Ben Cousins is stepping back into the football world.
The mercurial midfielder hung up the boots in 2010 after 270 games at West Coast and Richmond.
Now more than a decade after walking away from the game, the 2005 Brownlow Medal winner is stepping back into the fold in a part-time coaching role.
Cousins has been helping out with WAFL side Perth Demons once-a-week, a role he is expected to continue into 2023, according to The West Australian.
The former Eagles skipper has ties to the Perth Demons with his father Bryan having played 240 games at the club in the 1970s and ‘80s.
Cousins isn’t the only Brownlow Medal winner to join the coaching ranks at the WAFL side, with former Eagles star and 2014 Brownlow Medal winner Matt Priddis signing on as the midfield coach.
The new role comes shortly after the 44-year-old returned to television after landing a gig with 7 News in Perth.
Despite his stellar on-field achievements, it’s off the field where Cousins has dominated headlines after his long-running battle with drug addiction.
Cousins had a troubled end to his football career, resigning his captaincy at West Coast in 2006 after fleeing an RBT before it was revealed he had a substance abuse problem.
Cousins spent time in rehab in the same year before he was arrested for drug possession the following year.
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 selections and 238 games.
In 2009, Cousins did return to the AFL, playing the final two seasons of his career at Richmond.
After his career, Cousins’ life spiralled out of control, leading to a public battle with drugs and legal issues, including serving a 12-month prison sentence in 2017 for stalking the mother of his children Maylea Tinecheff.
But in more recent times, Cousins appeared fit and healthy and has come clean on how difficult his recovery has been.
Speaking in Bunbury in November 2018 West Coast premiership hero Dom Sheed, Cousins revealed he was finally happy again.
“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 said.
“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 also spoke about his move to the Tigers, sharing his gratitude the club gave him chance, 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 said.
“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.”
