Andy Bennett
Encyclopedia
Andrew 'Andy' Bennett is a former Australian rules football
er who played for Hawthorn
and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the 1980s.
Originally from South Adelaide
, Bennett was a regular at Hawthorn in the 1980 VFL season
but had the rest of his time at the club ruined by injury. After crossing to St Kilda in 1985 he managed to add a further 14 games to his tally and the following season became captain-coach of Tasmanian Football League
club Sandy Bay
and won the 1986 William Leitch Medal
and guided his team to its first Grand Final appearance since 1978 but was unsuccessful.
Bennett stood down from coaching after a poor 1987 season but remained a player with Sandy Bay until retiring in 1991 whereby he took up a position the following year as a boundary-rider for ABC Television
's TFL broadcasts before he returned to coaching in 1993, taking up the senior coaching position with North Hobart
for two seasons, guiding them to a Preliminary Final in his first season followed by a disappointing 1994 season whereby he retired as coach at season's end.
Bennett, was in charge of the Tasmanian interstate team between 1995 and 1998 and steered them to wins over WAFL, SANFL and VFL representative teams.
In 2007 he was inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame
, for his achievements as a coach.
Bennett has been a commentator with ABC1
over the past decade, commentating on Tasmanian Devils VFL matches and is currently a commentator on ABC1
's Tasmanian State League
broadcasts and is also a columnist with the Hobart Mercury newspaper.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) during the 1980s.
Originally from South Adelaide
South Adelaide Football Club
South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide....
, Bennett was a regular at Hawthorn in the 1980 VFL season
1980 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1980.-Grand final:Richmond defeated Collingwood 23.21 to 9.24 , in front of a crowd of 113,461 people...
but had the rest of his time at the club ruined by injury. After crossing to St Kilda in 1985 he managed to add a further 14 games to his tally and the following season became captain-coach of Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
club Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay Football Club
The Sandy Bay Football Club was an Australian rules football club based in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia that participated in the Tasmanian Football League from 1945 to 1997.-Club History:...
and won the 1986 William Leitch Medal
William Leitch Medal
The William Leitch Medal was an annual award which was presented to the Best and Fairest player in the TANFL/TFL Statewide League.At various times prior to 1930 and between 1935 and 1939 the TFL award was known by other names....
and guided his team to its first Grand Final appearance since 1978 but was unsuccessful.
Bennett stood down from coaching after a poor 1987 season but remained a player with Sandy Bay until retiring in 1991 whereby he took up a position the following year as a boundary-rider for ABC Television
ABC1
ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...
's TFL broadcasts before he returned to coaching in 1993, taking up the senior coaching position with North Hobart
North Hobart Demons
The North Hobart Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League.Players to reach Australian Football League level include Paul Williams, Peter 'Percy' Jones, Daryn Cresswell, Chris Bond, James Manson, Jim Wright, Tony Pickett and several other big...
for two seasons, guiding them to a Preliminary Final in his first season followed by a disappointing 1994 season whereby he retired as coach at season's end.
Bennett, was in charge of the Tasmanian interstate team between 1995 and 1998 and steered them to wins over WAFL, SANFL and VFL representative teams.
In 2007 he was inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame
Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame
The Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame was established to help recognise outstanding services and overall contribution made to the sport of Australian rules football in Tasmania. Any participant of the sport, including players, umpires, media personalities and coaches, may be inducted...
, for his achievements as a coach.
Bennett has been a commentator with ABC1
ABC1
ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...
over the past decade, commentating on Tasmanian Devils VFL matches and is currently a commentator on ABC1
ABC1
ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...
's Tasmanian State League
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
broadcasts and is also a columnist with the Hobart Mercury newspaper.