.<ref>28 June 2012). [https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/ben-cousins-due-in-court-on-esperance-methamphetamine-drug-charges/news-story/d8548ddeececc4abef0d2a82f1ac5f40 "Ben Cousins fined $800 for methamphetamine drug charges"], ''Herald Sun''. Retrieved 15 July 2018.</ref> On 17 April 2012, Cousins was arrested and charged again in Western Australia for possession of cannabis and a smoking implement.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/ben-cousins-charged-with-cannabis-possession-20120417-1x4wf.html |title=Ben Cousins charged with cannabis possession |publisher=Fairfax WA Today |date=17 April 2012 |access-date=17 April 2012}}</ref>

On 11 March 2015, Cousins was arrested in the Perth suburb of [[Bicton, Western Australia|Bicton]] after leading police on a slow-speed car chase, stating he could not stop due to a family emergency.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ben Cousins arrested after police pursuit |url=http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/ben-cousins-arrested-after-police-pursuit/story-fndv7pj3-1227259548132 |work=News.com.au |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=16 March 2015}}</ref> Four days later, it was reported that Cousins had been sent to a mental health facility after he was found inside the [[Special Air Service]]'s [[Campbell Barracks (Western Australia)|Campbell Barracks]] in [[Swanbourne, Western Australia|Swanbourne]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/ben-cousins-exeagle-reportedly-in-mental-care-after-allegedly-being-caught-at-sas-barracks-20150315-144tts.html |title=Ben Cousins: ex-Eagle reportedly in mental care after allegedly being caught at SAS barracks |publisher=Watoday.com.au |date=15 March 2015 |access-date=16 March 2015}}</ref> Cousins was arrested for the third time in two weeks after trying to outrun police in [[Canning Vale]] following a "bizarre incident" outside a [[Sikh]] temple.<ref>[http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/03/24/05/46/ben-cousins-caught-on-cctv-in-bizarre-incident-outside-sikh-temple "Ben Cousins caught on CCTV in bizarre incident outside Sikh temple"] (24 March 2015), ''[[Nine News]]''. Retrieved 25 March 2015.</ref>

In June 2016, police intervened when Cousins attempted to direct traffic on Perth's [[Canning Highway]]. He was described by witnesses as being "really lost, confused and making no sense at all", and taken to [[Fiona Stanley Hospital]].<ref>White, Simon (26 June 2016). [http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/west-coast-eagles/exeagle-ben-cousins-in-hospital-after-directing-traffic-on-canning-highway-20160626-gpsdm1.html "Ex-Eagle Ben Cousins in hospital after 'directing traffic' on Canning Highway"], ''WAToday''. Retrieved 27 June 2016.</ref>

In November 2016, Cousins failed to appear in court on charges of breaching a violence restraining order and possessing methamphetamine. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest. At around 1:30 am the following day, while driving high on methamphetamine in [[High Wycombe, Western Australia|High Wycombe]], he crashed his car head-on into a truck. He sustained minor injuries and was taken to Royal Perth Hospital under police guard.<ref>{{cite web |last=Powell |first=Graeme |date=23 November 2016 |title=Ben Cousins, former AFL great, under police guard in hospital after crash |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-23/ben-cousins-under-police-guard-in-hospital-after-crash/8049066 |website=ABC News |access-date=23 November 2016}}</ref>

=== Imprisonment ===
Cousins was arrested in the Perth suburb of [[Melville, Western Australia|Melville]] in February 2017 and charged with a number of offences related to drugs, violence and stalking, including seven counts of breaching a violence restraining order.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-24/ben-cousins-charged-with-drug-vro-stalking-offences/8300684 "Ben Cousins charged with drug, stalking offences, former AFL star due in court"] (24 February 2017), ABC News. Retrieved 28 March 2017.</ref> The following month, at the Magistrates Court of Western Australia, Cousins was charged with eleven offences and received a 12-month prison sentence.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-28/ben-cousins-former-afl-star-jailed-for-stalking-drug-possession/8393604 "Ben Cousins jailed for stalking, drug offences seven years after AFL retirement"] (28 March 2017), ABC News. Retrieved 28 March 2017.</ref> He served his sentence at [[Acacia Prison]].<ref name=mcn>McNeill, Heather (15 September 2017). [http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/west-coast-eagles/fallen-exeagle-ben-cousins-back-in-court-on-drug-charges-20170915-gyid5f.html "Fallen ex-Eagle Ben Cousins back in court on drug charges"], ''WA Today''. Retrieved 9 January 2018.</ref> In May 2017, it was reported that Cousins was attacked by another inmate after borrowing his teacup and not returning it.<ref>Campbell, Kate (21 May 2017). [http://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/ben-cousins-prison-fight-sparked-by-tea-cup/news-story/68f794b70dfa1d8cdb695bdabbd6c587 "Ben Cousins' prison fight sparked by tea cup"], ''Perth Now''. Retrieved 9 January 2018.</ref> Cousins became eligible for parole six months into his sentence, but the parole board denied his application and ordered him to complete rehabilitation courses after he failed a drug test.<ref name=mcn/>

Cousins was released from prison in January 2018.<ref name=mcn/> As part of his parole conditions, Cousins began part-time work in the West Coast Eagles' community and game development department, but he abruptly left the job in April 2018. In August 2018, he was arrested and charged with multiple offences, including drug possession, making threats and breaking a violence restraining order.<ref>[https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/ben-cousins-in-court-again-on-new-drug-charges-20180822-p4zyy3.html "Ben Cousins charged with drug possession, making threats"] (22 August 2018), ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. Retrieved 24 August 2018.</ref> He was released on bail in April 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/ben-cousins-out-of-jail-on-bail-ng-b881154807z|title=Cousins walks free from jail|date=2019-04-01|website=PerthNow|language=en|access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{AFL Tables}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cousins, Ben}}
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