SA Footy

As a kid, I grew up hearing all sorts of stories surrounding Ron Benton's win in the 1957 Magarey Medal.

Just looking at Advertiser Teams of the Year, I notice that Ron Benton was not named in the 1957 team, the year he won the medal. That got me thinking about what I'd previously heard.

Just how big a surprise was it that Benton won the medal that year?

Adelaide Hawk wrote:As a kid, I grew up hearing all sorts of stories surrounding Ron Benton's win in the 1957 Magarey Medal.
Just looking at Advertiser Teams of the Year, I notice that Ron Benton was not named in the 1957 team, the year he won the medal. That got me thinking about what I'd previously heard.
Just how big a surprise was it that Benton won the medal that year?

It surprised the media at the time because he wasn't one of the known "stars", but he played brilliantly all season.
I was a regular attender of Norwood matches that year, and watched football replay shows [in black and white] on TV each Saturday evening.

ok adelaidehawk lets hear some stories, as this was before my time i am interested in what you have to say about ron benton.

Surely we are not going to go down the path of unworthy "Magarey Medallists" - especially from West Adelaide.

In my view there is no such thing as an unworthy Magarey Medallist.

I was too young to see Ron Benton play in '57, but was aware of a general perception that he might not have been the worthiest of winners. I imagine that most people hoped that Jimmy Deane would win it and there may have been some resentment that a 'flash in the pan' season from Benton saw him get the MM on countback. Looking back historically, that perception may have been unfair as he did win West's B&F as well in a very good side.

I do remember seeing Benton playing in the early 60's when I'm sure he was past his best. He was certainly nowhere near the class of other MM winners of his time - Head, Fitzgerald, Halbert, Eustice.

mr o wrote:ok adelaidehawk lets hear some stories, as this was before my time i am interested in what you have to say about ron benton.

Nothing scurrilous, it's just I've heard over the years what a surprise it was that he won, that umpires favoured him, etc, but took it with a grain of salt until I realised he wasn't in the team of the year. I never saw him play, so I can't comment.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

mr o wrote:ok adelaidehawk lets hear some stories, as this was before my time i am interested in what you have to say about ron benton.

Nothing scurrilous, it's just I've heard over the years what a surprise it was that he won, that umpires favoured him, etc, but took it with a grain of salt until I realised he wasn't in the team of the year. I never saw him play, so I can't comment.

He played on the wing, was lightly built, fast, and avoided the impacts and wrestling matches with sheer speed and skill.
As a result he caught he umpires eye, but wasn't a popular type with the tough guys in the footy media.
I think he was, also, only 17 at the time..

[Edit: I note the reference to "centre" in the Pash article quoted below but I do recall him as playing wing on most occasions.]

It wasn't until I started this thread that I realised I knew so very little about Benton. So I went to the Pash Papers to see what was recorded:

In 1957 the struggle for the Magarey Medal was an open one. Few tipped the eventual winner, though Jeff Pash, at least, was not taken aback by him.

West are likely to be well represented. Ron Benton is possibly the dark horse in the competition; perhaps he has been at centre long enough, but the master is always about the place and puts a clean finish on that penetrating dropkick. - August 27, 1957

Then there was this entry:

Benton has been too long disregarded by those who like their footballers by the yard. He is a very talented, very courageous player, hard to catch full on. He is almost invisible in profile - in fact he seems to play mostly side-on, with his deadly kicking foot free to do as it likes. - June 4, 1963

So there you have it. It appears the media tended to judge Benton a little harshly, which may account for why I've heard so little about him. Benton played 178 games, 172 goals for West Adelaide from 1955-1959 and 1961-1965.

Going by his year by year tally 1957 wasn't entirely a "flash in the pan"

1956 Ron Benton West 8 2 1 0
1957 Ron Benton West 16 3 3 1
1958 Ron Benton West 2 0 0 2
1962 Ron Benton West 12 1 4 1
1963 Ron Benton West 7 1 2 0
1964 Ron Benton West 11 2 2 1
1965 Ron Benton West 7 1 1 2

Psyber wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

mr o wrote:ok adelaidehawk lets hear some stories, as this was before my time i am interested in what you have to say about ron benton.

Nothing scurrilous, it's just I've heard over the years what a surprise it was that he won, that umpires favoured him, etc, but took it with a grain of salt until I realised he wasn't in the team of the year. I never saw him play, so I can't comment.

He played on the wing, was lightly built, fast, and avoided the impacts and wrestling matches with sheer speed and skill.
As a result he caught he umpires eye, but wasn't a popular type with the tough guys in the footy media.
I think he was, also, only 17 at the time..

[Edit: I note the reference to "centre" in the Pash article quoted below but I do recall him as playing wing on most occasions.]

I remember Ron Benton much more as a half forward flanker than a wingman. When Barrie Barbary won his Magarey Medal in 1960 he was considered to be the first wingman to win a Magarey Medal.

Jack Oatey "sacked" Ron Benton after the 1959 season. Benton spent 1960 playing for Freeling. He returned to West Adelaide in 1961 under Neil Kerley. He struggled for much of the year and there was much conjecture as to whether he would make West's Grand Final side. He did, and playing at half forward, was in the best three players on the ground. His form in 1963 was good enough that he was chosen in the 21 for the famous MCG match, but unfortunately for Ron he was the 21st man.

Psyber wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:As a kid, I grew up hearing all sorts of stories surrounding Ron Benton's win in the 1957 Magarey Medal.
Just looking at Advertiser Teams of the Year, I notice that Ron Benton was not named in the 1957 team, the year he won the medal. That got me thinking about what I'd previously heard.
Just how big a surprise was it that Benton won the medal that year?

It surprised the media at the time because he wasn't one of the known "stars", but he played brilliantly all season.
I was a regular attender of Norwood matches that year, and watched football replay shows [in black and white] on TV each Saturday evening.

But TV replays didn't start in SA until 1965, which I believe was Benton's last season.

robranisgod wrote:

Psyber wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:As a kid, I grew up hearing all sorts of stories surrounding Ron Benton's win in the 1957 Magarey Medal.
Just looking at Advertiser Teams of the Year, I notice that Ron Benton was not named in the 1957 team, the year he won the medal. That got me thinking about what I'd previously heard.
Just how big a surprise was it that Benton won the medal that year?

It surprised the media at the time because he wasn't one of the known "stars", but he played brilliantly all season.
I was a regular attender of Norwood matches that year, and watched football replay shows [in black and white] on TV each Saturday evening.

But TV replays didn't start in SA until 1965, which I believe was Benton's last season.

Are you sure? - I recall my sister and I rushing home from the football to be in time for a show that showed excerpts from all matches - but not full replays I agree - and my mother grumping about us eating in front of the TV. It is possible I have my years mixed up, after so long, but I do recall him playing against Norwood, and in the finals - my older sister took me to the finals even if Norwood weren't playing.
By 1965 I was late in my university training, and chasing girls, and I wasn't going to football, or watching it on TV, as regularly.

I think his form deteriorated and his weight went up later in his career, and of course Neil Kerley wouldn't have liked him any more than he liked Lindsay Head - another who avoided the body clashes with skill.

PS: While I remember Benton played wing at least some of that year, it may be he played centre and on the ball as well, whereas Barry Barbary was a full time wingman.

I do remember watching a replay of the 1964 Grand Final on Channel 9. I recall it as if it were yesterday, we were all very pleased Port Adelaide were beaten and we sat in front of the TV after we had our dinner and watched it. As to when the replays began, I have no idea, but it has to be prior to 1965.

Edit: Although it was in the eastern states from around 1956, television didn't come to SA until 1959, so football replays had to start after that time.

Benton was one of the best short-passers in the game, as well as having a lovely long left-foot kick. He was a really neat player and one of those players you enjoyed watching.

He was inducted into West Adelaide's Hall of Fame this year.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:I do remember watching a replay of the 1964 Grand Final on Channel 9. I recall it as if it were yesterday, we were all very pleased Port Adelaide were beaten and we sat in front of the TV after we had our dinner and watched it. As to when the replays began, I have no idea, but it has to be prior to 1965.

Edit: Although it was in the eastern states from around 1956, television didn't come to SA until 1959, so football replays had to start after that time.

Ah... I thought our TV set arrived in 1957 - I guess it must have been 1959 and 1960 then that I recall rushing home from matches.
My football attendances were consistent from late 1956 till about 1962 or 1963, then they became patchy, though I think [from memory] my Norwood membership lasted until about 1966 or 1967..
After that I was working shifts totalling 80 to 130 hours a week for a couple of years and slept when not on duty at the hospitals.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:I do remember watching a replay of the 1964 Grand Final on Channel 9. I recall it as if it were yesterday, we were all very pleased Port Adelaide were beaten and we sat in front of the TV after we had our dinner and watched it. As to when the replays began, I have no idea, but it has to be prior to 1965.

Edit: Although it was in the eastern states from around 1956, television didn't come to SA until 1959, so football replays had to start after that time.

You are correct as usual AH. The 1964 Grand Final was replayed on Channel 9. The commentators included Michael Peterson and Alan Killagrew. It was the first replay shown in SA. The ABC, Channel 7 and Channel 9 had all shown filmed highlights which normally lasted a couple of minutes prior to that time.

Football replays then commenced on all channels from round one of 1965.

Going back to the 1964 replay, they showed Neil Kerley's three quarter time address unedited. It was considered a very bold move back in those days. I can still remember Ian Day kicking the goal that sealed the game for South and Killa making a comment about him going out in a blaze of glory. He had already announced his retirement and he was going to spend more time on his golf. I found it ironic that he commenced commentating with Channel 7 the very next year. So much for his golf.

thankyou to all who replied, very interesting stuff for someone who wasnt around at the time

robranisgod wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:I do remember watching a replay of the 1964 Grand Final on Channel 9. I recall it as if it were yesterday, we were all very pleased Port Adelaide were beaten and we sat in front of the TV after we had our dinner and watched it. As to when the replays began, I have no idea, but it has to be prior to 1965.

Edit: Although it was in the eastern states from around 1956, television didn't come to SA until 1959, so football replays had to start after that time.

You are correct as usual AH. The 1964 Grand Final was replayed on Channel 9. The commentators included Michael Peterson and Alan Killagrew. It was the first replay shown in SA. The ABC, Channel 7 and Channel 9 had all shown filmed highlights which normally lasted a couple of minutes prior to that time.

Football replays then commenced on all channels from round one of 1965.

Going back to the 1964 replay, they showed Neil Kerley's three quarter time address unedited. It was considered a very bold move back in those days. I can still remember Ian Day kicking the goal that sealed the game for South and Killa making a comment about him going out in a blaze of glory. He had already announced his retirement and he was going to spend more time on his golf. I found it ironic that he commenced commentating with Channel 7 the very next year. So much for his golf.

As an interested South supporter (and i'm sure many others out there), can anybody please advise us as to how/where a copy of that 1964 replay can be obtained (whatever the cost).

And also of any minor/major round game replays during 1965 to 1967.

JohnnyG wrote:As an interested South supporter (and i'm sure many others out there), can anybody please advise us as to how/where a copy of that 1964 replay can be obtained (whatever the cost).

And also of any minor/major round game replays during 1965 to 1967.

Most footage was deleted, or just not kept at that time, so getting any minor round games would be rare as Brenton Fevola's brain cells. However, there is 10-12 minutes of the 1964 GF, but it's one of those Rothman's promotional things and the production isn't very good, although you do get the general idea. Some nice footage of players such as David Kantilla, Neil Kerley, Ian Day, etc.

I've heard rumour that the entire 64 GF is locked away in someone's safe but I don't know this to be fact. Surely South Adelaide should have anything that's available, so maybe contact them.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

JohnnyG wrote:As an interested South supporter (and i'm sure many others out there), can anybody please advise us as to how/where a copy of that 1964 replay can be obtained (whatever the cost).

And also of any minor/major round game replays during 1965 to 1967.

Most footage was deleted, or just not kept at that time, so getting any minor round games would be rare as Brenton Fevola's brain cells. However, there is 10-12 minutes of the 1964 GF, but it's one of those Rothman's promotional things and the production isn't very good, although you do get the general idea. Some nice footage of players such as David Kantilla, Neil Kerley, Ian Day, etc.

I've heard rumour that the entire 64 GF is locked away in someone's safe but I don't know this to be fact. Surely South Adelaide should have anything that's available, so maybe contact them.

Thanks for that - i was afraid that you would tell me that - yes i have that rothmans footage and i have asked the club but they had no other footage either unfortunately...

Thank you for your help.