Australian Football

Fast, elusive and courageous, West Adelaide’s Ron Benton was, in the words of Jeff Pash, “a heroic little figure” for whom “every game seems to be another survival”¹. Over the course of his 184-game 198-goal league career between 1955 and 1959 and from 1961 to 1965 he achieved virtually everything the game had to offer: a Magarey Medal and club best and fairest award in 1957, interstate football (albeit only one game), a near best afield performance in the winning Grand Final of 1961 against Norwood, and West Adelaide’s leading goal kicker award (with 29 goals) in 1963. He was, without doubt, one of the most illustrious players in the history of a club that, over the years, has been blessed with a disproportionately high number of top quality footballers.

Author - John Devaney