Ben Cousins is trying to rebuild his shattered family life with his two small kids and ex-partner one kick at a time.
The AFL legend is spending as much time as he can with his son Bobby, 7, and daughter Angelique, 5, before he faces court.
He was seen kicking a football with them and his ex-partner Maylea Tinecheff near his parents’ home in Bicton, Perth, on Monday afternoon.
Cousins, 41, will go on trial in September over 14 charges alleging he stalked and threatened Ms Tinecheff.
‘I’m good mate, really good,’ Cousins told Daily Mail Australia with a smile as he walked back to the two-storey house.
‘I’m just enjoying a nice day with my kids.’
Ben Cousins (right) was on Monday afternoon spending time with his children and his ex-partner Maylea Tinecheff (left) at a park near his parents’ home in Bicton, Perth
The footy champion’s children happily called out ‘dad’ – and at one point he was seen affectionately ruffling son Bobby’s hair
Cousins, 41, will go on trial in September over 14 charges alleging he stalked and threatened Ms Tinecheff (pictured together in a file photo)
Cousins appeared fit and healthy, kicking the ball to Bobby and Angelique with the poise of his champion years.
The doting dad was in good spirits, seemingly cheerful as they happily played for more than half-an-hour under a cloudless sky.
Since he was released on bail in April, he has been visited by his children every weekend and during the school holidays.
His children happily called out ‘dad’ and he was seen affectionately ruffling Bobby’s hair.
Cousins (pictured) appeared fit and healthy, kicking the ball to Bobby and Angelique with the poise of his champion years
The doting dad (pictured with his son) was in good spirits, seeming cheerful as they happily played for more than half-an-hour under a cloudless sky
Cousins (right) has often spoken of his love for his children and the pain of not seeing them when denied access or behind bars
Cousins has often spoken of his love for his children and the pain of not seeing them when denied access or behind bars.
‘Every day I close my eyes when the sun goes down and I spew that it’s another day I’m not going to be with my children,’ he said when begging a magistrate for his freedom last year.
Cousins on Monday had shaved off the scraggly beard he sported when leaving court, but kept his long hair.
His skin was bronzed from a fake tanning session two weeks ago, when he posed naked in a snap posted to Facebook by the beautician.
Neighbours painted a picture of a fallen superstar desperately trying to reclaim his life from drugs.
Cousins looked relaxed as he played he kicked a Richmond Tigers footy with his kids. It was one of two AFL clubs he played for during his illustrious career
Police allege Cousins bombarded Ms Tinecheff with dozens of phone calls and texts and showed up at her house numerous times (pictured together in a file photo)
Cousins (pictured) on Monday had shaved off the scraggly beard he sported when leaving court, but kept his long hair
They said he could be seen playing football in the two nearby parks or pushing Angelique on her bike every weekend and sometimes during the week.
During school holidays they were around at least three days a week.
‘He’s always around, he’s polite, the kids are polite,’ one neighbour said.
‘This weekend he gave us ahoy because the boy kicked a football over the fence into our garden. He asked politely if they could have it back. The little boy said thanks very much.’
The neighbour said Cousins always seemed happy, cheerful – and always said hello.
Cousins (pictured) looks at ease as he calmly boots the ball on Monday with his two children at Western Australian park
Cousins’ skin was bronzed from a fake tanning session two weeks ago where he posed naked in a snap posted to Facebook
Locals painted a picture of a fallen superstar (pictured on Monday) desperately trying to reclaim his life from drugs
‘I have great admiration for him as a footy player, it’s just a pity he has an addictive personality,’ they said.
‘He seems to be trying very hard to get his life straighten out and he’s certainly great with the kids.’
Several neighbours said people come and go on the weekend but they were not sure if they were friends of Cousins or his parents.
‘His parents are lovely. It’s really sad how it’s all turned out,’ another neighbour said.
‘He seems to be getting his life back on track and hopefully it stays that way.’
The Brownlow medallist is facing 12 charges of breaching a family violence restraining order, along with a count each of aggravated stalking and threatening to injure, endanger or harm.
A neighbour said of Cousins: ‘He seems to be trying very hard to get his life straighten out and he’s certainly great with the kids’
Cousins (pictured in a file photo) was arrested at his ex-partner’s home last August and spent months behind bars until his release on bail in April
The Brownlow medallist is facing 12 charges of breaching a family violence restraining order, along with a count each of aggravated stalking and threatening to injure, endanger or harm
Police allege Cousins bombarded Ms Tinecheff with dozens of phone calls and texts and showed up at her house numerous times.
‘I’m going to kill you. I’m going to take your life and your freedom and the things you love the most,’ he allegedly told her.
Cousins also allegedly said he was going to bury her in a car ‘where she would survive for a couple of days, then he would bring the kids to play so she would hear them but would not be able to get to them’.
He was arrested at her home last August and spent months behind bars until his release on bail in April.
Cousins was in March fined $1,750 for possessing meth and hiding it up his anus.