West Coast decided to appeal captain Ben Cousins' one-match AFL suspension.

The 24-year-old Eagle was suspended last night for striking Port Adelaide defender Damien Hardwick in a weekend match.

It's the first suspension in Cousins' 146-game career and puts the midfielder out of the running for the Brownlow Medal unless its overturned.

The Eagles said they would lodge the required paperwork with the AFL as well as the mandatory $15,000 because they feel they have solid grounds for a successful appeal.

The appeal will probably be heard Thursday night.

West Coast plays Hawthorn this Sunday at York Park in Tasmania.

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