Western Australian football great Bryan Cousins, the father of Brownlow medallist Ben Cousins, has revealed he is battling motor neurone disease.
Cousins was diagnosed with the debilitating illness a year ago, but has only just gone public now.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bryan Cousins reveals MND diagnosis
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The 72-year-old fought back tears as he made the revelation in an on-stage interview in a an MND fundraiser at Swans Districts Football Club in Perth on Saturday.
“I was running along the beach and starting to struggle — a bloke stopped me and asked me if I was OK,” Cousins said.
“I went to a neurologist and I started looking at what I might have and I got the one thing I didn’t want which was MND.”
Bryan Cousins (left) has gone public with his MND battle. Credit: Instagram The news comes the same week much-loved icon Neale Daniher tragically lost his 13-year battle with MND.
Cousins had been texting Daniher since his diagnosis, and was devastated by Daniher’s passing.
“The way he approached it and his courage and his attitude, one word kept coming to my mind. He’s a fighter and continued to fight till the day he died,” Cousins said.
“He’s an amazing individual and whether you’re connected to MND, he is an inspiration to how you face up to adversity.”
“I’m getting along, I’m still independent but I’m looking at everything that Neale said and every six months is worse than the previous and you notice the little things in life.
“But, because of all the amazing things that people are doing I do believe we will find a cure.”
Cousins said telling his family of the diagnosis was of the hardest moments of his life, but he doesn’t fear for what lies ahead.
“The support I’ve had quite frankly in my life from the public over a number of issues is basically what keeps you going,” he said.
“And I don’t fear what lies ahead because I’ll just face it as best I can.”
Cousins was a standout footy player in his own right. He played 67 games for Geelong in the 1970s, but really made his name in the WAFL.
Across two stints with Perth, Cousins played 240 games and kicked 309 goals. Among a host of individual accolades, he won the 1983 Sandover Medal.
Son Ben was recruited to West Coast under the father-son rule and went on to enjoy a 270-game career with the Eagles and later Richmond.
As well as winning the Brownlow Medal in 2005, Ben was a six-time All-Australian and played a pivotal role in the Eagles winning the premiership in 2006.
He had always said his father was his hero and inspiration growing up.
“Continue to be really proud of Dad, particularly in the face of adversity,” Ben, who has been communicating with Daniher’s daughter Bec, told 7NEWS.
“Interestingly, Dad, you know, today referred to Neale Daniher as the commanding officer of the MND army. And I know he has given Dad a lot of inspiration.”