Ben Cousins opens up about life behind bars and drug past
It’s fair to say Ben Cousins’ struggles since his footy glory days have been both colourful and complex. Now, the Brownlow winner is opening about life behind bars and his future in an “explosive” new interview.
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Fallen footy star Ben Cousins has opened up about life behind bars as he breaks his silence on his drug past.
The deeply troubled and often unpredictable Cousins has spoken at length for the first time in a decade about his plummet from the heights of the AFL world to finding himself jailed for drugs and personal issues and then homeless.
“I’ve stuffed things up royally,” Cousins admitted.
The 2005 Brownlow Medallist, who was a key figure in the West Coast Eagles’ 2006 premiership victory, reveals his current life in Perth, his battle to rein in his personal demons and his dangerous and reckless experiences to Basil Zempilas in the Channel 7 documentary Ben Cousins: Coming Clean.
The documentary includes Fremantle champion and fellow Brownlow Medal winner, Nat Fyfe, meeting with Cousins and discussing his time behind bars and his ongoing recovery.
The meeting took place at a tennis court in Perth leading to Cousins explaining how important tennis had become for him during his time in jail.
The pair played a best of three match. Cousins won.
“Benny, he’s the best. You don’t win the Brownlow Medal unless you are the best in the country,” Fyfe observed.
It is understood that Essendon coach John Worsfold, who coached Cousins at the West Coast Eagles, shares an emotional reunion with the one time wonderkid of the game as part of the documentary.
The extraordinary interview came about after Cousins and his family approached Seven to help tell his story and to set the record straight as part of his rehabilitation.
Seven confirmed money had been paid to a lawyer to cover expenses, with the lawyer administering how that fee would be used. No money went directly to Cousins.
Experienced reporter Zempilas spent a week with Cousins during the filming of the documentary.
“I’m close to the Ben Cousins story and have been for a long time now. I didn’t think anything he could say would surprise me, but even I was shocked,” Zempilas said.
“It’s explosive, compelling and emotional. With everything we’ve seen and read the natural inclination is to write Ben off but despite his struggles he remains remarkably resilient. It’s a battle but I wouldn’t bet against him.”
Ben Cousins – Coming Clean, A 7 NEWS Documentary, airs Sunday 29 March at 7pm on 7 and 7 PLUS
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