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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