‘Didn’t want to go home’: Ben Cousins tells of his love affair with dancing

He was once an AFL pin-up before fighting through troubled times. Now, Ben Cousins is firmly back on his feet — and reveals why he’s loving it.

For years Ben Cousins never thought he’d find the level of enjoyment in something similar to that of playing footy.

But the one-time AFL pin-up who has fought through troubled times found a new love this year.

Dancing, he says, has given him an undeniable boost and significant joy.

After years of contemplating it he finally took the leap into reality television to be part of Dancing With the Stars.

Ben Cousins and Siobhan Power on Dancing With the Stars.

Cousins with his dance partner, Siobhan Power.

“I love the lifestyle of a professional athlete and I missed it,’’ Cousins said.

“I really thought that I was going to get six to eight, or 10 weeks through the experience and I’d just be hanging on for dear life waiting for the days to finish. But it was the complete opposite.

“I remember being one week before the show wrapping up and I was starting to get sad, I didn’t want to go home. For me to think back to that it still shocks me that that could have been the case. I fell in love with it, it was incredible.”

Cousins spent most of his time learning the craft in Melbourne with his dance partner Siobhan Power.

His body is well worn — he’d just undergone shoulder surgery — but the challenge came at a perfect time.

“I wasn’t putting any expectations on it but I wasn’t going to do it half-heartedly,’’ Cousins said.

“I can honestly say I couldn’t have done another hour of dancing. It certainly wasn’t a lack of commitment or anything, I just couldn’t have done any more. That’s the way I wanted to approach it. There were some super talented people on the show in their own right and I was blown away. I’d like to think some of my best dancing might be ahead of me.”

Cousins says he fell in love with dancing.

He says the challenge came at the perfect time for him.

Cousins said he would cringe and become self-conscious in those moments under the bright lights that someone like Shane Crawford would relish, but the former Eagles premiership star and Brownlow Medallist shines during this series as well as any of the cast.

“I’m 45, I’m not sure whether it hadn’t come along, whether I ever would have (danced),’’ he said.

“Maybe I’d have entertained the idea, if I was in a relationship maybe I’d do some lessons at some point. Having done it now and at least being exposed to it, it would have been sad to go through life without doing some dancing.”

Cousins says he’d like to think some of his best dancing might be ahead of him.

Cousins says it would’ve been sad to go through life without doing some dancing.

Cousins is in a good place with work on Channel 7 Perth, school sport with his two children and regular visits to the West Coast Eagles.

He isn’t fazed that an Australian Football Hall of Fame induction has yet to be offered.

“You only have to look at the small numbers that get elevated every year, I don’t envy the job of people in charge of the selection process and mine comes with a few added complications which I totally understand and am aware of,’’ he said.

“It’s not something that is on my radar, life’s good and I’m so rapt to be more involved in the football industry and around the game and welcomed back. My life is great at the moment, it’s not an issue for me, it really isn’t.”

Dancing With the Stars premieres on Channel 7 on July 7.