Past Player of the Week - Ben Haynes

[The Speaker]

Ben Haynes

​

DOB: 27/06/1981

Height: 182 cm

Weight: 83 kg

Playing number: 39

Arrived: Drafted with pick 12 in the 2002 AFL rookie draft

Debut: Round 18 vs Carlton, 2003

Games: 21

Goals: 11

Won: West Adelaide B&F - 2006

Departed: Delisted at the end of the 2005 season

Ben Haynes was a skilled midfielder/forward who never really got going. Hailing from Melton South, Haynes captained the Western Jets and played for the Essendon VFL team in 1999, but was first picked by a different AFL club - Richmond. Essendon was unable to draft him due to their lack of draft picks that year, and so he spent 2000-2001 at Punt Road.

Haynes was clearly talented, but was also the kind of player who would take some time to develop, and was prone to lapses in concentration and discipline. Richmond cut him from their list at the end of 2001, and he was promptly rookied by Essendon, before being promoted to the senior list in 2003. He played some genuinely useful games in his time, and managed to play three finals, but he was consistently hampered by injury. He was delisted at the end of 2005, and went to play for West Adelaide in the SANFL, where he won the Best & Fairest in 2006.

He has since coached Silvan, and played for Marbynong Park (where he won a Grand Final) and Montmorency.

 

[bacon buster]

i remember 03-04 he played some good games
one of those good ordinary players we had in our side from 03-05

 

[Kong]

Haynes, Bullen and Alvey were three guys that Sheedy made me believe would revitalise our midfield.

 

[eth-dog]

I liked him.

 

[Doss]

Haynes, Bullen and Alvey were three guys that Sheedy made me believe would revitalise our midfield.

The first two, yes.

Alvey remains, for me, one of the worst players I've seen in red and black and I never understood why we got him. Still don't get it.

Haynes could have been alright- any chance of that was destroyed by injury, though.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

GONZO!!! Massive Figjam.

Thought he was going to be a bloody good player for us till the Freo final where he was utter schite under pressure. From there he just went downhill.

 

[daffo]

I worked with his mum a while back. she was a lovely lady. Apparently Essendon assured him that they were going to pick him up in that draft but didn't due to other players being avaliable that they thought wouldn't be there. I think he had talent but just wasn't used in the right way.

 

[Darealrath]

Hilariously described as the next Mercuri on this board.

Had pretty good skills but seemed to lack poise and didn't win enough of his own footy.

 

[Runk]

There's a memory that belongs in the 'I forgot' category.

 

[GandalfTheDon]

The first two, yes.

Alvey remains, for me, one of the worst players I've seen in red and black and I never understood why we got him. Still don't get it.

Haynes could have been alright- any chance of that was destroyed by injury, though.

Courtney Johns anyone?

 

[bacon buster]

Courtney Johns anyone?

Ty Zantuck

 

[Doss]

Courtney Johns anyone?

Ty Zantuck

Jarrod Atkinson by a mile.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

Hilariously described as the next Mercuri on this board.

Had pretty good skills but seemed to lack poise and didn't win enough of his own footy.

I admit I was one who thought he could be a similar player. Had a lot to like about him early on. Smooth mover and was quite polished. Then the final against Freo showed he was schite under pressure. Finals make or break careers. Sure did for him.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

Jarrod Atkinson by a mile.

Cannot believe how badly people bag Atkinson.

Given some of the uber spuds we have seen at this club, he could at least run quick and provide some excitement during our kamikaze Knights days.

 

[Doss]

Providing excitement does not equal a good footballer, though.

My overarching memory of Atkinson was him running heedlessly into a tackle in the Adelaide final and steadfastly refusing to bounce or dish off- he looked like he thought he was playing rugby.

 

[Doss]

I admit I was one who thought he could be a similar player. Had a lot to like about him early on. Smooth mover and was quite polished. Then the final against Freo showed he was schite under pressure. Finals make or break careers. Sure did for him.

I must admit I don't recall Haynes in that Freo final. Mainly because we demolished them.

What happened?

 

[Pevers-Legend]

I must admit I don't recall Haynes in that Freo final. Mainly because we demolished them.

What happened?

Squibbed it like a mofo. Was just terrible. You could see he reacted really badly to the pressure of finals while other players like Stupido lifted when needed.

 

[bacon buster]

Providing excitement does not equal a good footballer, though.

My overarching memory of Atkinson was him running heedlessly into a tackle in the Adelaide final and steadfastly refusing to bounce or dish off- he looked like he thought he was playing rugby.

Quinn.

but seriously, i didn't mind Atkinson. had no defensive awareness, but could run and kick ok.

 

[Doss]

The not so mighty Quinn. Destroyed Woosha's career by default- he was never the same after that injury.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

Quinn.

but seriously, i didn't mind Atkinson. had no defensive awareness, but could run and kick ok.

The irishman. How could I forget. The guy couldn't play football, yet somehow managed to play a game for us and final no less. He played a couple the next season from memory. Still remember being at that final and Crows supporters mocking him. It was such an empty feeling because he was that pathetic (through no fault of his own as he should not have been near the team).

Oh how I have forgotten the lost years where stupidity reigned supreme at our club.

 

[letstayunited]

Jarrod Atkinson by a mile.

Damien Cupido

 

[Runk]

Damien Cupido

Ssssssssssssssshhhhh!!! Don't say that in here.

 

[bacon buster]

Damien Cupido

imagine if we could have put Courtney Johns' mind/willpower, into Cupido's body
Johns was s**t, but i give him credit for how hard he tried to make it with all his injuries.
Cupido was amazingly talented, but man, he did not gaf

 

[yaco55]

Haynes was one that I thought would play more games. A smooth mover with decent skills. I suspect winning contested ball was a problem.

 

[monty1104]

Damien Cupido

I raise you Danny McAlister