In a candid conversation on the Ball Magnets podcast with fellow Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell, former West Coast great Ben Cousins described how drug use developed alongside his football career, how his success reinforced habits he later came to see as harmful, and what he wishes he had done differently. The account comes from a PerthNow report by Jonathon Nolan, published on 3 October 2024. The full episode was not independently reviewed for this article, so the details and quotations below are Cousins’s words as PerthNow reported them.
What the interview covers
PerthNow describes an hour-long conversation that moved from Cousins’s 2006 premiership with West Coast, through his obsessive training methods, to addiction and the difficulties of life after elite football. The report frames the talk around two poles: the highs of that premiership and the lows that followed.
His football record gives the story its context. According to his biographical record, Cousins played for West Coast and Richmond, captained West Coast, won the 2005 Brownlow Medal and was part of the 2006 premiership side. The interview is worth reading for what he says about those years in hindsight, not for the honours themselves.
What Cousins said about addiction and life after football
The four statements PerthNow quotes from the conversation are the most useful guide to his account. Each is reported as his own words.
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Escape as a personal tendency
Cousins linked his drug use to his temperament rather than to football alone. In the words PerthNow attributes to him: “There were some things about my nature or personality that predisposed me to feeling like I need an escape or to get away.” He presents this as a description of himself, not as a general finding about professional sport.
How quickly it took hold
On the speed of the change, PerthNow quotes him saying: “It was taking something (drugs) and it happened basically overnight.” The line is one man’s recollection of his own experience. It should not be read as a measure of how addiction typically develops.
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A retrospective wish
Asked what he would change, Cousins said: “If I had my time over again, I would’ve liked to have just sat down with somebody with whom I could nut out a few possible alternative ways of getting the same release but more healthily,” PerthNow reports. This is a reflection on what he needed at the time. It is not treatment advice, and the report does not describe what support he did or did not receive.
Mitchell’s point about today
Replying to Mitchell, Cousins said: “With resources today, it should make it more apparent that there are other ways to go about it”. The remark suggests that current awareness of alternatives is greater than it was during his playing years. The report does not go further into what those resources are.
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Hearing the episode: what can and cannot be confirmed
PerthNow names the podcast and the guests and gives the running time, but it does not say where the episode is currently hosted. The table below separates what the report establishes from what it leaves open.
| Item | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Show and guests | Ball Magnets podcast; Ben Cousins in conversation with Tom Mitchell | PerthNow, 3 October 2024 |
| Running time | Described as an hour-long chat | PerthNow, 3 October 2024 |
| Current platform for this episode | Not stated | PerthNow, 3 October 2024 |
| Accuracy of quoted lines against the audio | Not checked for this article; attributed to PerthNow | PerthNow, 3 October 2024 |
| West Coast Eagles podcast routes | The club’s own Coast to Coast series is listed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube | West Coast Eagles official podcast page |
The last row describes a different show. The club’s listing does not confirm that the Ball Magnets episode is available on those services. To find the interview, search for the show name and Cousins’s name in your podcast app, then check the episode page for the release date and host before relying on it.
His autobiography
Readers who want more of his account can look to Ben Cousins: My Life Story, which is listed as published in November 2010. This article did not check current editions, formats or stock, so confirm the listing before buying.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reading the interview with care
The conversation deals with addiction and personal disclosure, and Cousins’s reflections are his own. They do not establish a general link between professional sport and addiction, and they are not medical guidance. If the interview raises concerns for you or someone close to you, a GP or a local addiction support service can offer assessment and options that a podcast cannot.
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