A short Bio of Ben from the Sydney Swans Website
A veteran hard-nut, Mathews is an expert stopper who works
selflessly for the team. Dour and dependable, he played in the 2005
premiership side and in the losing 2006 Grand Final side. Rarely plays
a poor game and is relentless with his work ethic.
CAREER
The clever on-baller from Corowa-Rutherglen in southern NSW was a zone selection for Sydney in 1995 and was nurtured in the seconds throughout his first year before making his senior debut in 1997, playing four games. He regained a spot in the side in 1999 at half-back and in the midfield receiving a Norwich Union AFL Rising Star nomination and improved dramatically in the following two seasons playing every game - at back-pocket and as a run-with player - showing consistency, ball-winning abilities and capacity to bust the game open in the middle to come third in the Club's best and fairest in 2001. Missed one game in each of the 2002 and 2003 season's - thigh and ankle injury respectively - demonstrating his reliability, durability, aggression and courage in Sydney's unsung backline. In 2004 he had 404 possessions over his 23 games, including 31 against the Kangaroos in round four, to finish sixth in the best and fairest. Sadly Mathews broke his ankle early in Sydney's semi-final loss to St Kilda. The following year he celebrated his Life Membership with the Swans (150 games) by captaining the Club in two games - a one-point win against Collingwood and one-point loss to Richmond. Last season was hampered by injury before finally getting his body right at the business end of the season - returning in round 21 to again prove his value to the defence.
Last Modified on 01/03/2010 17:06