Grand Final eve ... fallen West Coast Eagles star Ben Cousins has spoken publicly about his battle with addiction and his desire to return to AFL. Parade | Herald Sun |FOX SPORTS |
Cousins admits he has an addictive personality
Addictive personality "taken away my livelihood`
Stayed quiet for fear of jeopardising AFL future
FALLEN West Coast Eagles star Ben Cousins has spoken publicly about his battle with addiction and his desire to return to AFL football.
Interviewed by Garry Lyon in front of 1500 people at a Grand Final week lunch, Cousins talked openly about his battle with drugs, PerthNow reported.
"I have an addictive personality," Cousins said.
"It`s the very thing that has made me single minded. It`s made me train better than the next bloke, or harder than the next bloke, I have learned how to prepare myself.
"With that came the extremity of the way I balanced that out and that`s what got me into the predicament that I`m in now.
"It`s taken away my livelihood and a given me a hell of a lot of pressure, pain and strain on my family and the people who are close to me."
The former Eagles captain said he had not given interviews until now because he did not want to jeopardise his chances of playing in the AFL next year.
"The complexity of my issue is not something that is able to be explained in a quick, five-minute news interview or on the back page of the paper," he said.
"I have been really reluctant to come out and speak at the risk of being misinterpreted jeopardising the opportunity of playing footy, keeping the option open."
Grand Final eve ... fallen West Coast Eagles star Ben Cousins has spoken publicly about his battle with addiction and his desire to return to AFL. Parade | Herald Sun |FOX SPORTS |
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