It’s been a year since former West Coast Eagles star Ben Cousins lit up television screens on Dancing With The Stars – and on Sunday night he proved he’s still got the moves.
Cousins reunited with his dance partner Siobhan Power for the 2025 Telethon, dazzling the audience with a sizzling performance to the tune of I Like It Like That.
Midway through the routine, Cousins unbuttoned his shirt to reveal his six-pack and toned chest, drawing loud cheers from the Perth crowd.
The 2001 Brownlow Medallist wasn’t done there, later stripping off again when speaking on the panel at the major fundraiser.
The cameo marked a continuation of Cousins’ unlikely dance journey.
He first appeared on Dancing With The Stars Australia in 2008, partnered with Kristina Copeland, in the wake of his AFL deregistration.
Ben Cousins strips off during a sizzling Telethon dance with Siobhan Power as $90 million is raised.
Cousins reunites with Dancing with the Stars partner Siobhan Power, thrilling Perth audiences with shirtless performance at Telethon
Once a Brownlow Medallist and West Coast captain, Cousins now channels energy into dancing
Eliminated early, the appearance nevertheless kept him in the public eye during his absence from football.
In early 2024, Cousins returned to the franchise, officially announced as a contestant alongside Power.
The pair trained across multiple styles including the cha-cha, foxtrot and rumba, with Cousins describing the rehearsals as “intense” but crediting Power as a “patient and great teacher.”
Their campaign ended in the semi-finals, but Cousins reflected it had made him “fall in love” with dance and inspired him to live differently.
The Telethon performance added another layer to his comeback story, showing the 46-year-old embracing entertainment and charity work.
This year’s Telethon lineup was packed with star power, including Ronan Keating, Dami Im, Shannon Noll and Rob Mills.
Together, the event smashed through its fundraising record, with Western Australians digging deep to deliver a staggering $90,160,275 – eclipsing last year’s $83,264,216 tally.
The total raised since the fundraiser’s inception in 1968 now surpasses $750 million, helping fund research, treatment and life-changing opportunities for sick children.
From Brownlow triumphs to drug struggles, Cousins’ return shirtless on Telethon reflects resilience and renewed community purpose
Cousins’ turbulent years, including suspensions, arrests and jail, contrast sharply with his smiling return at Telethon’s record fundraiser
Telethon chairman Richard Goyder praised the result, saying once again the WA community had banded together to change lives.
For Cousins, the appearance capped another chapter in a career and life defined by both triumph and struggle.
Cousins debuted for West Coast at 17, won the 2001 Brownlow, captained the club, earned six All-Australians, four best and fairests, and starred in the 2006 premiership.
His off-field battles with drugs, multiple arrests, and a stint in jail from 2017 to 2018 dominated headlines for over a decade.
Since his release, Cousins has rebuilt his life, returning to football commentary in 2021, embracing community causes, and now entertaining on national television.
