One of the most polished media performers in the caper, Cousins always has a quick reply, a considered response and a cheeky grin.
But at his retirement press conference in the gym at Punt Rd on Tuesday, he went closer than ever before to breaking down when asked about his dad.
Bryan was in the crowd, (and it was a crowd - far bigger than the media conference when Tiger legend Matthew Richardson took his final bow late last year) and you could feel the emotion in his son’s voice, in the pause before answering, as he looked across at the man who was a WAFL/VFL star in the seventies.
“It’s hard to… yeah, it’s hard to say or explain how much,” he said. “He’s been instrumental … the greatest influence on my life.
“I’ve put him through a hell of a lot at different times - he’s my best mate.
“I’m just proud to be able to leave on my own terms, because I think it’s in some way it’s a bit of a compliment to what he’s done.
“He’s gone over and above what any father should have to, and he’s happily done it. It’s very much appreciated.”
Cousins, who was sacked by the Eagles before being forced to sit out a year after the AFL deregistered him for bringing the game into disrepute, said being able to go out on his own terms was one of the factors that made him decide now was the time.
“This way it’s a real positive, not just for me but my footy club, for my family that have invested a lot of time and support into me, and all the people that are part of my support network," Cousins said.
“One of the great positives to come out of the unfortunate way that it ended at West Coast was it gave me the opportunity to come to Melbourne.
“I loved my time at West Coast [but] it is very insular over there, and to come and play in one of the great clubs in Melbourne, and to be part of that, has added to a well-rounded experience in football, and for that I’m grateful.
“Part of me thinks it would have been a real shame not to have experienced that, so I’m just really fortunate.”
Without the rigid structure of a football lifestyle around him, Cousins admitted the next phase of his life would have new obstacles.
“It’s a bit of a challenge - not everything about football is conducive to the lifestyle I’m trying to lead,” he said with a wry grin.
“But there’s no doubt that getting back to football and being around a footy club helped me heal some open wounds, get a bit of self-worth and credibility back.
“I go into the next phase of my life with my head held high - I can look myself in the mirror.
“I don’t condone a lot of the things I’ve done, but I can sit pretty comfortably with the way it’s panned out.”
