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Cousins could assume TV host role

By Mr Dandalooa

Speculation is mounting that retiring AFL footballer Ben Cousins could assume a role in television in his life after footy.

According to a Channel Seven source the network executives are keen to recruit the troubled recovering drug addict, possibly to host The Amazing Race, alongside Daniel MacPherson, Tom Williams and Luke Jacobz.

As Cousins’ Such is Life: The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins documentary goes to air tonight, in which he speaks frankly about his drug addiction ahead, many close to the one-time AFL star reckon he could pretty much do anything he wants after football.

But football insiders have told FootyGoss it is unlikely he would be offered an official role in the AFL or that in the media.

Media reports say Cousins has been short-listed for The Amazing Race role after an in-house screening of his documentary was well received by Seven Network execs.

Cousins is yet to be signed to the Seven Network, or any for that matter, but the 32-year-old has the goods for a TV role.

The public reaction of tonight’s airing of the documentary, at 8.30pm on Channel 7, could very well determine Cousins’ future.

In the doco, Cousins reveals he first experimented with hard drugs at 17 and that because he was able to see early on-field success he believed he could balance drug-taking and football.

As the first scenes from the controversial documentary emerged on August 11, the true nature of Cousins’ addiction became apparent.

In the film there are scenes of the retiring Richmond player dancing shirtless while clutching a glass of red wine; of the former star crying while under the influence drugs; and a very compelling scene where he looks to the camera and says: “My name is Ben Cousins. I’m a drug addict.”

Cousins father Bryan has opened up about son, but in recent media interviews apparently harnesses bitter disappointment about how drugs ultimately killed his promising AFL career.

The AFL has confirmed Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou has viewed the documentary but has not publicly commented on its content.

Richmond has also watched the film.

The Tigers threw him a lifeline and he has played at Punt Road for the past two seasons.

But even that wasn’t enough to sway Cousins into the straight and narrow.

A sleeping pill overdose saw Cousins hospitalised recently and the club accepted it was accidental and he only missed one AFL match.

Seven’s Melbourne chief Lewis Martin said the doco was very confronting. But that could have a positive affect on the public’s reaction, which is likely to determine Cousins’ future career.

“To me it’s about a very courageous family - and about a father and his son. It’s very raw,” he said.

Dumped Bulldog, loud mouth homophobe Jason Akermanis said Cousins’ addiction has brought into question the effectiveness of the AFL’s drug code.

Akermanis said if he’s taken these illegal substances and we can see that on tape now, what else was he doing, what else was he getting hold of?”.

The Australian Drug Foundation supports the doco, with a spokesperson telling FootyGoss he hoped the film would send a serious warning to young people and even current AFL players.

The spokesperson hoped the film did not glamorise drug taking because of the new level of celebrity status Cousins has received as a result of the doco’s build-up.

Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre director Professor Dan Lubman, who contributed to the documentary which took two years to make, said the compelling film could break down the stigma of drug addiction and convince others to seek help.

But as Australian Family Association spokesman Tim Cannon said Channel 7 has taken on a huge responsibility, no bigger responsibility was taken on by Cousins himself for laying it all on the line for all to see, warts and all.

And kudos to him too!