EXCLUSIVE: The woman behind Ben Cousins: How a mum-of-four helped troubled footy legend walk away from drugs - after giving him a blunt ultimatum in prison

Sitting in a cold, cramped jail cell for the sixth time in 13 years, former AFL legend Ben Cousins finally decided enough was enough.

He was ashamed and desperately ready for a fresh start, buoyed by the knowledge that getting clean and healthy was the key to being a dad to his children.

Through a friend of a friend he met Susan Backshell, an immigration assistant and mental health support worker, who has made it her mission to help people who are down and out on luck.

Five years after she was first told she could be a good influence on his life, the mother-of-four visited Cousins in jail in 2020.

The 43-year-old told her he wanted to make amends and clean up his life. Ms Backshell gave him an ultimatum: 'Give it his all, or forget it entirely'.  

Since Cousins was released from custody back in December, Ms Backshell says she's never once questioned his commitment to sobriety and bettering his community.    

Five years after she was first told she could be a good influence on his life, the mother-of-four visited Cousins (pictured together) in jail in 2020

Cousins has quietly volunteered at several events in and around Perth with Ms Backshell's KALT Collective, including most recently at the Coastals Motorcycle Club for the Kalt Motorcycling WA Perth Metro Series

Cousins has quietly volunteered at several events in and around Perth with Ms Backshell's community group KALT Collective, acting as a beacon of hope for disadvantaged youths, addicts and reformed criminals.

KALT Collective has several branches offering inclusive motocross and horseback activities for people with disabilities, and also works closely with Indigenous mental health services targeted at youths. 

'Nobody actually knows what amazing stuff he's doing,' Ms Backshell said. 

'Everybody is willing to judge him, but this guy has worked his ass off to get to where he is today... Ben is a huge part of our team in supporting Indigenous Youth at Risk as well as children and families with disabilities.'

Cousins manages all of this while holding down a full time job and playing park footy on weekends with the Queens Park Bulldogs, where he's quickly become 'part of the family' among the mainly Indigenous team and staff.

His favourite games are the ones his son Bobby, 9, and daughter Angelique, 7, get to come watch.

Cousins acts as a beacon of hope for disadvantaged youths, addicts and reformed criminals, sharing his personal story and encouraging others to stay on the straight and narrow

Ms Backshell has worked with people like Cousins for years, and she likes to think she’s developed a good sense of reading people. Cousins, she says, is the real deal

Ms Backshell told Daily Mail Australia that Cousins has his kids of a weekend and is always looking for new ways to bond with them.

'His kids are everything to him, he truly is an amazing dad. He's phenomenal,' Ms Backshell said.

Cousins often takes the children outdoors to explore nature, teaching them how to kayak, ride horses and embrace the great outdoors.

'They adore him. They're very sporty too, like him. They've got his determination. I see a lot of him in them.'   

Cousins often takes the children outdoors to explore nature, teaching them how to kayak, ride horses and embrace the great outdoors

Cousins has a particular affinity with the Indigenous community and takes great pride in developing relationships 

The 43-year-old has been in and out of jail since 2010 on drug and domestic violence charges.   

The duo laid the foundations for the work he'd be doing while he was still in custody over the phone and during visiting hours.

Any time Cousins expressed his desire to do better and be a better person, Ms Backshell told him to write it down - a task designed to encourage Cousins to believe in himself.  

Cousins manages all of this while holding down a full time job and playing park footy on weekends with the Queens Park Bulldogs, where he's quickly become 'part of the family' among the mainly Indigenous team and staff

Ms Backshell's own children have developed a great bond with Cousins (pictured together) 

‘He’s absolutely a role model, an inspiration,’ Ms Backshell said. ‘Some of these kids he’s working with, they’ve been removed from their homes. There’s drugs and addictions in play. He’s proving there’s another option.’

After leaving jail, Cousins participated in several workshops with the Department of Communities to better understand the needs of the vulnerable people he’d be working with in the volunteer role.  

'The conversations are genuine, the smiles are real, the advice is coming from a place of experience,' she said. 

'We're trying to teach kids to break the cycle. If we can keep one kid from experiencing addiction then that's a win.' 

Pictured: Cousins celebrating after an inclusive motocross competition back in July

Cousins was a Brownlow medal winner and captained the West Coast Eagles from 2001 to 2005, securing the club's best and fairest awards four out of those seasons

Getting back on the footy field has also been a dream come true for the former Brownlow Medalist.

At the Queens Park Bulldogs, the Perth Metro Football League club Cousins joined in May after a 10-year hiatus while he battled drug addiction and spent time in jail, the AFL legend is known simply as 'Cuz'.

And his star power has been 'sensational' for the club's morale and crowd numbers, according to president Ross White.  

'It's good for our club. We're just a small-time club and 90 per cent of our players are Indigenous and at times, people in the past have not really been that interested in us,' Mr White previously told SEN radio.   

Cousins has been taking his own two children horse riding and kayaking since his release from jail

His dramatic fall from grace was well documented from 2007 as he publicly battled a drug addiction and coped with his failed relationship with Maylea Tinecheff

Cousins won the Brownlow Medal in 2005 and captained the West Coast Eagles from 2001 to 2005, securing the club's best and fairest awards four out of those seasons.

His presence has reinvigorated the local footy club, who now enjoy crowds upwards of 1,000 when previously they'd be lucky to get 150 on a weekend.  

Another spokesman said Cousins has been 'sensational' at the club and great for morale. 

'We have several fellas in similar situations that he had. He is always kicking the footy with our kids and always has no hesitation to have his photo taken with anyone.' 

More than 90 per cent of the players at the club are Indigenous, and Queens Park president Ross White said at times it was difficult to garner community interest in the team

The Queens Park Bulldogs confirmed Cousins will be back on the field this season despite grappling with a hamstring injury