PERTH, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 02: Ben Cousins departs from Perth Magistrates Court on April 2, 2012 in Perth, Australia. Former AFL player, Cousins was arrested last week on drug charges at Esperance Airport. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Former AFL star Ben Cousins has reportedly been assaulted by inmates in a Perth prison after declining to play in a football match.

Journalist Damian Barrett reported the news on the Footy Show on Thursday night, and told the program he was "set upon" by inmates after refusing to take part in the match.

"He was approached by a group of inmates and asked to play in a football scratch match, he declined that approach, and subsequent to doing that was set upon by the inmates," Barrett said.

Barrett also said the prison had declined to comment on the matter.

Cousins was jailed for 12 months in March earlier this year after pleading guilty to 11 offences including repeatedly breaching a violence restraining order and drug possession.