Bencraft, a rover originally from Sandringham, played briefly for the Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League during the 1944 season, playing a total of two senior games. When the VFA resumed competition in 1945, Bencraft played for Sandringham, where he played from 1945 until 1952, and again in 1956.[1] He was a notable member of the club's inaugural premiership in 1946, kicking the winning goal in the club's one-point preliminary final against Williamstown (in which it had come back from a 40-point three-quarter time deficit), then kicking the last goal in its seven-point Grand Final win against Camberwell.[2] He was also a member of the 1947 Grand Final team.
Bencraft was appointed senior coach of Sandringham in 1958, and coached there for five years. He led the club to two Grand Finals, including the 1962 premiership – in which the club came from behind to win the Grand Final by one point, after trailing Moorabbin by 44 points at three quarter time. It was his last year in a five-season stint as coach, although he was called on again in 1974 for one more year.[1] Bencraft also had great success as Sandringham's Thirds coach, leading the team to five premierships in twelve seasons; he retired at the end of 1983, frustrated by the fact that the Thirds had been altered from an Under-19s competition to an Under-18s competition that season.[3]
Both the main grandstand at Trevor Barker Beach Oval[4] and the Sandringham Best and Fairest award are named after Bencraft, and he is a member of the club's Hall of Fame. He earned his primary living working as a butcher.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdPaul Amy (21 October 2010). . Leader. Moorabbin, VIC. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
^"Sandy did it in 1946 too". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, VIC. 3 October 1962. p. 23.
^Marc Fiddian (7 April 1984). "Coach calls it a day, with regrets". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 39.
^. Sandringham Football Club. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
Neil Bencraft's playing statistics from AFL Tables
Australian Football: Zebras Back From The Brink
Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
External linksedit
DemonWiki profile
December 18, 2023
neil, bencraft, neil, bencraft, december, 1924, october, 2010, australian, rules, football, player, coach, with, sandringham, football, club, victorian, football, association, personal, informationfull, nameneil, bencraftdate, birth, 1924, december, 1924date, . Neil C Bencraft 8 December 1924 11 October 2010 1 was an Australian rules football player and coach with the Sandringham Football Club in the Victorian Football Association Neil BencraftPersonal informationFull nameNeil C BencraftDate of birth 1924 12 08 8 December 1924Date of death11 October 2010 2010 10 11 aged 85 Original team s Sandringham ColtsHeight165 cm 5 ft 5 in Weight64 kg 141 lb Position s RoverPlaying career1YearsClubGames Goals 1944Melbourne2 3 1945 52Sandringham140 227 1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1952 Sources AFL Tables AustralianFootball comBencraft a rover originally from Sandringham played briefly for the Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League during the 1944 season playing a total of two senior games When the VFA resumed competition in 1945 Bencraft played for Sandringham where he played from 1945 until 1952 and again in 1956 1 He was a notable member of the club s inaugural premiership in 1946 kicking the winning goal in the club s one point preliminary final against Williamstown in which it had come back from a 40 point three quarter time deficit then kicking the last goal in its seven point Grand Final win against Camberwell 2 He was also a member of the 1947 Grand Final team Bencraft was appointed senior coach of Sandringham in 1958 and coached there for five years He led the club to two Grand Finals including the 1962 premiership in which the club came from behind to win the Grand Final by one point after trailing Moorabbin by 44 points at three quarter time It was his last year in a five season stint as coach although he was called on again in 1974 for one more year 1 Bencraft also had great success as Sandringham s Thirds coach leading the team to five premierships in twelve seasons he retired at the end of 1983 frustrated by the fact that the Thirds had been altered from an Under 19s competition to an Under 18s competition that season 3 Both the main grandstand at Trevor Barker Beach Oval 4 and the Sandringham Best and Fairest award are named after Bencraft and he is a member of the club s Hall of Fame He earned his primary living working as a butcher 1 References edit a b c d Paul Amy 21 October 2010 Zebras mourn a great Leader Moorabbin VIC Archived from the original on 23 January 2011 Retrieved 19 November 2013 Sandy did it in 1946 too The Sporting Globe Melbourne VIC 3 October 1962 p 23 Marc Fiddian 7 April 1984 Coach calls it a day with regrets The Age Melbourne VIC p 39 Round 13 Preview and Teams Sandringham V Casey Sandringham Football Club 21 June 2012 Archived from the original on 22 March 2014 Retrieved 23 March 2014 Neil Bencraft s playing statistics from AFL Tables Australian Football Zebras Back From The Brink Holmesby Russell and Main Jim 2007 The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers 7th ed Melbourne Bas Publishing External links editDemonWiki profile Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Neil Bencraft amp oldid 1153562169, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
