7 July 2001
Some footballers remind you of the implements that tradesmen use. For example Glenn 'Impact Drill' Archer, Brett 'Orbital Sander' Ratten, Buddha 'Hammer' Hocking, Paul 'Angle Grinder' Kelly and David 'Sandblaster' Schwarz.
One player is remembered for winning a game off his own boot. Ben 'Bandsaw' Hollands. The young fellow has covered more territory than a competitor in the Paris-Dakar rally. The Band man came from North Albury. He was a NSW and all Australian Commonwealth Bank Under 17 representative in 1995. No surprise that Sydney pursued him like the coyote after the road runner. The Swans got their man with a 1995 zone selection.
B and H was a power pack. 177 centimetres and 75 kilograms. He had two seasons in the red and white reserves. Despite eight games the years were a lost weekend. Punctuated by injuries as persistent as the Tax Office. Copped back and knee trouble. The Bloods released Beno in 1997. He returned to North Albury. Starred in every game no Ovens and Murrays about that.
Then came a stroke of luck that Hollands put the multigrips around with both hands. Richmond placed him on the 1998 rookie list. He repaid that faith with an excellent year. Finished third in the reserves best and fairest. Benny boy wore the number 43 jumper of course the original number worn by a colourful Richmond identity Rex Hunt.
In 1999 the young Tiger was promoted to the senior list following a long term injury to Paddy Steinfort. Selected in the ones for the round 13 game against the Dockers at Subiaco It proved his greatest afternoon. Hollands might have started on the bench but when he came on the guy buzzed like an electric drill at full revs. Every time he grabbed the Sherrin in the midfield players such as Chris Bond and Tony Delaney and Jason Norrish switched into panic mode. It was a game weird as a Japanese sci-fi movie plot. Goal for goal in the first half then the majors evaporated like dam in high summer. Then the rush started again midway through the second half. Richardson goal. Then Gale. Greg Harding goal. Clive two six pointers in a minute. Clem Michael a clever tap over the back to voice and Shipp an easy one.
Suddenly seconds remaining and the Tigers five points down. Ball out of the middle and Bowden a kick forward. Hollands marked within 30 metres on a 45. Cool as an Esky. No sparks flying off the emotional emery wheel. Drilled the goal as the final siren blew. Tigers one point victors. Team mates ran from everywhere to hail the match winner. Hollands was let go at the end of 1999. 3 games.
Undeterred he tried his luck in the SANFL the second best comp in the land. He joined West Adelaide, a club with an enclave of ex Tigers such as Ed Richardson. The H is among the best every week. With the result that the Power have added the ex Tiger to their rookie list. Have a look for the bloke wearing the teal number 44. Two weeks ago he slammed through 3 goals for the SANFL when it beat the VFL at Adelaide Oval. Ben Hollands; a player at the cutting edge of a great win.