Former AFL player Ben Cousins will captain a side for the first time since the 2005 AFL Grand Final next week, per reports in The West.

Cousins, whose career spanned 270 games at West Coast and Richmond, is set to take part in a charity match in Western Australia raising funds for mental health.

The 43-year-old will lead the Crusaders in the ex-AFL all stars match-up, while former Brisbane and Fremantle player Des Headland will captain theย Spartans.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Ben Cousins of the Eagles lines up for the national anthem prior to the 2005 AFL Grand Final between the Sydney Swans and the West Coast Eagles at the Melbourne Cricket Ground September 24, 2005 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

The match, which is raising funds for Lifeline and Happiness Co Foundation, will take place next month at Leederville Oval in Perth.

The Brownlow Medallist retired in 2010, playing 17 games for Richmond in his final season. In 2005, Cousins captained West Coast in their grand final loss, before stepping down in 2006 due to off-field indiscretions. The former star was sacked by the club in 2007.

Earlier this year Cousins made his return to football, playing with local club Queens Park in the Perth Metro Football League. The former Eagle also made an appearance at Perth's Brownlow Medal count in 2021, stating that he was "fortunate" to be given the opportunity.

Cousins, who now works in construction, has been open about the toll a lengthy battle with drug addiction has taken on his life. In 2020, the 43-year-old was jailed for seven months after stalking an ex-partner.

Cousins' had a short debut season with Queens Park after being sidelined with an injury. The all star's match is set to take place on January 22.