Ben Cousins has reacted to the news he would again be overlooked for induction into the AFL Hall of Fame, saying he “understood their decision”.
While Cousins certainly had a Hall of Fame worthy career over his 270 senior games for West Coast and Richmond — including a Brownlow in 2005, premiership in 2006 and six All-Australian nods — the 45-year-old’s off-field indiscretions will continue to stand in his way of receiving the honour.
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The Age reported the committee “has not seriously debated Cousins as a prospective member” of the Hall of Fame due to his record.
Cousins has a long rap sheet, including being banned from the AFL for a year after being arrested for drug possession in 2007 — after which he was sacked by the Eagles — ultimately ending his career with the Tigers.
Post-career, Cousins spent seven months in jail in 2020 after repeatedly breaching a restraining order and allegedly threatening to kill his former partner and mother of his children, Maylea Tinecheff.
Earlier, in 2018, Cousins also served 10 months of a 12-month prison sentence for stalking Tinechef.
Speaking on Mix94.5 Perth’s Breakfast Show Pete & Kymba, Cousins had previously said it was an honour to be in the conversation for the Hall of Fame but that he didn’t expect it.
When asked about how he felt about being ruled out of the Hall of Fame due to his off-field indiscretions, Cousins brushed it off.
“I don’t find myself thinking about this ever really,” Cousins said.
“It’s an honour that’s hard to come by and I’m certainly not… There’s been so many great players over the years, I wouldn’t be envious of the job of trying to only put in a limited few each year.
“So I totally understand their decision and I, like everybody else, will sit there and be looking forward to celebrate whoever gets in this year.
“That’s just the way it is.
“I’m sure there’s a number of things that come into play when making those tough decisions. I wouldn’t like to be in their shoes and there’s no ill will or animosity from my end at all.”
The Hall of Fame committee’s decision comes less than a week after Wayne Carey was blocked by the AFL from being elevated to legend status at the NSW Football Hall of Fame ceremony.
Carey’s planned induction sparked widespread outrage and was set to take place on the same weekend the AFL honoured victims of gender-based violence.
After finishing his career, Cousins’ life spiralled out of control, leading to a public battle with drug addiction and a host of legal issues.
But in more recent times, Cousins has turned his life around, reading the news for Channel 7 in Western Australia and will feature on the next season of Dancing With The Stars.
In an appearance on Channel 7’s The Front Bar recently, Cousins opened up on cleaning up his life.
“I wish it hadn’t had to have taken this long, and had to run its course the way it did,” he said.
“But yeah, it’s nice to be working and busy, have some real ambition back, and, you know, just connected back in with friends, family, and even on a community level, you know. Life’s never been better, to be honest.”