AFL world responds after news about Ben Cousins and Daisy Pearce comes to light
AFL fans are still heavily divided over what role Ben Cousins should be playing in the game after Channel 7 revealed this week he'll be commentating on games in Western Australia this season. The former Brownlow Medallist will join the free-to-air network's commentary team for Eagles and Dockers games in 2025, and will be joined by Daisy Pearce.
Cousins and Pearce will work alongside former West Coast player Mark LeCras and ex-Dockers skipper Shaun McManus, as Seven looks to provide WA viewers with a more local commentary team. The new-look team will call Sunday games at Optus Stadium involving the Eagles or Freo, including the Western derby in Round 3.
'WA footy fans will finally hear the voices they know and trust with a parochial call on the teams we love so much," said Seven West Media's WA chief executive Maryna Fewster. 'This is a game-changer for fans, who can enjoy Perth games, called in Perth.'
Pearce had to scale back her commitments with Seven after taking on the West Coast AFLW coaching role in 2023. But she'll be back behind the microphone at various stages in 2025.
As for Cousins, his foray into commentary comes amid his rehabilitation and attempt to get his life back on track. The 46-year-old has turned his life around in recent years after a well-documented drug addiction that saw him spiral out of control and spend time behind bars.
Cousins played 238 games for West Coast, but his off-field troubles cost him the club captaincy in early 2006. After a Brownlow Medal in 2005 and a premiership in 2006, Cousins was sacked by the club after the 2007 season. He returned to the AFL in 2009 to play 32 games for Richmond before he retired at the end of 2010.
He's had multiple run-ins with the law since his playing days ended and was jailed at one point, although he's been on the straight-and-narrow for a number of years. He's been working with 7News for their 6pm bulletin, and appears much healthier and happier than he was at times in the past.
Some AFL fans are happy to see Cousins get his life back on track, but many more don't think his past indiscretions can be forgotten. Opinion was heavily divided on social media when his new commentary gig with Channel 7 was announced.
Once again screaming into the void about Western Australia and Channel 7 giving Ben Cousins airtime. I'm all for someone turning their life around, but for a known DV Offender I think it's for the best that they do it out of the public eye. https://t.co/U5jPoSSO4D
— CassandraDaly (@cassvag) March 6, 2025
Tellingly, the AFL have stated they won't be indicting him into the Hall of Fame anytime soon. The West Coast Eagles champion has been eligible for the Hall since 2013, but has consistently been overlooked due to his chequered past.
Typically, players who have found themselves embroiled in off-field controversy after their AFL careers are made to wait before their induction. Gary Ablett Sr - another controversial figure in the footy world - had to wait several years before he was finally inducted in 2005.
Wayne Carey was recently blocked by the AFL from receiving legend status at the NSW Football Hall of Fame ceremony. His planned induction was set to take place on the same weekend the AFL honoured victims of gender-based violence, and the league vetoed his induction. Carey was overlooked twice before being inducted into the AFL Hall in 2010.
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Speaking last year, Cousins responded after it emerged the AFL hadn't serious considered him for the Hall. 'I totally understand their decision," he said. "I, like everybody else, will sit there and be looking forward to celebrate whoever gets in this year.
"That's just the way it is. I'm sure there's a number of things that come into play when making those tough decisions. I wouldn't like to be in their shoes and yeah, there's no, no ill will or animosity from my end."
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Los Angeles Times
8 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Russia launches another large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine, killing 3 and wounding 13
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USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Eagles could dominate with lighter Saquon Barkley load and more strategy
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
DeMarcus Cousins has drinks thrown at him, tries to fight fans after wild ejection in Puerto Rico basketball league
DeMarcus Cousins hasn't played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) Former Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins came extremely close to re-creating the "Malice at the Palace" on Monday. Cousins tried to fight fans after a wild ejection during a Puerto Rico basketball league game. The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of the contest. Cousins — a member of the Guaynabo Mets — appeared to get into a verbal altercation with a fan on the side of the court. Cousins grabbed his crotch in front of the fan, who responded by flipping off Cousins. The center then touched the man multiple times before teammates stepped in. Cousins was ejected from the contest, but the incident wasn't over. As Cousins was being led back through the tunnel, he took a swipe at an angry fan and stuck up his middle finger at the crowd. At that point, multiple fans threw drinks at Cousins, who then attempted to go after the fans. Cousins was held back by multiple security members, who prevented what could have been a much nastier incident. Cousins, 34, hasn't played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season. A former first-round pick, Cousins emerged as a future superstar early in his career before injuries slowed him. Advertisement Since leaving the NBA, Cousins has continued his professional basketball career in various leagues around the world. He initially joined the Guaynabo Mets in 2023, but he also played in Taiwan and Mongolia before re-joining the Mets for the 2025 season. It's unclear whether Cousins will continue playing for the Mets following Monday's ejection and near-fight, which drew comparisons to the "Malice at the Palace." During an NBA game in 2004, Metta World Peace — then known as Ron Artest — went into the stands and fought fans at The Palace at Auburn Hills, where the Detroit Pistons used to play. Multiple players got involved in the scuffle, leading to multiple suspensions and charges from law enforcement. The Cousins incident didn't rise to that level Monday, but it's tough to see him getting another shot in the league considering how bad the situation looked.
