AFL Origin: Ben Cousins boosts WA’s coaching panel with game-day role

Western Australia have turned to one of their favourite footy sons for inspiration in Saturday night’s Origin epic.

Sandgropers coach and West Coast legend Dean Cox has called on Eagles legend Ben Cousins to sit in his box for the clash with Victoria at Optus Stadium.

Even the best players in the game were starstruck by Cousins as he joined the group for a training session on Friday and as part of their setup on Saturday.

The Brownlow medallist and former Eagles skipper was in a black-and-gold WA polo and was spotted chatting to Greater Western Sydney gun Stephen Coniglio pre-match.

Cousins has been actively involved with his former clubs West Coast and Richmond in recent years while also working for Channel 7.

The 270-game champion missed out on playing State of Origin himself, with WA’s most recent clash a game against South Australia in 1998.