| Neil Besanko | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Born | (1951-04-28) 28 April 1951 | ||
| Original team | Mentone | ||
| Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 88 kg (194 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1968–1977 | St Kilda | 149 (4) | |
| 1978–1981 | Essendon | 35 (1) | |
| Total | 184 (5) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1981. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Neil Besanko (born 28 April 1951) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda and Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Besanko made his VFL debut as a 17 year in 1968 and was a regular fixture in the St Kilda defence during the 1970s. Besanko played in the 1971 VFL Grand Final with St Kilda.
In 1978 he moved on to Essendon and he was joined there by his brother Barry in the 1980 season.[1]
After 184 VFL games, Besanko moved to South Australia to play with Central Districts.
Nicknamed 'Racehorse' as he was also a professional sprinter and he won the 1971 and 1972 Burramine Gift and finished second in the 1971 Bendigo 1000.[2]
References
- Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
External links
- Neil Besanko's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- ^ "Neil Besanko: Player Profile". Essendon FC: Past Players. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "1972 - Three runners barred". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 3 January 1972. p. 11. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
