Troubled ex-footy champ Ben Cousins was all smiles as he posed for photos with fans at an AFL meet and greet - and says he has good reason to be beaming.
The ex-champ, 43, opened up in a rare public appearance last week about how he has finally reached a 'happy place' in life - admitting the public has treated him 'better than I deserved'.
The former footy star signed autographs and chatted to fans at a pre Grand Final event at The Camfield Hotel in Perth on Friday, before taking questions from Triple M's Rush Hour team on his life as an athlete and what came after.
'I'm sort of back working and in a good routine, a happy place. So, life's good,' he told hosts Lachy and Embers on Friday.
'I've considered myself very fortunate for a long time now that the WA public have been very good to me, probably better than I probably thought I deserved at times.'
Ben Cousins was all smiles as he posed for photos with fans at an AFL meet and greet just days after returning to the spotlight with his new girlfriend
Cousins attended The Camfield pub on Friday for an event in the lead up to the AFL Grand Final where he stopped to take photos with fans
Cousins is seen signing the jersey of his former team the West Coast Eagles
Cousins last week attended the 2021 Brownlow Medal for the first time since 2010, making an appearance on the red carpet last Sunday night with his new partner, FIFO worker Kelley Fergus.
The former West Coast Eagles star is slowly rebuilding his life after his highly publicised fall from grace which saw him spend time in jail including seven months behind bars in 2020.
The 43-year-old's comeback has been well received among the football community and Western Australia despite his less honourable moments being broadcast on the media.
Cousins played 238 games and booted 205 goals for the West Coast Eagles, where he won a premiership with the club in 2006.
'A lot's happened over the years, a lot of good things have happened but there's been some not so good things too,' he said on Friday.
'So I'm just grateful to be in a position where I am today and people are pretty receptive.'
Cousins spoke to Triple M's Rush Hour hosts about his life playing football and what came after
The 2005 Brownlow Medallist is seen shaking hands with a football fan ahead of the Grand Final on Saturday
Cousins has been welcomed back into the football community following his fall from grace
The 43-year-old said the public support has been 'better than I probably deserved'
Looking back on his career, Cousins admitted it was hard to live without the adrenaline rush he felt playing high level football after he stepped away from the game.
'You don't realise how lucky you are until you retire and you've got to sort of replace it with something,' he said.
'You'll never find something to manufacture that same feeling and the adrenaline, and the contest, I just loved it.'
In the lead up to Melbourne's sensational win over the Western Bulldogs, Cousins was seen promoting a T-shirt line inspired by his own incredible comeback.
Streetwear brand StreetX created the collection, dubbed the 'Prince of Perth' range.
The limited line contained three branded Ben Cousins tees, and was only available for three days.
In the wake of Cousins' stunning return to the spotlight, Fox Sports Australia presenter Tara Rushton said the footy star's checkered past shouldn't be forgotten.
'I guess the thing that's really interesting is it ended up being one of the biggest headlines from the night, that Ben Cousins walked the red carpet,' she said on an episode of The Back Page on Tuesday night.
Rushton said it was encouraging to see the father-of-two get back on the straight and narrow after a prolonged battle with drug abuse and 'mental demons'.
'I just worry sometimes that we can romanticise the return and
