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West Coast great Ben Cousins says public support ‘better than I deserve’ ahead of grand final

Samantha RogersThe West Australian
West Coast great Ben Cousins has revealed he’s in a ‘happy place’ on the eve of the AFL grand final, saying he’s very fortunate to have received the support he has from the public.
Camera IconWest Coast great Ben Cousins has revealed he’s in a ‘happy place’ on the eve of the AFL grand final, saying he’s very fortunate to have received the support he has from the public. Credit: Paul Kane/via AFL Photos

West Coast great Ben Cousins has revealed he’s in a “happy place” on the eve of the AFL grand final, saying the public support he’s received is “probably better than I deserve”.

The 43-year-old made a return to the spotlight this week, attending the Brownlow Medal at Optus Stadium among a raft of media events in the lead up to the Perth decider.

While his fall from grace after the West Coast glory days has been well documented, the former Eagle says he is now “going along okay” as the public rallies behind him.

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“I’m sort of back working and in a good routine, a happy place. So, life’s good,” he told Triple M’s Rush Hour.

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“I’ve considered myself very fortunate for a long time now that the WA public have been very good to me, probably better than I probably thought I deserved at times.

Ben Cousins and Kelley Fergus.
Camera IconBen Cousins and Kelley Fergus. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“A lot’s happened over the years, a lot of good things have happened but there’s been some not so good things too.

“So I’m just grateful to be in a position where I am today and people are pretty receptive.”

Cousins etched his own place in September history by winning the league’s highest individual honour in 2005, the year he first featured in back-to-back grand finals against Sydney- securing a premiership medal in the Eagles’ 2006 victory.

“I look back and that whole experience, those two years, I consider myself very fortunate,” he said.

“The home and away season was more than just what was happening with us and Sydney but as it turned out, we had a great rivalry with Sydney, we matched up very well and the games were just epic.

“Looking back on reflection I think Sydney having won one and us having won one is probably a pretty fair result.

Ben Cousins after the 2006 premiership.
Camera IconBen Cousins after the 2006 premiership. Credit: GSP Images/AFL Photos/GSP

“Quite easily, Sydney or (the Eagles) could have snuck away with winning two, which I think probably would have changed the way that I look back and reflect on it.”

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