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Darren Bennett. “Great Stuff at Windy Hill”

Sir Why You Little
in Melbourne Demons

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Long before BBB we had Big Bad Billy Bennett. I think it was Brad Sparks that started calling him Billy. Once upon a time all we had were the occasional days out like this one to to give us hope that one day our fortunes would maybe change. 

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    Was at the Windy hill game , crowd was stunned.

    unfortunately he was a full foward only and couldnt play chf when allen j played .

    made a career as a punter in nfl

     with san diego chargers . The running joke was his takle in nfl at 8.49 

    Made team of decade  for san diego

     

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    18 minutes ago, Satan said:

    Was at the Windy hill game , crowd was stunned.

    unfortunately he was a full foward only and couldnt play chf when allen j played .

    made a career as a punter in nfl

     with san diego chargers . The running joke was his takle in nfl at 8.49 

    Made team of decade  for san diego

     

    Yes He was perfect for NFL, not only distance, but the Hang Time was incredible!

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    This time last year, were all imagining this would be Harrison Petty's 2024 highlight reel :laugh:

    Edited by John Demonic

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    I remember his last season with us. He was mostly injured. His booming kicking disappeared. Then he had his amazing career change. I met him a couple of times when he played with us.  I used to work with his girlfriend at the time. I believe she became his wife.

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    Bennett was a true full forward. Would love to have a player like him right now.  We really enjoyed the last qtr comeback v bombers at windy hill. Ricky Jackson and Bennett were the match winners.  

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    Was at the game. Still in disbelief. Longest kick for goal I've seen in a Demon jumper. Underrated by most. Made a small fortune in the NFL.

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    1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

    Shall never forget that day at Windy Hill….

    Me too. Bloody brilliant comeback win. 

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    9 hours ago, Satan said:

    Was at the Windy hill game , crowd was stunned.

    unfortunately he was a full foward only and couldnt play chf when allen j played .

    made a career as a punter in nfl

     with san diego chargers . The running joke was his takle in nfl at 8.49 

    Made team of decade  for san diego

    1991 was nice: A. Jakovich 71, D. Bennett 55 (though a come-down on his 1990 87...) There were one or two games of nice overlap, I think?

    Edited by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

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    Loved Billy. Gave me plenty of highlights as a youngster.

    I think in the 1990 EF against the Hawks he kicked a goal on the line. Full barrel. Tried to kick it out of the stadium. He came to my high school to discuss placements in US college’s as punters. About 9 of us tried with 1 successfully applicant. He was super nice.
     

    Instantly stopped following the Raiders when he started at the Chargers. 

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    5 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

    1991 was nice: A. Jakovich 71, D. Bennett 55 (though a come-down on his 1990 87...) There were one or two games of nice overlap, I think?

    Great highlights. Wow, different times but a kings ransom for an 87 goal forward in 2025! 

    Can't believe when his height and weight stats popped up he was only 82 kg. Surely that was what he  he weighed on his first day at the Demons (and the scales were broken).

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    Won the long kicking comp at a school where I was working 

    Beat amongst others, Benny Graham

    Roosted a wet, heavy Sherrin over 65 metres

    Won a couple of tickets to LA - might have been the start....

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    We would be frightening if we had someone like Bennett and Jakovich right now - even just Bennett. Deary me, what a leg.

    It’s just astonishing we couldn’t get a flag with some of our talent in the 80s and 90s.


    I wish the person who made that would redo it and remove the backing dirge. I was waiting for a leg to fall off or a Scud missile to come from nowhere and obliterate him!!

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    Bennett is also credited for the introduction into the NFL of the "Aussie Rules kick" or "drop punt" as it is known in Australia. The technique was instrumental in the advancement of Australians into the NFL, and is a widely accepted punt now in all levels of football from NFL, NCAA and high schools around the country.

     

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    1 hour ago, Superunknown said:

    We would be frightening if we had someone like Bennett and Jakovich right now - even just Bennett. Deary me, what a leg.

    It’s just astonishing we couldn’t get a flag with some of our talent in the 80s and 90s.


    I wish the person who made that would redo it and remove the backing dirge. I was waiting for a leg to fall off or a Scud missile to come from nowhere and obliterate him!!

    Plenty of talent in the 80s and 90s, but the Hawks had more - we just kept on running into them

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    4 hours ago, jumbo returns said:

    Plenty of talent in the 80s and 90s, but the Hawks had more - we just kept on running into them

    My dream fwd line of a few decades ago would be possibly a combo of

    A. Jacko

    G.Lion

    Neita

    Robbo

    Farmer

    Schwartz 

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    22 hours ago, Call Me What You Will said:

    One of the best……

    No doubt about that ... phenomenal kick, tough as nails and great hands. Always thought he got the rough end of the pineapple at the advent of A. Jakovich. The two of them, onfield together, could have re-written the footy text book for forward play. 

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    Wonderful kick of a behind was my main memory.

    There were many moments that were highlights though - Windy Hill especially. 

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