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Ben Cousins is one of Australia’s most celebrated AFL players — but can the man dance?
That’s what fans will find out when the 2005 Brownlow Medal winner vies for the Mirrorball Trophy on this season of Dancing with the Stars, hosted by Sonia Kruger and Dr Chris Brown.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: First look at Dancing with the Stars 2024.
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The former West Coast Eagles 2006 premiership player-turned-7NEWS Sport presenter certainly still has the physique to get active on the dancefloor.
Now he wants to put his footwork to the test.
“I’ve always entertained the idea of going on the show, but never followed through,” Ben said ahead of the 2024 season of DWTS.
“It started to feel like one of those things that was never going to happen.
“This season came at a time when I’m looking to take on some new challenges and I thought this would be perfect.”
Ben, who will be dancing with Siobhan Power for Perth Telethon, said the key strength he’d be able to bring to the dancefloor was his ability to apply himself.
“When I take something on, I have hyper focus on it and throw everything I have into it, so that’s what I’ve been doing with dance training,” he said.
But letting go of the mechanical challenges of dancing and just enjoying the performance could be harder for him, he admitted.
It also won’t help that Ben has a few old injuries from his football playing days.
“I have a couple of discs in my back that will probably be fused down the track, which means I don’t run long distances and I don’t put weight on my back,” Ben explained.
“I don’t know how my back or my body will respond after doing eight or nine hours on the dancefloor in consecutive days.
“It has me a little worried.”
Physical concerns aside, though, Ben said he had been absolutely loving Dancing with the Stars rehearsals.
“I’m loving it, even the long days,” he said.
“The rehearsals are going so quickly, which is just another sign that I’m having a great time.
“I’ve got an amazing dance partner in Siobhan and we get along well.”
Asked to pinpoint who his biggest threat on the dancefloor might be, Ben nominated former Olympic hockey player and senator Nova Peris.
“I think Nova has the athleticism and the determination to go far,” he said.
Ben chose Perth Telethon, which raises funds for sick, vulnerable and disadvantaged children, as his Dancing with the Stars charity.
The 7NEWS Sport presenter said the charity, which has been going since 1968, was close to his heart.
“I’ve been involved with it for many years,” he said.
“There have been so many children who have benefited from the many Perth children’s charities the Telethon raises money for.
“I love that the WA public get behind it, because it is a great cause.”
Dancing with the Stars 2024 full line-up
• Adam Dovile – Better Homes and Gardens DIY presenter
• Ant Middleton – SAS Australia Chief Instructor
• Ben Cousins – AFL legend and 7NEWS Sport presenter
• Hayden Quinn – Chef
• James Stewart – Home and Away Actor
• Julie Goodwin – Chef
• Lisa McCune – Actor
• Nadia Bartel – Fashion designer and model
• Nikki Osborne – Comedian
• Nova Peris – Olympian and former senator
• Samantha Jade – Singer
• Shane Crawford – AFL royalty
Dancing with the Stars premieres Sunday, July 7 on Channel 7 and 7plus.