Wayne Carey reveals why Ben Cousins’ drug scandals should not keep him out of the AFL Hall of Fame

Wayne Carey had a scandal-riddled footy career and was still inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame – and now he is calling for the sins of Ben Cousins’ past to be forgiven and the former West Coast champion to be honoured.

The AFL will induct new members into the Hall this year after a two-year gap because of the Covid pandemic. 

Cousins’ ability on the football field was undeniable, winning the Brownlow Medal in 2005 and a premiership with the Eagles in 2006.

However, his descent into drug use including being arrested for possession, delisted by the Eagles and copping a 12-month AFL ban have left many questioning whether he should be given admission to that very exclusive club.

Cousins has been eligible for a decade, but his drug issues have discounted him from the honour as the committee considers candidates on the basis of record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship and character.

Cousins was unstoppable at the peak of his powers as he was named a six-time All Australian 

The West Coast great poses with his father Bryan Cousins after being announced as the winner of the 2005 Brownlow Medal

However Cousins is now clean and sober, working as a sports newsreader with Channel 7 and reclaiming his life – something Carey never thought he would see. 

‘Ben’s recovery is quite remarkable,’ Carey said on his The Truth Hurts podcast.

‘I never thought, given the length of time that he’s gone through (with) these battles, I never thought he would get out the other end.

‘And he actually has. He deserves a big pat on the back.

‘I love the fact that he’s back in mainstream and the fact that Channel 7 have backed him in, I think it’s fantastic.

‘Should he be inducted into the Hall of Fame? One hundred per cent.

‘It is a football award, he is a superstar, Brownlow Medalist, I don’t know how many best and fairests, I think six All-Australians, we’re talking about one of the greats, one of the best footballers of all time.’

When you search for Ben Cousins in social media, you are confronted with waves of messages of congratulations and support.

However a small element continues to lash Cousins for his past and demand he not be considered for the Hall of Fame because of his drug use.

‘Given what is now common knowledge, most of his so called football awards were won during their drug fuelled years at WC. All their Premierships and individual awards should be brought in to question,’ one fan posted.

‘Don’t encourage young players to become famous for using drugs,’ posted another.

‘Sorry Ben too much problems with drugs etc for my vote . But I wish you well,’ added another.

Cousins in the middle of his drug and alcohol fuelled days that cost him his AFL career before he cleaned himself up

Cousins leaves Armadale Magistrates Court in Perth after facing charges of breaching a violence restraining order 

The 44-year-old is clean and sober, looking healthy and revelling in his new role as a sports newsreader with Channel 7 

Carey lashed those ‘keyboard warriors’ for being negative and not understanding what Cousins had gone through to turn his life around.  

‘There’s been a lot of fanfare, a lot of comments around whether he should be on TV, he’s made some mistakes, why should he be given another chance and all that sort of stuff,’ he said.

‘I mean, for people to sit back and not have walked in Ben Cousin’s shoes, and that’s all these people are who make negative comments, clearly probably never done anything in their lives but very capable of punching a few letters into a keyboard.

‘That’s generally the negative people.

‘I think it’s fantastic that he’s back doing what he is doing, showing great courage. If anything he should be rewarded with the Hall of Fame just off the back of what he has done in his private life.

‘Not that it’s a personal award, for all of those that think he’s got to be held back because of the issues off ground, this is a football award.’

Carey turned to a career in the media after he retired and has his own podcast titled The Truth Hurts

Carey appears on a dating show in his playing days. He would later be sacked by North Melbourne over an extramarital affair with teammate Anthony Stevens’ wife

Carey has a chequered past of his own, being caught out in an extramarital affair with North Melbourne stalwart and Vice Captain Anthony Stevens’s wife Kelli in 2002. That led to him missing the 2002 AFL season and transferring to the Adelaide Crows for 2003.

His private life became even more turbulent after he retired and Carey has admitted to alcohol and drug abuse, in addition to glassing ex-girlfriend Kate Neilson in America in 2007.

His induction into the AFL Hall of Fame was postponed until 2010 due to his off-field struggles, despite being eligible for induction in 2008.

Now he wants the committee to recognise Cousins for his football ability. 

‘The only reason we know why what Ben Cousins has done off the ground is because of the new world that we live in, social media and obviously the saturation of media around our game,’ he said.

‘There’s plenty of footballers in the Hall of Fame that have done lots of things and if people knew about [them], they might say should they have been in the Hall of Fame?

‘And you can’t go back and [remove them].’