Williams said Cousins, who will soon be told whether the league will re-register him for the 2009 season, needed to avoid the intense media focus that came with life in Perth or Adelaide.
"I don't think it's the best thing for him to come to Adelaide, given the fact it's very similar to Perth,” Williams said on Channel Seven on grand final morning.
"I think he should look to Victoria where there's a lot more people and a lot more teams, and he doesn't have the spotlight on him every second."
While using the interview to confirm he wants to play on, Cousins refused to name a specific club despite recent speculation his preferred new home is Collingwood.
Eagles' coach John Worsfold, assistant coach Peter Sumich and midfielder Daniel Kerr have all said they would welcome the Brownlow medallist back to the club he used to captain.
But Cousins said circumstances make a return to his former club difficult.
"In a perfect world, I would have loved to have stayed a one club player at West Coast and finish my career on my own terms," he said.
"The big part for me is that it's not just a football decision. I have to find a club that has the right structure."
Cousins said his experiences with the Eagles have helped them become better equipped to deal with such a situation in the future.
"I think as a football club experiencing and going through the trials and tribulations that my addiction can only hold them in good stead," he said.
"They've been exposed to it first hand, and that's a big part. The more people are exposed to it and deal with it, the better prepared they are."
