They were once the most feared midfield pairing in the AFL, but nearly two decades on from their 2006 premiership triumph, Ben Cousins and Chris Judd now represent two vastly different post-footy journeys.
Reunion in Perth
The former West Coast Eagles teammates were reunited in Perth this week, with images shared by Bec Judd showing the pair alongside former premiership players celebrating their iconic Grand Final victory. The photos captured a rare moment between two Brownlow Medallists whose careers once ran in perfect sync before diverging sharply in the years that followed.
Cousins' Struggles
Cousins, once the club's captain and one of the most dominant midfielders of his generation, saw his career unravel following a series of off-field incidents that culminated in his suspension and eventual sacking from West Coast in 2007. He later returned to the AFL with Richmond Football Club after serving a 12-month ban, but his struggles with addiction remained well documented throughout and beyond his playing career. In recent years, Cousins has worked to rebuild his life following multiple stints in rehabilitation and periods out of the public eye, with the 46-year-old now making more regular public appearances.
He also recently revealed he had undergone surgery after experiencing severe pain caused by a hernia. 'I'm a little tender actually. I went in for a hernia op on Friday - not much fun,' Cousins told Triple M. 'I had a little bubble or lump pop up where it probably shouldn't a couple of months ago, and I've been in denial. I hadn't gone in and had the ultrasound and I thought I'd put it off until the end of the footy season, I'd hang on for 12 more games - you'd swear I was still playing. But I went to the State of Origin on Wednesday night, it was a great game, got home, and then I went in to put my daughter to sleep, and I sat on her bed, and then out of nowhere, this pain came. I may have been in as much pain before in my life, but I have never been in more. I was ready to pass out, all this sort of stuff, couldn't talk. I did go down like Autumn leaves.'
Judd's Success
Judd's trajectory, by contrast, took him from AFL superstardom into the corporate and finance world. After retiring in 2015 following a decorated career with West Coast and Carlton Football Club, the dual Brownlow Medallist transitioned into investment management and business. He is now the founder and manager of the Cerutty Macro Fund, launched in 2023, where he focuses on macro-investing and identifying long-term trends across sectors including artificial intelligence infrastructure, water scarcity and commodities. Judd also hosts the 'Chris Judd Invest' podcast, where he interviews leading Australian fund managers and discusses market insights, while continuing to work as a private investor. His off-field career has also included roles on corporate boards, including sportswear brand Jaggad and his former club Carlton, where he served as a director between 2017 and 2021.
Shared History
The reunion in Perth brought the two former teammates back together publicly, years after their careers split in dramatically different directions. Together, they played 123 games and were central to West Coast's 2006 premiership, a one-point victory over the Sydney Swans that remains one of the most memorable Grand Finals in AFL history. While their on-field partnership delivered one of the club's greatest eras, their lives after football have unfolded along markedly different paths, a contrast highlighted again as they stood side by side in Perth.
