Neil Besanko
St Kilda and Essendon
AFL career
184 games5 goals
- Debut
- R11 1968 v HAW29 June 1968
- Most recent
- R5 1981 v FIT25 Apr 1981
Stats
1981 | ESS | 5 | 5.2 | 2.6 | 7.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1980 | ESS | 8 | 7.5 | 5.0 | 12.5 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1979 | ESS | 8 | 8.5 | 4.5 | 13.0 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
1978 | ESS | 14 | 7.9 | 5.4 | 13.2 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
1977 | STK | 4 | 6.0 | 3.5 | 9.5 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1976 | STK | 13 | 12.5 | 3.5 | 16.1 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
1975 | STK | 22 | 12.0 | 2.7 | 14.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1974 | STK | 22 | 12.7 | 3.0 | 15.8 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1973 | STK | 20 | 14.1 | 2.6 | 16.6 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1972 | STK | 23 | 11.8 | 2.1 | 13.9 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1971 | STK | 16 | 12.8 | 2.4 | 15.2 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1970 | STK | 22 | 8.2 | 3.0 | 11.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
1969 | STK | 3 | 6.7 | 1.0 | 7.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1968 | STK | 4 | 7.5 | 2.0 | 9.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bio
Recruited from Cheltenham, Neil Besanko was the first of the famous Besanko brothers to represent St Kilda, establishing himself as a key pillar in the club's defence well before his younger brother Barry arrived. A quintessential close-checking backman, Neil was known for his disciplined, no-nonsense approach to the game, rarely venturing forward to attack but excelling at shutting down opposition forwards. His reliability made him a fixture in the Saints' lineup throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, and he notably played a crucial role in the club's 1971 Grand Final side that fell narrowly short against Hawthorn.
After a decade of service at Moorabbin, Besanko transferred to Essendon ahead of the 1978 season, seeking to extend his career in a new environment. He brought valuable experience to the Bombers' backline, providing steady service at Windy Hill for four seasons during a transitional period for the club. While never a high-possession winner, his durability and defensive accountability saw him play regular senior football until his retirement at the end of 1981, finishing with a commendable 184 games across two clubs.
Profile
- Full name
- Neil A. Besanko
- Born
- 28 Apr 1951 (age 75y 176d)
- Height
- 187 cm
- Weight
- 88 kg
Teams
Family
- Brother:Barry Besanko
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Cheltenham, Neil Besanko was the first of the famous Besanko brothers to represent St Kilda, establishing himself as a key pillar in the club's defence well before his younger brother Barry arrived. A quintessential close-checking backman, Neil was known for his disciplined, no-nonsense approach to the game, rarely venturing forward to attack but excelling at shutting down opposition forwards. His reliability made him a fixture in the Saints' lineup throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, and he notably played a crucial role in the club's 1971 Grand Final side that fell narrowly short against Hawthorn.
After a decade of service at Moorabbin, Besanko transferred to Essendon ahead of the 1978 season, seeking to extend his career in a new environment. He brought valuable experience to the Bombers' backline, providing steady service at Windy Hill for four seasons during a transitional period for the club. While never a high-possession winner, his durability and defensive accountability saw him play regular senior football until his retirement at the end of 1981, finishing with a commendable 184 games across two clubs.