The time is true for Ben Cousins to be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame, West Coast nice Glen Jakovich says.
The legendary defender has revealed to The Herald Sun he spoke to Cousins this week and believes the indicators are there that the mercurial midfielder is popping his life round.
The push for Cousins to be honoured for his efforts on the soccer discipline leaves the AFL in a predicament.
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Cousins has been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 2013, however has been denied due to the league’s so-called “character” standards.
According to the AFL, the Hall of Fame committee should take into account integrity, sportsmanship and character when assessing potential inductees.
The similar standards additionally resulted in Geelong icon Gary Ablett Snr lacking out for a number of years earlier than he was lastly inducted in 2005. Wayne Carey was additionally ignored twice earlier than he was inducted in 2010.
Now the committee is dealing with one other powerful check in weighing up Cousins’ restoration.
The 44-year-old had a troubled finish to his soccer profession, resigning his captaincy at West Coast in 2006 after fleeing an RBT earlier than it was revealed he had a substance abuse drawback.
Cousins frolicked in rehab in the identical 12 months earlier than he was arrested for drug possession the next 12 months.
After his profession, Cousins’ life spiralled uncontrolled, resulting in a public battle with medication and authorized points, together with serving a 12-month jail sentence in 2017 for stalking the mom of his youngsters Maylea Tinecheff.
But his life has been not off course for greater than 18 months.
Cousins has been serving to out in an off-the-cuff place with WAFL aspect Perth Demons. He returned to tv after touchdown a gig with 7 News in Perth final 12 months and Jakovich has now revealed Cousins can also be employed by a mining firm in Western Australia.
Another milestone second in Cousins’ restoration came visiting the weekend when he performed in an exhibition legend’s sport in opposition to at Optus Stadium earlier than the Eagles’ conflict with GWS on Sunday.
It was the primary time since 2007 that Cousins performed in an Eagles jumper.
Cousins’ daughter Angelique (9), son Bobby (11) and step-son Alex (17) had been there to look at their dad.
It is an indication Cousins is able to lastly be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame, in line with Jakovich.
“I spoke to him yesterday about a few things. The biggest question was whether he could reintegrate back into community life, hold down a normal job and be a normal contributor to society,” Jakovich advised the Herald Sun.
“West Coast has just had a Hall of Fame event which he didn’t make. They wanted to wait another 12 months. So if not this year then next year from an AFL perspective.
“He has had a bloody good 18 months. He works for Channel 7, he works for a mining company and he goes to a lot of mining sites and speaks to them and basically says don’t end up like me. His biggest commitment is to his kids. He has gone from no access to good access and has had to tick boxes with the authorities. So that is a really big tick for ‘Cuz’.”
Jakovich mentioned Cousins’ personal life stays crucial consideration.
“We went via a time period the place we had been sick of listening to about his way of life and we had been ready for the telephone name that he’s not with us. That is how unhealthy it received. It was unhappy to witness that in an ex-teammate and nice of our membership,“ he mentioned.
Source: www.news.com.au
