Former AFL bad boy Ben Cousins has recalled the moment his turbulent life turned around.
Once the biggest stars of the code, the former premiership and Brownlow Medal winner was jailed on six separate occasions in the space of 13 years for a string of serious offences.
He finally realised enough was enough when he was released from prison in December 2020 following a seven month stint behind bars when he was found guilty of stalking and intimidating his former partner.
Almost three years on, Cousins, 45, has remained out of trouble ever since.
He returned to playing park football, re-established good relationships with his two young children and within a year was back on the red carpet attending AFL functions.
His road to redemption was sealed earlier this year when he scored a full-time job with Seven News in Perth presenting the morning sports bulletin.
Cousins says he feels alive again in his first sit-down interview in years ahead of attending the Brownlow Medal on Monday night.
Ben Cousins (pictured with Kelley Fergus in 2021) has turned his life around since he was last released from jail almost three years ago
It will the first time the 2005 winner will attend the awards night in Melbourne.
The former West Coast Eagles star admits he wasn't ready for full-time work following his most stint behind bars.
He teamed up with a community football club Queens Park, which had no prior involvement with.
What started off as a several training sessions in the off-season over the summer turned into playing in front of 1000 fans within months.
'I know I'm starting from a long way back but I needed to feel like I was making a contribution,' Cousins told The Australian.
'I was out of my comfort zone and getting to meet new people. It was football for me that was a constant. I enjoy having a kick and it was that which got me back involved in the community. It played a really important part in my recovery.'
'I felt I was in a position to take on full-time work and that was just a really great lesson and reminder for me, of all people, of the important roles that local footy clubs and having a community plays in people's lives.
Ben Cousins reads the morning sports bulletin for Seven News Perth on weekdays
Cousins spent six stints in jail in the space of 13 years, He's pictured at at the Fremantle Magistrates Court
Cousins acknowledged he's been given more than his fair share of chances to turn his life around.
'I've been given a third, fourth and fifth for whatever reason. But that's what it's taken. I want to make sure that other people in that sort of position are going to get the same understanding I do and the same help along the way I did,' he added.
Cousins regularly sees his son Bobby, 11, and daughter Angelique, 9 and now prefers a good book before bed to being out all night partying until all hours.
Seven News colleagues believe his kids are the reason why Cousins won't reoffend.
Cousins revealed he is 'learning every day' after making his debut as a Seven News sports presenter in June.
'It’s been fun. A journey, but I’m learning every day,' Cousins, who was already contributing to Seven's AFL coverage as analyst said at the time.
'I can tell you, as the words scroll through, it’s harder than it looks.'
Ben Cousins (left) celebrates with teammate Chris Judd after the West Coast Eagles won a AFL grand final thriller in 2006
