Ex-player holds fears for Cousins

A former AFL player with a history of drug addiction is seriously concerned about Ben Cousins.

Gavin Crosisca, a Collingwood premiership player who battled substance abuse during his playing and post-football years, says Cousins needs an urgent mental health assessment and treatment.

His recent spate of erratic behaviour would also be a difficult time for Cousins' family, Mr Crosisca also told Fairfax Radio.

"I've had brief conversations with his father over the last couple of years," he said.

"It is a really difficult one when you have someone who is in the depths of their addiction, whether it is denial or an inability to see things rationally, it keeps us locked in that spiral ... of addiction.

"The biggest rock bottom you can have is death and, that's the unfortunate thing about addiction, if we can't get a hold of it and get it treated at some stage that's going to be the result."