GSFL 2024: West Coast Eagles legend Ben Cousins sparks excitement for upcoming campaign at season launch

West Coast Eagles legend Ben Cousins made a special guest appearance in Albany on Monday night at the 2024 Great Southern Football League launch party as excitement builds for the highly anticipated season. Players, coaches and executives from across the league converged on Retravision Stadium to mark the season launch and hear from one of the game’s greats. The season kicks off on Thursday with an Anzac Day blockbuster between North Albany and Railways at Collingwood Park before Royals host Mt Barker at Retravision Stadium and Albany travel to Mclean Park to take on Denmark-Walpole on Saturday. The hype of a fast-approaching AFL season is something Cousins looks back on fondly as it ignites immense excitement and hope among players and spectators. “I love this time of year, the eve of the footy season, regardless of the season that all the sides have had the year before,” Cousins said. “I could always find a way, whether it was through a tough preseason, a change of coach or the acquisition of players, to generate some genuine belief and optimism about the year that we’re about to embark on. “I love getting out to the regional parts of WA and to be involved in the season launch is exciting — it is a great time of year. “The Great Southern Football League has been a great league, has got a rich history and has had a lot of great players come from here.” The evening began with Cousins making his way around the room chatting with attendees and posing for photos before joining GSFL life member Barry Panizza on stage for a deep dive into his glowing AFL career. GSFL operations manager Ian Beeck took the crowd through a 2023 rewind highlighting the flag success from each grade while getting a word from the triumphant coaches. The evening finished with an auction of signed memorabilia from Cousins and stalwarts of the game including Fremantle Dockers stars Michael Walters and Nathan Fyfe. Cousins’ appearance was facilitated by Z Promotions, who orchestrated the auctions and intimate night with the AFL legend.