Ben Cousins is stepping again into the soccer world.
The mercurial midfielder hung up the boots in 2010 after 270 video games at West Coast and Richmond.
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Now greater than a decade after strolling away from the sport, the 2005 Brownlow Medal winner is stepping again into the fold in a part-time teaching function.
Cousins has been serving to out with WAFL facet Perth Demons once-a-week, a job he’s anticipated to proceed into 2023, in keeping with The West Australian.
The former Eagles skipper has ties to the Perth Demons along with his father Bryan having performed 240 video games on the membership within the Nineteen Seventies and ‘80s.
Cousins isn’t the one Brownlow Medal winner to affix the teaching ranks on the WAFL facet, with former Eagles star and 2014 Brownlow Medal winner Matt Priddis signing on because the midfield coach.
The new function comes shortly after the 44-year-old returned to tv after touchdown a gig with 7 News in Perth.
Despite his stellar on-field achievements, it’s off the sector the place Cousins has dominated headlines after his long-running battle with drug dependancy.
Cousins 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 yr earlier than he was arrested for drug possession the next yr.
He was delisted and banned from the AFL for 12 months, ending his time at West Coast after a Brownlow Medal in 2005, the 2006 premiership, six All-Australian choices and 238 video games.
In 2009, Cousins did return to the AFL, taking part in the ultimate two seasons of his profession at Richmond.
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 in newer occasions, Cousins appeared match and wholesome and has come clear on how troublesome his restoration has been.
Speaking in Bunbury in November 2018 West Coast premiership hero Dom Sheed, Cousins revealed he was lastly blissful once more.
“It just gets back to being happy and for a long time, I hadn’t been and I had those fleeting moments where I thought I was kidding myself just to try and get by,” he mentioned.
“It’s been a big struggle but today I sit here and it’s not in any way about the things I’ve given up or had to give up or sacrifice, it’s all about things I can give back.”
Cousins additionally spoke about his transfer to the Tigers, sharing his gratitude the membership gave him probability, The West Australian reported.
“I played the majority of my football at West Coast and never once did I entertain the idea of leaving West Coast or did I ever see my future being anything other than a one-team player but obviously what happened, happened,” he mentioned.
“One of the great things about that whole situation was the opportunity that I got to play for Richmond who were sort of brave enough to take it on and pick me up.
“I was desperate to play, I was no guarantee to get picked up and there was a circus that sort of followed me for 12 or 18 months.
“As much as I would have loved for it to be just a football decision, it really wasn’t.
“I’m forever grateful. (Richmond) were a fantastic club to play for.
“I had two pretty tough years on field but it’s been amazing to be at that footy club at that time with a handful of that core group that was able to go on and build something from those days and win those three grand finals and have that dynasty.”
