An arrest warrant has been issued for former AFL player Ben Cousins after he failed to show up to court accused of breaching a violence restraining order against his former partner and possessing methamphetamine.

The troubled Brownlow medallist did not appear in Armadale Magistrates Court on Tuesday for his second appearance in relation to the charges after being granted bail at his first appearance on October 18.

Ben Cousins leaving Armadale Magistrates Court in October 2016 after being held by police overnight. Credit:Emma Young

The 38-year-old, in an email to his lawyer about 9.30am, claimed he was too unwell to appear in court, but Magistrate Geoff Lawrence said no medical certificate had been supplied.



During his first appearance, Cousins' lawyer said he was "actually in a very good place at the moment", as the ex-AFL star appeared, agitated and fidgety, after spending a night in custody at the Perth Watch House.



He was arrested on October 17 at an address in Canning Vale and charged with two counts of breaching a violence restraining order taken out by the mother of his two children, Maylea Tinecheff, and carrying methamphetamine.



His lawyer during his first appearance requested bail, saying Cousins did have a recent address and was not a flight risk.



At the time police prosecutors agreed the 38-year-old was not a flight risk and he was granted bail, on condition he stay 50 metres from his ex-partner's home, and not contact her in any way apart from via text message to arrange for visitation of his two children, aged three and five.

Visits would have to be carried out away from the home, with the court hearing that while Mr Cousins had been in regular contact with his children, the visits were mostly in his ex's front yard or in the cul-de-sac it was in.



History of mental health, drug issues