Bryan Cousins has shared an insight into his post-football life as a horse trainer on a secluded Western Australia farm, as well as providing an update on son Ben Cousins' health, in an emotional feature for sports-betting company Ladbrokes.
Cousins, the father of Brownlow medallist, Ben, plied his trade for the Cats for five seasons between 1975 and 1979, before embarking on a fulfilling horse-training venture with Harness Racing that has netted a Group 1 winner.
Ben Cousins, who faced a well-documented battle with substance abuse and drug addiction during and after his 238-game AFL career, has since been placed on a path back toward finding his best health.
His father's farm, located a stone's throw south of Perth, has become something of a "sanctuary" for Bryan, a former VFL and WAFL veteran.
"During Ben's issues, the farm did become a sanctuary for me, it was probably the one place that I could just get away from things," Cousins said.
"Horses do respond to people and they love to be with you ... The farm probably helped me through the toughest of times.
"I've had so many people come up to me and say 'it must have been so tough on you', which it was, but it was far tougher on [Ben] than anybody else."
Asked if Ben is in a better place now, Cousins provided an update on his son's recovery and offered support for other sufferers of addiction.
"Yes, [Ben] has worked hard and it's been a really tough journey for him," he said, beginning to tear up.
"But, whenever I see a person that is suffering from addiction, I offer them support, and you talk to them [about] how proud people would be of them recovering, because it's extremely tough, yeah."
Ben Cousins has recently held a role with 7 News Perth and partnered with clothing line StreetX.