Ben Cousins looked happy and healthy as he made a triumphant return to the red carpet at the Brownlow Medal on Monday night.
The once troubled athlete, 45, looked like a dapper gentleman as he posed on the red carpet with his sister Melanie.
Melanie turned heads in a beaded silver dress that clung to her sensational figure.
She completed the look with a simple clutch and boosted her height with a low-key pair of strappy heels.
The stunning brunette wore her hair down for the high-profile event and highlighted her features with a warm makeup palette.
Ben Cousins looked happy and healthy as he made a triumphant return to the red carpet at the Brownlow Medal on Monday night.
The once troubled athlete, 45, looked like a dapper gentleman as he posed on the red carpet with a stunning mystery brunette. Both in photo
Once one of the code’s biggest stars, Ben was jailed six times in the space of 13 years for a string of serious offenses.
Ben finally realized enough was enough when he was released from prison in December 2020 following a seven-month stint behind bars when he was found guilty of stalking and intimidating his former partner.
Nearly three years later, Cousins, 45, has never been in trouble.
Ben’s path to redemption was sealed earlier this year when he landed a full-time job at Seven News in Perth presenting the morning sports bulletin.
Cousins said he felt alive again in his first sitting interview in years before attending this year’s Brownlow Medal.
This will be the first time that the 2005 winner has attended the awards ceremony in Melbourne.
The former West Coast Eagles star admitted he wasn’t ready to work full time after his longest stint behind bars.
He teamed up with a community football club, Queens Park, with which he had no prior involvement.
What started as several off-season workouts over the summer turned into a few months in front of 1,000 fans.
“I know I’m coming a long way, but I needed to feel like I was making a contribution,” Cousins told The Australian.
Once one of the code’s biggest stars, Ben was jailed six times in the space of 13 years for a string of serious offenses.
“I was out of my comfort zone and meeting new people. It was football for me that was a constant. I like to get a kick out of it and that’s what got me involved in the community again. This played a very important role in my recovery.
“I felt like I was able to work full time and it was just a really good lesson and a reminder for me, for everyone, of the important role that local football clubs and the community play in life people.”
Cousins acknowledged that he had been given more than his fair share of chances to turn his life around.
Cousins spent six stints in prison over the course of 13 years. He is pictured at Fremantle Magistrates Court.
“I was given a third, fourth and fifth for some reason. But it’s what we have to do. I want to make sure that other people in this kind of situation have the same understanding and support as I did throughout my journey,” he added.
Cousins regularly sees his son Bobby, 11, and daughter Angelique, 9 and now prefers reading a good book before bed rather than going out all night to party until all hours.
Seven News colleagues believe his children are the reason Cousins will not reoffend.
Cousins revealed he was “learning every day” after making his debut as a Seven News sports presenter in June.
‘It was funny. A journey, but I’m learning every day,” said Cousins, who was already contributing to Seven’s AFL coverage as an analyst.
“I can tell you that as the words go by, it’s harder than it looks.”
Ben Cousins (left) celebrates with teammate Chris Judd after the West Coast Eagles won an AFL grand final in 2006.
