Ben Mathews Retires

Remove this Banner Ad

Its always sad when you see a fave player leaves your club,no less,the gameThe guy was a great clubman.For all those sinking the slipper in about his lack of whatever you think he was missing - One thing is for sure he wasn't missing spirit or passion for the Red & white & for that ,newbies or old farts- we should all be hoping that there's another one just like him to step into his boots.And besides he's got something alot of people can only dream about - BLING , in the form of a 2005 Premiership medallion!
Onya Benny!
 
beejw1 said:
I'm sorry guys but your comments are making me feel a litle bit ill.

Ok a great clubman and all that - but on field, useless. His turnover rates
and poor decision making was almost in the LRT vein. Many goals were kicked against us as a direct result of his clangers.

Now I expect some backlash over my comments but many supporters at Melbourne games would nod their heads in approval at my criticism of him, and I recall posts in these forums over the last few years were just as critical.

Now if we can just get rid of LRT.........
Click to expand...
are you serious,i am from melbourne and i never had a problem with ben so nod your head back and respect a swans champ !!!!
 
He wasn't a Brownlow winner but he was a key member of the Swans during a period of incredible consistency and ultimately success.
 

Log in to remove this ad.

I SMSed him a couple of days ago. I think he just knows that the youngsters (Jack, Bevan, Bird, Vesz) are taking over - and so they should, and it's his time to step aside.
 
Re: Mathews retires

speaking of retiring i dont know how true this is but somone told me kennely is leaving at end of year to go back to ireland to play gaelic anyone know anything about this
 
A slight digression... but why the **** is Kenny's face so beet red? Assuming it's not sexual titillation, surely it's a sign of ill-health.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

robbieando said:
You clearly haven't met him or know anything about him, because he has never said anything to suggest that he is or for that matter even thinks he is. He is just a passionate Swans supporter just like you and me.
Click to expand...
I have met him several times Robbie and i don't believe he should be yelling out in the middle of the club song that is for players not him
 
bedford said:
I have met him several times Robbie and i don't believe he should be yelling out in the middle of the club song that is for players not him
Click to expand...

I think you are just a bit envious bedders and would gladly take his spot. Old Kenny is harmless and has been a long-time supporter of the club as you and I have. I don't think he would be in there if the players and coaching staff didn't want him there !!!
 
I think this article off the swans web-site sums up the great contribution of Ben Matthew to our football club. Once again Benny well done from All Swans supporters on a fantastic career.:thumbsu:


From Corowa to a cup


By Louis White 6:30 PM Fri 05 September, 2008
Mathews_press05_246a.jpg
Ben Mathews and coach Paul Roos address the media in the Sydney Swans' premiership year of 2005


AFTER 198 games in 13 years for the Sydney Swans, premiership midfielder Ben Mathews has announced his retirement.
Mathews and sydneyswans.com.au's Louis White revisited the triumphs and friendships of a proud career.

LW: How did you come to be a Swan?
BM: I was drafted in the 1995 National Draft zone selection where the Sydney Swans were allowed to select three NSW players before the draft.
Where did you play growing up?
I was actually born in Leeton, southern New South Wales but we moved when I was young and I played in Corowa, which is on the border of New South Wales and Victoria.
Was Aussie Rules played there?
Yes, that was pretty much all you could play.
What memories do you have of your debut game?
It was round 16, 1997 against the West Coast Eagles at the SCG. I was both extremely nervous and excited. I don’t think I contributed too much but we won. I can distinctly remember Paul Roos walking up to me before the game giving me some good advice. He told me not to change my game too much from how I had been playing in the reserves and to enjoy the occasion.
I remember thinking how unbelievable it was to be running out with Roos, Tony Lockett, Paul Kelly, Michael O’Loughlin and Mark Bayes.
What was your most memorable match?
Definitely the 2005 grand final. I started off on Daniel Kerr but he got injured early so I moved onto Chad Fletcher. It was an amazing game and I think I played my role. When the siren went I felt huge relief and enormous satisfaction. That was the greatest match of my career.
And you played in the grand final rematch of 2006.
Yes, I did. Although we didn’t get the result we wanted it was a huge buzz to be out there again. I honestly believe those two grand finals will go down as two of the greatest grand finals in history. That rivalry we had with the West Coast Eagles can’t be surpassed. I cherished it and it is a huge part of playing footy. There were some great matches between the two sides.
Who were the three toughest opponents you played on?
The hardest would be Luke Power from the Brisbane Lions. He was, and still is, very talented and could run all day. I remember after they beat us in the 2003 preliminary final we wanted to emulate them and from then on we wanted to rise to the challenge of playing them.
Daniel Kerr was another tough opponent who was very hard to match up on. I played on him a few times and he is a great player too.
Last but not least is Robert Harvey. He could run all day and is one of the greats of the game.
Who were some of the best players you played with at the Swans?
Early on it was guys like Paul Kelly and Tony Lockett who were legends of the game. I can only marvel at what they achieved. I think Michael O’Loughlin is a freak of nature and it is amazing that he is still going today. Of course, there are guys like Brett Kirk, Leo Barry and Barry Hall who all have had outstanding careers and I honestly believe that Adam Goodes is going to be one of the all-time greats. What Goodes has achieved so far is phenomenal and he is only 28 and could play for quite a few years yet.
What was it like to play under Rodney Eade and Paul Roos?
I cherished the time I had with both Rodney Eade and Paul Roos. Eade gave me my start and I had a great relationship with him. Roos started the premiership winning qualities at the club and that was the most successful part of my career. I think Roos will go down as one of the all-time great coaches.
Was it a hard decision to retire?
The young guys have really stepped up this year and we live in a very competitive environment. I have had 13 years at the club and I am proud of what I have achieved. The body can’t always do what the mind wants it too.
What was your funniest moment in football?
It was Paul Williams' 250th game and 'Willo' was making one of his trademark runs down the wing bouncing the ball. We were way in front and 'Willo' had a shot from about 50 metres out and it looked as though it was heading for a goal. John Stevens was in the goal square and tried to shepherd it through but he turned his back on the ball and it hit him in the back and bounced through for a point, ruining Willo's chance of kicking a good running goal in his 250th game. We laughed then and still laugh at Stevens when we see him.
What does the future hold for Ben Mathews?
Well, I have a wife and three children and we will be moving to the Sunshine Coast soon to pursue business opportunities. I think it is a fantastic area to bring up children and that doesn’t mean I won’t return to Sydney one day because I love the place.
Will you still follow the Swans?
Of course. It will be good though to go to the footy as an independent observer and take the kids and just appreciate the skill level out there.

for sydneyswans.com.au
 
Lakeside Legacy said:
I think you are just a bit envious bedders and would gladly take his spot. Old Kenny is harmless and has been a long-time supporter of the club as you and I have. I don't think he would be in there if the players and coaching staff didn't want him there !!!
Click to expand...
They mighn't want to hurt his feelings
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Ben Mathews Retires

Similar threads

Chief
  • Poll
Admin Announcement Robbieando retires from modding
2
Replies
44
Views
2K
TheGoatBaron
TheGoatBaron
Grand Uncle Horace
Coach Horse: Retain, Retire, Reinvent?
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
134
Views
6K
Kiama Chris
Kiama Chris

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top