- Ben Cousins says he “totally understands” the decision not to bring him in
- He was eligible for admission five years after his retirement in 2010.
- Cousins unlikely to be inducted into HOF anytime soon
Ben Cousins has responded to the news that he will not be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame anytime soon, stating that he “totally understands” the committee’s decision.
The West Coast and All Australian premiership winner certainly has the playing credentials to achieve the league’s highest honour, but his well-documented battles with alcohol, drugs and his criminal past have held him back to date. .
That includes a conviction for stalking his ex-partner, which led to him spending seven months in prison in 2020.
Cousins has turned his life around in recent years, looking healthy, clean and sober, and landing a new job as a television news presenter in his hometown of Perth.
He is also expected to appear on Seven’s Dancing with the Stars.
AFL great Ben Cousins says he “completely understands” why he won’t be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame anytime soon.
The West Coast Eagles premiership winner would be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame but has been held back due to his off-field actions.
Those efforts have had no bearing on the AFL, however, as Cousins is ruled out for 2024 signings and reportedly won’t be considered for several more years.
On Wednesday morning, Cousins said Pete and Kymba from Mix94.5 for breakfast who does not wait to be named.
“I don’t find myself thinking about this, you know, really ever,” he said.
‘It’s an honor that, um, is hard to come by and, you know…
“There have been so many great players over the years that I wouldn’t envy the job of trying to bring in just a few each year.
‘I totally understand your decision.
“I, like everyone else, will sit there and look forward to celebrating whoever arrives this year.”
‘That’s the way it is.’
Ben Cousins had many troubled years during and after his playing career, but he has cleaned up and is a picture of health in 2024.
Cousins says he’ll be watching Hall of Fame induction anyway
Members are chosen in part based on their character, and the hall of fame has updated its rules to allow for the removal or suspension of members, a decision sparked by the civil court conviction of Barry Cable for child sexual abuse.
However, despite the AFL’s recent actions to address violence against women, including a moment of silence and participants linking arms, The Age has reported that Cousins was not considered for entry into the hall of fame even before these events.
The process of how the AFL makes these decisions is kept confidential.
It comes after the AFL announced that Cousins’ off-field scandals had not excluded him from the Hall of Fame in April.
“I will say it’s a pleasure to see Ben in the form he’s in now, and I’ve seen him quite a bit out west,” AFL commission chairman Richard Goyder said at the time.
“I think (Cousins’ recovery) is fantastic…what I would say with the Hall of Fame, and it’s almost my precursor to our committee discussions every year, is that it’s not about who’s in it, but who doesn’t.
“It’s an incredibly high bar to be a Hall of Famer in the AFL, and it’s an even higher bar to be a Legend, so we’ll look at those things in due time.”