CONTROVERSIAL former West Coast and Richmond star Ben Cousins has returned to Tigerland in a rare public foray back into the footy world he once dominated.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale tweeted a picture of himself with Cousins on Wednesday afternoon, with the 2005 Brownlow medallist looking healthy and in good spirits.

2015 hasn't been great for the six-time All Australian midfielder, who has found himself in trouble with the law three times this year after being arrested by police for twice trying to evade them, and for being found inside the high-security base of the SAS barracks in Perth.

Cousins was the highest profile sportsman in Western Australia as captain of the Eagles from 2001-2005, and had one of the game's most prestigious careers until his world fell apart thanks to his issues with substance abuse.

After leaving West Coast in disgrace in 2007 and rebuilding his life, Richmond threw the four-time Eagles club champion a lifeline in 2009, and Cousins played 32 games for the Tigers in two seasons.

He retired in 2009 after 270 games for West Coast and Richmond.