Brownlow Medallist Ben Cousins Resigns from West Coast Eagles Captaincy

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The World Today - Brownlow Medallist Ben Cousins resigns from West Coast Eagles captaincy

The World Today - Tuesday, 21 February , 2006 12:50:00

Reporter: David Weber

ELEANOR HALL: Last year, he was feted as the Australian Football League's Brownlow Medallist, the competition's best and fairest.

Now alcohol has brought the former West Coast Eagles' Ben Cousins back to Earth. The champion rover and fans' Player of the Year was forced to resign from his club's captaincy after he admitted he'd abandoned his car to avoid a police breath test.

As David Weber reports from Perth, this is the second time in less than a year that the AFL player has had a brush with the law.

DAVID WEBER: It was shortly after midnight on February the 12th when Cousins pulled up his car about 50 metres from a booze bus in suburban Perth.

Cousins got out and took off, leaving his passengers in the Mercedes four-wheel drive in the middle of the Canning Highway.

After several days of speculation, Ben Cousins made the announcement that everyone was expecting.

BEN COUSINS: After considering my position over the last few days, I've decided to stand down as captain of the West Coast Eagles Football Club. I understand that through a few errors of judgement I put enormous pressure and scrutiny on the footy club. I did not intend for this to happen.

DAVID WEBER: Cousins didn't say why the sight of a booze bus caused him to run away. He didn't say why it took him several days to go to the police. He did say he'd remain committed to the West Coast Eagles.

BEN COUSINS: I love this footy club, and I've treasured the opportunity to captain a great bunch of blokes and a great organisation. I do regret having to resign under these circumstances, but I do believe it's the best course of action for the footy club in moving forward.

DAVID WEBER: Ben Cousins wouldn't take questions from the media, just like the last time he was caught up with the law. In May last year, police had called on Cousins to answer questions about what he knew about a stabbing and shooting at a Perth nightclub.

This was the public statement Ben Cousins made back then:

BEN COUSINS: I am extremely disappointed with the public perception of my continued association with people who are regarded by others as underworld figures. I've obviously let a lot of people down.

DAVID WEBER: It was last year's incident that led to Cousins being put on notice. Eagles Chairman Dalton Gooding said Cousins had shown great courage during the latest controversy.

DALTON GOODING: Our club still holds Ben in very high regard, so he's probably one of our greatest players ever and will probably be our first 300-game player. So, Ben Cousins is still extremely highly regarded at this football club.

DAVID WEBER: Eagles Coach John Worsfold said the scrutiny on players like Ben Cousins tends to run one way. He's suggested the media should spend more time covering the good deeds of his players.

JOHN WORSFOLD: The countless hours that Ben has spent visiting sick children, personal requests to visit people he's never met, to visit hospitals, to spend time signing autographs is not covered, and as a role model in that regard, he'd be one of the outstanding members of the community.

DAVID WEBER: Police are still considering whether to charge Ben Cousins, but it's unlikely to be more than a traffic offence and a possible fine.

Police say they haven't got full cooperation from Cousins or the passengers in his car on the night in question.

The West Coast Eagles play the Fremantle Dockers in their pre-season match on Sunday.

ELEANOR HALL: David Weber in Perth with that report.