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Former AFL star Ben Cousins assaulted in jail: report

Fallen AFL star Ben Cousins has reportedly been set upon by other inmates at a Western Australian jail for refusing to take part in a football match.

The 38-year-old former West Coast Eagles captain was allegedly assaulted by a group of men inside the jail in Perth after he said he would not join in the game, the Nine Network's Footy Show said on Thursday night.

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But a lawyer for Cousins - who is serving a one-year prison sentence after repeatedly breaching a violence restraining order - said he was not assaulted for refusing to play.

Cousins made a brief appearance in Fremantle Magistrates Court on Friday during which a possess methamphetamine charge was dropped by police.

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Outside court his lawyer Michael Tudori said his client was "doing fine" in prison.

Mr Tudori said Cousins had been involved in a minor altercation in prison but it was nothing to do with football.

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"Ben's been fine, he's getting fit, he's exercising," Mr Tudori said.

"Last I heard...he was assaulted as a result of not playing football, that is completely untrue.

​"There was a minor altercation, but nothing serious."

Cousins was jailed in March and fined $2400 over an aggravated stalking charge, seven breaches of a violence restraining order, two drug related charges and no authority to drive.

The aggravated stalking related to Cousins "bombarding" his former partner Maylea Tinecheff with thousands phone calls and texts since October, contacting her on one occasion 103 times in one day.

When handing down the sentence, Magistrate Richard Huston described the stalking - which related to the multiple times Cousins breached the violence restraining order taken out by Ms Tinecheff in May 2016 - as "persistent, sustained and intended".

Most of the VRO breach charges related to Cousins' attending his children's school and Sunday school.

"There needs to be a general deterrent for this sort of behaviour," Mr Huston said.

"It's incredibly disappointing for a person in your position, who can provide inspiration for others, to dabble in illicit drugs.

"It is a tale of despair and missed opportunity and a knock-on effect to those who love you and admire you."

Cousins had endured a long and public battle with drug addiction, with the court hearing Cousins had a serious two-gram-a-day methamphetamine habit.

AAP

Originally published on The Age as Former AFL star Ben Cousins assaulted in jail: report.