Barry Besanko
Essendon
AFL career
3 games3 goals
- Debut
- R13 1980 v RCH21 June 1980
- Most recent
- R15 1980 v COL12 July 1980
Stats
Bio
Barry Besanko was a blistering wingman whose top-level football career was defined by his concurrent status as an elite sprinter. Originally a product of Mentone who progressed through the Melbourne Under-19s and reserves, he crossed to Essendon in 1980, where he joined his older brother Neil at Windy Hill. A national sprint champion who represented Oceania at the IAAF World Cup, Besanko balanced his football with significant athletics commitments, maintaining his amateur status to preserve his eligibility for track events. This dual focus limited his VFL exposure to just three senior games in the 1980 season, though he proved effective when available by kicking three goals. Following his brief stint at the top level, he captain-coached Dingley and Rye in local leagues and later returned to the AFL system as a fitness adviser for St Kilda, applying his track and field expertise to elite football conditioning.
Profile
- Born
- 15 Aug 1956 (age 70y 67d)
- Height
- 179 cm
- Weight
- 76 kg
Teams
Family
- Brother:Neil Besanko
Bio
1 revisionBarry Besanko was a blistering wingman whose top-level football career was defined by his concurrent status as an elite sprinter. Originally a product of Mentone who progressed through the Melbourne Under-19s and reserves, he crossed to Essendon in 1980, where he joined his older brother Neil at Windy Hill. A national sprint champion who represented Oceania at the IAAF World Cup, Besanko balanced his football with significant athletics commitments, maintaining his amateur status to preserve his eligibility for track events. This dual focus limited his VFL exposure to just three senior games in the 1980 season, though he proved effective when available by kicking three goals. Following his brief stint at the top level, he captain-coached Dingley and Rye in local leagues and later returned to the AFL system as a fitness adviser for St Kilda, applying his track and field expertise to elite football conditioning.