Ben Cousins has been released from prison just shy of completing his one year sentence for stalking his ex-partner.
The former West Coast Eagles captain was collected from Acacia Prison by his father Bryan on Wednesday morning and returned to the family's Bicton home.
![Former Eagle Ben Cousins has been released from jail. (File photo)](http://web.archive.org./web/20180212185438im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/a/g/8/u/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.h0g5hn.png/1515570794354.jpg)
The Eagles provided a statement later in the day confirming the club had offered Cousins a part-time job in its community and game development department.
"The West Coast Eagles is pleased with the news that former captain Ben Cousins has been released from prison today," the statement read.
"This has been a particularly hard time for Ben and his family and we look forward to him beginning the next phase of his life."
The 39-year-old was sentenced to 12 months jail in March and fined $2400 for stalking and repeated breaches of a violence restraining order against his ex-partner, Maylea Tinecheff, and two drug related charges.
The Prisoners Review Board decided to release Cousins on January 8, stating his prison conduct had improved and that his release "would not present an unacceptable risk to the safety of the community".
As part of his parole conditions, Cousins must participate in voluntary programs and ongoing psychological counselling.
![Ben Cousins is back working at the Eagles.](http://web.archive.org./web/20180212185438im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/h/0/g/g/h/r/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.h0g5hn.png/1515570794354.jpg)
He must have no direct or indirect contact with Ms Tinecheff, and will be subject to random urine tests for illicit substances.
Prison documents confirmed Cousins had also secured employment and suitable accommodation, and had the support of his family and friends.
In September while Cousins was behind bars, his lawyer Michael Tudori told a court the former footballer had "taken and embraced" a job offer from his old employer, but would not elaborate on the comment further.
During his March sentencing, the court heard Cousins hadn't had regular employment since shortly after his playing career ended in 2010.
Mr Tudori said the former Brownlow Medallist had "hit rock bottom" in relation to his addiction, and wanted to seek help so he could continue to see his two young children.
At the time he confessed to having a two-gram-a-day methamphetamine habit.
Cousins failed a drug test while in prison, delaying an earlier opportunity for parole.
He was reportedly smiling as he returned to his family's home on Wednesday morning.
The West Coast Eagles have been contacted for comment.
Ben Cousins: a descent into drug addiction
1996: A 17-year-old Ben Cousins debuts for the West Coast Eagles, kicking two goals in his first game. He goes on to win the AFL's Rising Star award that same year.
1997 – 2006: Cousins is awarded almost every honour during his playing career at the Eagles including a Brownlow Medal in 2005, an AFL premiership the following year, captaincy of the West Coast Eagles from 2001 to 2005 and six All-Australian jumpers.
May 2005: Cousins and teammate Michael Gardiner are interviewed by police after a shootout at a Perth nightclub allegedly involving bikie gangs and John Kizon. No charges are laid against the pair.
September 2005: Cousins wins the Brownlow Medal.
February 2006: Cousins abandons his car near a Perth booze bus with his then-girlfriend in the passenger's seat. He runs and then swims across the Swan River to avoid police. Two weeks later, he relinquishes his captaincy at West Coast.
September 2006: Although no longer captain, Cousins stars in the Eagles' thrilling one-point win against Sydney in the 2006 grand final and is still considered by many the "spiritual leader" of the club.
December 2006: Cousins is arrested after being found asleep outside Crown Casino in Melbourne.
March 2007: Cousins misses a training session and is suspended by West Coast for the first 15 rounds of the season. Rumours of his drug addiction begin to swirl in the media.
April 2007: Cousins flies to the United States and spends a month at an expensive drug rehabilitation centre. He returns to the club and apologises for his conduct. In his come-back match, Cousins has 38 touches in a blistering performance against Sydney.
October 2007: One of Cousins' closest friends and former West Coast star, Chris Mainwaring, dies at his Cottesloe home after overdosing on cocaine. Cousins was with him hours before he died.
October 2007: Six months after leaving rehab, a shirtless Cousins is arrested on the side of the road for alleged drug possession after police search his vehicle. A photo of Cousins with his 'Such is Life' tattoo inked across his torso is splashed across the media. The charges against him are eventually dropped.
November 2007: Cousins is suspended from the AFL for 12 months after being found guilty bringing the game into disrepute and again checks into a U.S based rehabilitation clinic. The league encourages Cousins to address his drug addiction.
October 2008: One of the conditions of Cousins returning to the AFL is that he passes a hair sample test designed to detect if he has taken illicit drugs in the past three months. Cousins shaves his head and waxes his body before the test, and passes.
2009: Following his suspension, the league re-registers Cousins and Richmond offers him a football lifeline, recruiting him to the east after he was passed over during the national draft. He plays for the Tigers for two seasons before retiring from football. He played 270 games during his 15-year playing career.
2010: Cousins releases a two-part documentary into his life titled, Such is Life, and his autobiography Ben Cousins: My Life Story – both providing a candid insight into his personal life, drug addiction and recovery.
2011: Cousins has his first child, Bobby, with his then-partner Maylea Tinecheff.
January 2012: Cousins is again undergoing rehabilitation for his drug addiction issues and is committed to a suburban mental health unit after suffering a drug-induced psychosis.
March 2012: Cousins goes into hiding after being caught by police at an airport trying to smuggle 4.65 grams of methamphetamine, hidden in his anus, into an Esperance-based rehabilitation facility.
April 2012: Cousins is pulled over by police in North Beach and arrested after they discover cannabis and a meth pipe in his car. He pleads guilty and is fined less than $1000 for the March and April incidents.
June 2013: Cousins and his then-partner Ms Tinecheff welcome their second child, a daughter.
March 2015: Cousins leads police on a nine kilometre 'slow speed chase' through the streets of Perth and is charged with three driving-related offences. He later pleads guilty and is fined $2679.
March 2015: Cousins scales two fences at the headquarters of Australia's elite SAS regiment in Swanbourne and is taken to hospital for a mental health assessment.
March 2015: Cousins is detained by police after driving erratically and then scaling roofs in Canning Vale to avoid police. He later pleads guilty and is fined $800 for trespassing and property damage.
Mid-2015: Cousins moves to Collie to take up a fencing job.
May 2016: Cousins' former partner Ms Tinecheff takes out a violence restraining order against him.
June 2016: Cousins is discharged from hospital after being found by police 'directing traffic' on Canning Highway while in a dazed state. He misses the Eagles' 10 year anniversary for its 2006 Premiership which took place the same week.
October 2016: Cousins is arrested in Canning Vale house and charged with breaching a violence restraining order and drug possession.
November 2016: Cousins is involved in a late night car crash with a truck hours after failing to attend an Armadale court hearing in relation to his October charges. He had earlier told the court, through his lawyer, he was unwell. Police charge him with possessing methamphetamine and breaching bail while Cousins is in hospital recovering from minor injuries.
December 2016: Cousins avoids jail and is fined $600 and then $2000 for breaches of the VRO taken out by his former partner and drug charges. The court hears Cousins is seeking counselling to try and beat his drug habit and has no permanent home.
February 2017: Cousins is arrested again, this time for aggravated stalking, breaching his VRO and drug possession. Most of the charges relate to Cousins trying to see his two young children, his lawyer says. His bail is denied and he goes on to spend more than a month behind bars.
March 2017: Cousins pleads guilty to 11 charges and is due to be sentenced in the Perth Magistrates Court on March 28. His lawyer pushes for Cousins to be able to complete a residential rehabilitation program, with the fallen star "happy and willing" to seek treatment. He is sentenced to 12 months jail, eligible for parole after six months.
August 2017: Cousins fails a drug test in prison and is denied parole.
January 2018: Cousins is released from prison.
If you or someone you know requires help and support for alcohol or drug use the Alcohol and Drug Support Line is a confidential, non-judgemental telephone counselling, information and referral service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 08 9442 5000 or 1800 198 024 (country callers).