After all is said and done, I hope that Ben Cousins is remembered for being an amazing footballer, as opposed to what his life has become.
A picture of health – one of the best conditioned footballers we have seen grace the football fields at the elite level.
Ironically, it was his chiselled physique and dominance on the field that masked his unhealthy lifestyle of it.
The substance abuse issues all came to a head during the honeymoon period of West Coast’s 2006 premiership and was made further public upon the release of a documentary and book in the following years.
While no doubt it was not the intention, I feel that the ‘Such is Life’ documentary glorified the issues that Cousins had.
The juxtaposition of the partying drug addict-footballer double life that Cousins lived appealed to young audiences.
He was revered in a rock star kind of way as the poster boy of the ‘work hard, play hard’ culture that is so appealing to many.
His public dealings with the AFL and other authority figures added to the antiestablishment cult-figure aura that engulfed the Brownlow medallist.
I was 16 when the documentary was released and guiltily admit to observing Cousins’ actions from afar and finding them somewhat humourous in my immature mind.
But now his predicament is just sad – this is a man whose life is falling apart very publically in front of his family, friends and two children.
There is undoubtedly a very serious concern from those close to him about his long-term future.
This is evident when they are questioned about his well-being. It may not be the words that they use, but more the expression and tone in their voice.
Numerous stories have floated around social media over the past couple of weeks documenting the bizarre and erratic behaviours of Cousins.
One involved him walking into an alcohol store shirtless, with one shoe on, holding a bucket and pacing around while talking to himself.
There was also another that involved Cousins dropping a suitcase full of clothes in a park before jumping fences and running through people’s backyards.
These stories could just be hearsay but where there is smoke there is fire and his behaviour on a Perth highway last night was certainly unusual.
Cousins’ life is a sad portrait of the insidiousness of methamphetamines and hopefully, somehow, Ben can pull himself out of this rut and get clean.
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Guest
This is what I was trying to say. The hypocrisy of the story being the 'I hope he doesnt get remembered for this', then going on to tell everyone about what he shouldn't be remembered for. If you genuinely want to remember him as a great footy player, perhaps talk about his footy.
Don Freo
Guest
That would be Ockham's Razor.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Fair enough Harry. I may have misinterpreted your comments a bit there. Its a sad situation all round.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-season-2016-ben-cousins-unlikely-to-attend-west-coast-eagles-2006-premiership-reunion-20160627-gpsrvu.html Read what Jakovich says anon - you goose. The club gets criticised a lot, but I don't think the people over here [in Melbourne] realise how much the club tried to do to help Ben and then when he went to rehab in America. Ian Miller, who is a close family friend of the Cousins, of Brian, obviously played footy with him, he is the welfare officer of the West Coast Eagles now ... he minded Ben right through that period," he said. "For people to say the club swept it under the carpet, weren't helping, it was the club's fault, everyone had an opinion, and that's OK , everyone was quite critical, which, from outside looking in, that was understandable. "[But] now you have got the national drug average, double in WA for ice, and my role now being in recruitment, and I see what it does to families, you can't criticise it because you don't understand what the addiction is doing."
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
NO, i am sure his family continue to do everything they can, i was stating it sarcastically as anon reckons the club did nothing, when in truth they were probably in consultation with the family at every turn.
BigAl
Guest
I agree ! Terribly harsh Harry! Don't you remember the early days of Ben's downfall, and the scenes where Ben's dad and his then girlfriend, hand in hand, running the media gaunlet during the arrests and court appearances and giving poignant interviews ?? You just got the feeling that no matter what these people did, it was only going to end badly.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
That's harsh. I know a lady here in Newcastle who was Ben's babysitter when his family lived in Geelong. Small world. Obviously he was just a little kid back then. His parents were by her account, as responsible & as caring as you could hope for. I'm sure they still are. They must be suffering too.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
So i guess the club must take full responsibility for Ben - while his family none ?, i guess they did nothing as well because they thought Ben may play in a premiership or was playing well, maybe the club directed Ben's family to not interfere !!!!!!!!!!!! You are absolutely full of it, i am 100% sure everyone tried their best to sort him out within reason, but i doubt the club had dibs on him 24 hours a day, sometimes you have responsibility for yourself, a football club is just a football club.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
The club was covering nothing up, apparently according to you everyone knew - so what exactly were they covering up ?- i imagine they were trying to sort things out as best as possible for all concerned.
steve
Guest
Cmon Chris, its a well known fact that there was a major drug problem at West Coast during his time there. He wasn't the only Eagles player with a drug problem.
anon
Guest
You're dismissing my argument because I don't know whether he snorted or smoked ice.... I'm just using Occam's Razor. My explanation is more likely than the "official explanation".
Paul D
Roar Guru
You don't snort ice. But hey, facts and evidence be damned, anon is on a one-way trip to Eagles slandertown and isn't going to stop to listen to anyone who knows more about the Eagles and Cousins. No sirree, the Eagles were in on it and that's that. Christ you talk some rubbish.
anon
Guest
He should have been in treatment facilities, not being sent out on the field with the implicit understanding that if you get your 30 touches you can snort whatever you like off the field. It was only when Cousins got arrested and cuffed in front of cameras in the middle of the Perth CBD, did the club decide to act on his drug problem. Only when the club could no longer cover up Cousins drug problem did they decide his addiction needing treating. Cousins got used.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Anon, you do come up with some rubbish here, but this is right up there. Yes, most of Perth was aware etc etc by way of rumour and nod nod inside "knowledge"........pfft......fair enough. But to say the club condoned, ignored, assisted, did nothing...............what a load of rubbish, could not be further from the truth, which by the way is none of you business. Honestly, shut up.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
You didn't read my post did you ?, you just responded with what you wanted to write which was just the same as your initial post
anon
Guest
"He was a grown man, i am sure there was plenty of concern, but people involved with other people on drugs are nearly always dishonest and secretive about what they are up to, it is actually hard to really find out what they are up to." Yet most of Perth knew about his drug usage. It seems inconceivable that people who are around him 6 days a week didn't notice anything suspicious. West Coast were happy to let him get up to whatever he wanted to as long as he performed on the field. A team that cares for the welfare of their players would never have priorotised wins over the health and well being of their players.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
He was a grown man, i am sure there was plenty of concern, but people involved with other people on drugs are nearly always dishonest and secretive about what they are up to, it is actually hard to really find out what they are up to. If had a job in a office or factory etc and was on drugs but performed my job to the satisfaction and standard required how could my employer justify some sort of inquisition to find out what was going on despite his suspicions. In hindsight everyone now can say ..where, what, how and why ...but hindsight is fantastic. Whatsmore plenty of people go through phases where they dabble and indeed sometimes more than dabble and come out alright at the other end.
steve
Guest
I think it would be fair to suggest that there is nothing mildly entertaining about someone with a drug addiction.
Chris Williams
Guest
Anon- tell us more about your employment at West Coast. You obviously know if they tried to help Ben or not. You will probably find the club went to great lenghts to help him, during his playing days and after. However they cant be responsible for a grown man. Especially if that person does not want or does not accept the offer of help. Ben needs to accept he has a big big problem and ask for help and be ready to do whatever it takes to get healthy. A football club is not responsible for someones life
Winston
Guest
This comment is not fair at all. I for one hope to forget all his off field incidents and just remember him for the good parts. I'm a Swans supporter and during those years in the mid 2000s every time we played West Coast I'd be worried about Cousins. That's the Cousins I want to remember. With all his off field stuff, I can't help but shake my head. I do find them mildly entertaining, but would much rather I didn't hear about them.