ONCE one of the AFL’s biggest stars, Ben Cousins has told a journalist he’s couch surfing with friends after his latest appearance in Armadale Magistrate’s Court.
On Thursday the 2005 Brownlow Medallist and 2006 West Coast premiership player was given a $600 fine and released on bail for breaching a violence restraining order brought by former partner and mother of his two children Maylea Tinecheff.
As he was leaving the court Cousins told the waiting media pack he considered himself to be “really lucky” to be granted bail, having previously admitted he expected to spend Christmas in jail.
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News Corp reports that Cousins further detailed his troubles when one of their journalists offered him a lift after the taxi driver who came to collect the 35-year-old saw the media scrum and fled.
“It’s hard to know where to go to,” he reportedly told the News Corp journalist as he decided on a destination.
“I am living out of a backpack at the moment.
“I move between three mates’ houses, spend time on different couches. There’s a lady I knock around with these days who I stay with, otherwise I just move on to another place.”
Cousins’ battle with drug addiction has been well documented and seen him face court several times in recent years.
He is due in court again for two separate matters next week.