Ben Nelson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Ben Nelson is an Australian rules football
er who played with Carlton
and Adelaide in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
Nelson is the son of famous Sturt player Philip 'Sandy' Nelson
, and accordingly played his first senior football with the Sturt Football Club
in 1994. He was to join the inaugural Port Adelaide Power team in 1997 as it was admitted to the Australian Football League
; however, Port Adelaide traded him and Andrew Balkwill
to the Carlton Football Club
for Brent Heaver
in the 1996/97 offseason.
Nelson, strangely enough, made his debut for Carlton in Sturt colours—the game when Carlton famously wore pale blue guernseys instead of their traditional navy blue, due to a promotional deal with M&Ms. He was strongly built and played mostly as a tagger and at half back. Injuries interrupted his early career but he became a regular in the side in 1999 and played in their losing Grand Final that year against the Kangaroos. After 40 games for Carlton, Nelson was traded to Adelaide for David Gallagher
at the conclusion of the 2001 season. Nelson managed 12 games for Adelaide in 2002 before being delisted.
Following his AFL career, Nelson returned to Sturt
. He had been a member of Sturt's 2002 premiership team (as an AFL-listed player allocated to Sturt when on reserve
), and in his first full season back at the club, 2003, he was Club Champion. He was made captain of the club in 2004, and held that position outright until 2006; from 2007, he was co-captain with Jade Sheedy
. In 2007, at the age of 30, Nelson was equal second in the 2007 Magarey Medal
. Nelson retired at the end of 2010, after playing more than 200 games for the Double Blues in his SANFL career. He and his father Phillip are the only father/son combination to have each played 200 games at the same SANFL club.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
and Adelaide in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Nelson is the son of famous Sturt player Philip 'Sandy' Nelson
Sandy Nelson (footballer)
Philip 'Sandy' Nelson is a former Australian rules footballer who played 244 games with Sturt in the SANFL from 1966 to 1977.Nelson, who went by his nickname of Sandy, played in no less than seven premiership teams during his time at Sturt...
, and accordingly played his first senior football with the Sturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
in 1994. He was to join the inaugural Port Adelaide Power team in 1997 as it was admitted to the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
; however, Port Adelaide traded him and Andrew Balkwill
Andrew Balkwill
Andrew Balkwill is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the Australian Football League . Balkwill holds an intriguing record - he is the only Carlton footballer to have played a senior match, yet to have never worn the navy blue jumper.-External links:* at Blueseum...
to the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
for Brent Heaver
Brent Heaver
Brent Heaver is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne Football Club, Carlton Football Club and the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL during the 1990s.-Melbourne career :...
in the 1996/97 offseason.
Nelson, strangely enough, made his debut for Carlton in Sturt colours—the game when Carlton famously wore pale blue guernseys instead of their traditional navy blue, due to a promotional deal with M&Ms. He was strongly built and played mostly as a tagger and at half back. Injuries interrupted his early career but he became a regular in the side in 1999 and played in their losing Grand Final that year against the Kangaroos. After 40 games for Carlton, Nelson was traded to Adelaide for David Gallagher
David Gallagher (footballer)
David Gallagher is an Australian rules footballer who has played in the Australian Football League and the Victorian Football League....
at the conclusion of the 2001 season. Nelson managed 12 games for Adelaide in 2002 before being delisted.
Following his AFL career, Nelson returned to Sturt
Sturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
. He had been a member of Sturt's 2002 premiership team (as an AFL-listed player allocated to Sturt when on reserve
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
), and in his first full season back at the club, 2003, he was Club Champion. He was made captain of the club in 2004, and held that position outright until 2006; from 2007, he was co-captain with Jade Sheedy
Jade Sheedy
Jade Sheedy is an Australian Rules Footballer with the Sturt Football Club in the SANFL. He won the 2002 Magarey Medal, has captained the State football team in 2008 and 2009 and is the Sturt co-captain with over 200 games for the club...
. In 2007, at the age of 30, Nelson was equal second in the 2007 Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
. Nelson retired at the end of 2010, after playing more than 200 games for the Double Blues in his SANFL career. He and his father Phillip are the only father/son combination to have each played 200 games at the same SANFL club.