Ken Bennett (Australian footballer)

Kenneth Raymond Bennett (14 February 1940 – 1 September 2023) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Ken Bennett
Personal information
Full name Kenneth Raymond Bennett
Date of birth (1940-02-14)14 February 1940
Date of death 1 September 2023(2023-09-01) (aged 83)
Original team(s) Dandenong
Height 166 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight 70 kg (154 lb)
Position(s) Wing, forward
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1957–1962 Collingwood 56 (37)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1962.
Career highlights
  • 1958 VFL premiership
  • 1963 O&MFL Morris Medal
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Bennett, originally from Dandenong, was just 17 years old when he debuted midway through the 1957 season. Although primarily a wingman he was also used up forward and was a member of Collingwood's 1958 VFL Grand Final premiership team.[1] Bennett kicked two goals and featured in their best players in Collingwood's 1958 premiership.[2]

In 1963, Bennett (Albury) won the 1963 Ovens & Murray Football League best and fairest award, the Morris Medal, with 17 votes, from John Perry (Wodonga) and Graeme Leydin (Wangaratta Rovers), both on 16 votes.[3] Ken was also captain-coach of Albury in 1963 too, prior to Murray Weideman taking on the role.

Ken Bennett died on 1 September 2023, at the age of 83.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Ken Bennett Profile". Collingwood Forever. Collingwood FC. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  2. ^ "1958 VFL Grand Final Statistics". The Age. 22 September 1958. p. 18. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  3. ^ "O&MFNL - Morris Medal Winners". Ovens & Murray FNL. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Kenneth Raymond Bennett". My Tributes. Retrieved 8 September 2023.

Sources

edit
  • Ken Bennett's playing statistics from AFL Tables
  • Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.