As a former winner,Cousins is automatically invited to the Brownlow,but the circumstances of having the event in Perth - albeit the host Hamish McLachlan will be in Melbourne and with the winner potentially in another state - means the controversial ex-Eagles skipper can attend the event.
Cousins,whose very battle with drug addiction has kept him in the public eye since he left the game,has been working around central Perth in a blue-collar job in construction and,according to locals who have seen and spoken to him,is looking in improved health after he was released from prison earlier this year.
If Cousins attends the Brownlow,as he has indicated he would via his reply to the AFL,he will be at the venue which,based on the betting markets,is most likely to produce the winner.
Top fancies Marcus Bontempelli (Bulldogs),and Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca (both Melbourne) will be at the Perth count,by dint of being in the city for the grand final,while Port Adelaide midfielder Ollie Wines,another of the favourites,is expected to be among the South Australian contingent that fly over to Perth for the event.
Wines,Bontempelli,and Oliver are the top three favourites for the medal.
Cousins was sentenced to seven months in prison for stalking his former partner back in November of last year. He pleaded guilty to a drugs charge when found in possession in April of 2020,and fined $1500.