24 Benjamin Stratton

Choose another player Bailey, Max - [39] Bateman, Chance - [10] Birchall, Grant - [14] Boumann, Jarrad - [31] Breust, Luke - [22] Bruce, Cameron - [17] Burgoyne, Shaun - [9] Cheney, Kyle - [13] Duryea, Taylor - [41] Ellis, Xavier - [8] Franklin, Lance - [23] Gibson, Josh - [6] Gilham, Stephen - [27] Grimley, Sam - [35] Guerra, Brent - [18] Gunston, Jack - [19] Hale, David - [20] Hallahan, Mitchell - [38] Hill, Bradley - [32] Hodge, Luke - [15] Kelly, Jordan - [34] Lewis, Jordan - [3] Litherland, Angus - [42] Lowden, Luke - [30] Mitchell, Sam - [5] Murphy, Thomas - [29] Osborne, Michael - [7] Puopolo, Paul - [28] Rioli, Cyril - [33] Roughead, Jarryd - [2] Savage, Shane - [21] Schoenmakers, Ryan - [25] Sewell, Brad - [12] Shiels, Liam - [26] Smith, Isaac - [16] Stratton, Benjamin - [24] Suckling, Matt - [4] Whitecross, Brendan - [37] Woodward, Alex - [36] Young, Clinton - [11]

Stratton's 2011 season ended abruptly when he dislocated his knee gainst Richmond in round three. He was initially ruled out for the season but returned just before the finals, despite a lack of match condition, to make a contribution.  The mobile tall defender was rewarded with the revered No. 24 jumper after a stellar debut in 2010. His importance to Hawthorn’s defence was illustrated in the preliminary final, where he helped the team get within a whisker of a Grand Final berth. Back to full fitness, he will be an important weapon in 2012.


Draft history: 2009 NAB AFL Draft 3rd round selection (Hawthorn) No. 46 overall.

Watch Ben Stratton in action

Stats (averages for WAFL - League)
Games	K	H	D	M	G	H/O
4	5	5	10	4	0	-

In his own words
What type of player are you?
Medium-tall defender with good pace and closing speed. Can play on talls and smalls, good overhead and in a one-on-one contest. Can kick on both sides.

Which AFL player do you most resemble and why?
Darren Glass or Matthew Scarlett. They shut down and get a key forward every week but will run off their man when they get a chance. They are also capable of playing on talls or smalls.

What are your strengths as a footballer?
Pace, one-on-ones, shutting down a key forward, run and carry from defence and overhead marking

What parts of your game would you like to improve?
Skills and body strength.

Which AFL team do you support and how did you come to barrack for them?
Essendon. They play an exciting brand of footy that is good to watch - a heap of WA players are playing for them.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career so far and why?
My parents because they have supported me and given me every opportunity to achieve my dream. Also Tony Micale - in the short time he has coached me I have learnt so much about defensive techniques. He has improved me as a player.