Ben Cousins From West Coast to Richmond
The Rise and Fall of an Eagle turned Tiger
Ben Cousins was a Brownlow Medallist, four-time club champion, and former captain of the West Coast Eagles. However, the high-profile Richmond Tigers recruit is perhaps better known for a series of off-field misdemeanours that led to his sacking from the Eagles. Cousins even rated a mention on notorious celebrity gossip blog Perez Hilton while in the United States for drug rehabilitation, despite Australian football still being played professionally only in Australia.
This timeline outlines Cousins' on-field success with West Coast, the dramatic fall from grace in his last few years at the club, and the high expectations that follow him to Richmond.
Ben Cousins: A Star on the Rise
1995
Ben's father, Bryan Cousins had played in the WAFL and for Geelong in the VFL, making his son eligible to be drafted by three clubs under the father-son rule: Geelong, West Coast, and Fremantle. Ben wanted to stay in Western Australia and chose to join West Coast.
1996
Ben Cousins made his debut for West Coast at the age of 17 and won the AFL Rising Star award that year.
1998
Cousins was selected in the All-Australian team for the first time and was also runner-up to full-back Ashley McIntosh in West Coast's Club Champion (fairest and best) award.
1999
Cousins was again selected in the All-Australian team and represented Australia in the International Rules series.
Cousins Becomes a Champion
2001
At the age of 22, Cousins became co-captain of the Eagles alongside Norm Smith Medallist Dean Kemp. Cousins also won his first Club Champion Award in 2001 and was again an All-Australian.
2002
Cousins became the sole captain of West Coast following Kemp's retirement. He capped off the year with a second Club Champion award and All-Australian selection.
2003
Cousins earned life membership of West Coast when he played his 150th game and won his third Club Champion award.
A Champion Footballer and His Off-Field Dramas
2005
In May 2005, Cousins and team mate Michael Gardiner were criticised for associating with alleged criminals after a shooting at a Perth nightclub, and failing to co-operate with police.
Cousins played his 200th game in July.
In a season where the Eagles lost the grand final to Sydney by four points, Cousins won the Brownlow Medal as the league's fairest and best player, as well as his fourth Club Champion award and the AFL Players' Association's Most Valuable Player award. He was also named vice-captain in the All-Australian team.
2006
Cousins was fined and forced to resign as captain in February 2006 after an incident in which he abandoned his car on a highway and ran away from a booze bus.
Later that year, Cousins held the premiership cup alongside new captain Chris Judd after West Coast's one-point grand final win over Sydney. Cousins also earned All-Australian selection again.
Cousins' Fall From Grace
2007
West Coast suspended Cousins indefinitely in March 2007. It was revealed that Cousins had a substance abuse problem and he spent four weeks at a rehabilitation clinic in California.
He resumed training with West Coast in June and amassed 38 possessions in his comeback game against Sydney.
However, West Coast sacked Cousins in October 2007, after he was stopped by police for driving erratically and arrested for drug possession. He was also banned from playing in the AFL for 12 months for bringing the game into disrepute. The drug charges were later dropped. Cousins returned to the US to continue rehabilitation but reportedly never showed up and was admitted to hospital after a five-day cocaine binge.
Cousins Joins Richmond
2008
The AFL Commission cleared Cousins to play in 2009, provided he agreed to strict drug testing. Collingwood, St Kilda, and Brisbane showed early interest in drafting Cousins, but all three clubs later announced they would not select him and he was overlooked in the national draft. However, Richmond recruited Cousins with the last pick in the pre-season draft.
2009
Cousins made his Richmond debut in February 2009, a pre-season fixture against Collingwood. While Richmond lost by 46 points, Cousins picked up 21 possessions in his first match in 17 months.
Since Cousins joined Richmond, there has been a significant increase in club memberships, with about 1000 new members signing up each week. Richmond and its supporters will be hoping Cousins can stay out of trouble and recapture his best form to help propel his new club to its first premiership since 1980.
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