Cousins' night ends in jail

WEST Coast star Ben Cousins has spent four hours in jail after a wild night in Melbourne ended in his arrest for drunkenness.

WEST Coast star Ben Cousins has spent four hours in jail after a wild night in Melbourne ended in his arrest for drunkenness.

In his latest run-in with the law, Cousins was picked up by police in Southbank about 4.30am yesterday.

He was charged with being drunk in a public place and given four hours to sober up in the Melbourne Custody Centre before being released after 8.30am.

A police source said Cousins was "absolutely legless" when found and had no idea where he was. Another man is believed to have been arrested.

The Brownlow medallist will not be fined or have to appear in court.

Cousins, 28, went into hiding yesterday as news of his latest off-field indiscretion spread.

An angry West Coast released a statement, frustrated that its star onballer remains at the centre of controversy.

The club is yet to decide whether to punish its former captain, ordering him to a meeting next week before deciding on a course of action.

It is the second time Cousins has made headlines for the wrong reasons since West Coast issued a "last chance" ultimatum last year.

"The West Coast Eagles have today become aware of an incident involving Ben Cousins in Melbourne where he was arrested for being intoxicated," the statement reads.

"The club is disappointed with this situation and will talk to Ben about the matter when he returns from leave to begin training next week.

"The club will make no further comment on the issue."

Cousins' Melbourne manager, Ricky Nixon, couldn't hide his annoyance, snapping: "I'll answer your question before you ask it. We look after his marketing, we don't look after his personal affairs or his footy contract. Ring the footy club."

Cousins has been in Melbourne for a week, the club granting him leave after he returned to training early last month.

Witnesses said he was among a group partying at Southbank nightclub Eve.

Club director Nick Russian said Cousins had "popped in early" for a drink with mates.

"He did come in but then he went off to the casino. He was well in control when he was with us," Mr Russian said.

Cousins has many friends in Melbourne, including former teammate Michael Gardiner, who signed with St Kilda in October.

Gardiner's flatmate, Mark Edgley, denied reports that the ruckman had been with Cousins, saying Gardiner was too dedicated to his training to go out.

Mr Edgley said Cousins had since told him he was upset at what happened and that he had been unfairly treated.

It's not the first time Cousins has found himself in hot water.

In May last year, Cousins and Gardiner were identified as having links with the Perth underworld.

The pair became embroiled in an investigation into a shooting between rival bikie gangs at Perth's popular Metropolis Club.

Both were criticised for declining to explain phone conversations they were believed to have had with one of two men charged with disposing of a gun fired on the nightclub premises.

Cousins was stripped of the West Coast captaincy in February after abandoning his car and fleeing from a booze bus on foot.