SA Footy

The West Adelaide Football Club regretfully announces the retirement of Ben Hollands. Ben informed the playing group and coaching staff of his decision before training last night.



Ben (30 years of age) has played 101 games for the Club from 2000 – 2002 then returned in 2006. Ben won the Club Best & Fairest Medal in 2001and the Fos Williams Medal in consecutive State Games in 2001/02. Ben decided to retire to further enhance the opportunities for our young squad to experience senior football.



Ben Hollands said “My decision to retire came about mainly due to a lack of enjoyment and passion as a player. I have extremely high expectations of other players when it comes to the commitment and passion you bring to the club and when I started to question those things about myself I knew it was time to move on.



The first part of my career at West Adelaide I reflect on as the best and most enjoyable football of my career. Unfortunately the second part of my career at West Adelaide hasn’t yielded as much success, but I am extremely proud of the efforts I made as part of the playing group, leaving no stone unturned to change the fortunes of the West Adelaide football club. I look forward to seeing some of the younger players grabbing hold of the opportunity my retirement presents and taking the club forward to future success.



There are many people I wish to thank from the training staff to the admin staff, and the fantastic support I have received over the years from the loyal Westonians and West Adelaide members. I also would like to thank every single player that I have pulled on a jumper with over my journey at West Adelaide , for helping me create a career I am extremely proud of.



I intend to take a break from football over the next few months to enjoy time with my wife Lisa and our boys, before exploring coaching opportunities beyond 2008.”



Damien Phillips (CEO) said “Following the recent retirements of Marc Dragicevic and Peter Walsh, the Club is entering a period of generational change. With Ben’s retirement this change continues and allows for the further development of our current playing list. Having said that we must acknowledge Ben’s contribution to the West Adelaide Football Club, which has seen Ben achieve 100 games, best and fairest winner and state representative. We wish Ben, Lisa and the family all the best in the future and look forward to seeing them at the club for many years to come.”




Mr Damien Phillips
Chief Executive Officer

West Adelaide Football Club

Thanks Ben

Thanks for the memories

Thiele wrote:I intend to take a break from football over the next few months to enjoy time with my wife Lisa and our boys, before exploring coaching opportunities beyond 2008.”

Interesting.

This retirement is a surprise to me but he has been a quality player and hopefully he can continue in some way with Westies.

Squawk wrote:

Thiele wrote:I intend to take a break from football over the next few months to enjoy time with my wife Lisa and our boys, before exploring coaching opportunities beyond 2008.”

Interesting.

This retirement is a surprise to me but he has been a quality player and hopefully he can continue in some way with Westies.

First of all, well done to Ben on a pretty good career in the AFL, with Westies, over in Wagga Wagga then back in the SANFL again...

Second point, I'm not suprised that he has decided to pull the pin before the season is out. I think he said himself that he had lost that passion to play SANFL footy and I must say when we played Westies out at Elizabeth a couple of weeks ago, I did notice that Ben was his usual self. He looked flat, his skills were shocking at times, missing basic 20m passes and turned the ball over on more than 1 occassion. I think that was evident that he had already made his mind up about pulling the pin and it became evident in his form in recent weeks.

Once again, congratulations to Ben on his career. All the best to him and his young family in life after football. I reckon he will now be able to work a bit more on his golf swing. I think he plays off a handicap of about 3, I have seen him out on a few courses in recent times...

Big Phil wrote:

Squawk wrote:

Thiele wrote:I intend to take a break from football over the next few months to enjoy time with my wife Lisa and our boys, before exploring coaching opportunities beyond 2008.”

Interesting.

This retirement is a surprise to me but he has been a quality player and hopefully he can continue in some way with Westies.

First of all, well done to Ben on a pretty good career in the AFL, with Westies, over in Wagga Wagga then back in the SANFL again...

Second point, I'm not suprised that he has decided to pull the pin before the season is out. I think he said himself that he had lost that passion to play SANFL footy and I must say when we played Westies out at Elizabeth a couple of weeks ago, I did notice that Ben was his usual self. He looked flat, his skills were shocking at times, missing basic 20m passes and turned the ball over on more than 1 occassion. I think that was evident that he had already made his mind up about pulling the pin and it became evident in his form in recent weeks.

Once again, congratulations to Ben on his career. All the best to him and his young family in life after football. I reckon he will now be able to work a bit more on his golf swing. I think he plays off a handicap of about 3, I have seen him out on a few courses in recent times...

Good call Phil

Ben has not, IMO, performed to the standards he showed he is capable of in his first SANFL stint. He has struggled with the pace of the game the last few years and it is sad to see him go a great bloke and a good man to have around the club. However, it is good to see that he has made this decision because i think that it is in the best interests of all parties that he moves on now it helps someone else develop and stops him playing without the passion the game demands.

All the best to Ben, Lisa and the kids.

Are Westies capable of fieldin league and reserves teams this week?

We have not been able to field a league team all year.....

Hollands was a terrific player...one of the better midfielders in the competition...

How many state jumpers did he don for the SANFL?

2 State Games

Cheers.

TigerBoss wrote:Hollands was a terrific player...one of the better midfielders in the competition...

How many state jumpers did he don for the SANFL?

2 times like Theile said TB, while he actually won the Fos Williams medal on both occasions as well...

Not a bad effort and joins pretty illustrious company with Craig Bradley ('85 - '86) and Andrew Newton Jarman ('89 - '90)* as the only players to win the award in consecutive years.

* Jars' win in 1990 was actually in that City v Country game played at Footy Park