Premiership highlight a highlight for Saint | Under the Auld Pump

Born: in Warrnambool on February 13, 1990.

Wife: Trish.

Parents: Marita and Brendan. Siblings: Sam, Rachel and Tom (passed away).

Education: St John's Primary School in Dennington before going to St Joseph's Primary School in Warrnambool and then Emmanuel College Warrnambool.

Sporting highlight: playing for Koroit when they won the 2009 premiership against Warrnambool on the Reid Oval.

Ben, firstly I note that you'll be celebrating your 30th birthday on February 13. Have you plans for a big birthday bash?

Not this year. It will be a low key birthday as Trish and I are focused on the birth of our first child in April. I may let the hair down a bit after the birth.

Why did you rate the 2009 premiership win as your sporting highlight?

It was my first flag win with Koroit. My family has had a long history with Koroit and in particular my dad Brendan so it was great that I played in a premiership side with the club. I had missed out in 2007 under Andrew Foster. I had injured my right ankle in a game of basketball. I was only 16-years-old and I never realised the importance of winning premierships as I was so young. I just thought the chance was there each year but I've found out that you've got to work really hard and have a bit of luck on the way to play in premiership sides. An interesting fact is Koroit has won nine flags since 2003 and in each of those premiership wins there's been at least one Dobson in the side.

Let's go back to the 2009 premiership win. What's your recollection of the game?

It's a bit hazy. I would say on paper we had the best side but that does not always work out. Anything can happen and often does happen in grand finals. We were just a bit too strong. The win was also great because Joe McLaren was the coach. Joe and his brother Chris plus their family have had a massive input into the success of the club so it was great to see it rewarded.

Ben, how many premiership wins at Koroit have you played in with your brother Sam?

We've both played in three premierships with the club but two together. It's pretty special to have played in the same side as Sam to win those flags for the club.

Did your footy career start with Koroit?

Yes. It was in Auskick. We were living at Mailors Flat at the time and my parents would take me into Koroit for Auskick. I had one year of playing under 12s with Warrnambool because I had some mates playing there before I went back out and played my junior career with Koroit.

Ben, you've played for Essendon in the VFL competition and on two occasions you represented Victoria country against Victoria metro and you had a stint playing with St Mary's Football Club in Geelong. What were those experiences like?

They were really good. One of the games I remember most was playing for Essendon was when we lined up against Geelong. My brother Sam was playing for Geelong. It was a funny sort of experience playing in a side against Sam. We crossed paths a couple of times in the game but nothing untoward happened. Matt Egan coached me when I was at Essendon. I thought he was a fantastic coach. I had four years with St Mary's. They are a very successful club. My Victoria Country experiences happened in 2015 and 2017. My Victoria Country selection was special because my dad Brendan played many years ago and so did my brother Sam for them in that competition. Peter Knights was the coach in 2015, while the late Danny Frawley was in charge in 2017.

How would you describe Knights who was a champion footballer at Hawthorn and Frawley in a few words?

They were both passionate coaches and down to earth blokes. We are all aware of what happened to Danny Frawley in September. His passing just shows us all how life can change in an instant. We can't take anything for granted. We've got to be there to support our family and friends.

Koroit has won six consecutive premierships and has started training for the 2020 season. Have you started pre-season training?

No. I haven't started training. I'm just having a bit of a break. I burst a blood vessel in my left knee in the third quarter of the grand final against North Warrnambool. It's still giving me a bit of trouble but it will be alright so I'm just taking it a bit easy. I'm helping out Tim Hunt with some pre-season training with the Rebel's under 16 squad.

Ben is coaching something that you are considering in the future?

Yes. I want to be a coach in the future. I really like helping the young players learn their skills. It's all about giving something back to footy. I've been fortunate that I've been coached by numerous good coaches. I'm looking forward to the challenges that coaching brings. I'm not going to jump into the coaching. It's all about having the stars to align before taking up a job.

Away from the footy you've also shown your talent on the cricket field. Twice you've won the senior cricketer of the year award in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association. The first in 2007-2008 and the other in 2012-2013.You're playing again this season with Wesley. How's your form?

I'm struggling a bit but I'm enjoying the challenges of playing cricket again. Cricket took second place to footy for a few years. I've been lucky to have played cricket at two great local clubs in Wesley and West Warrnambool. I played in the 2007-2008 premiership side with Wesley. We had some good players including Leon Beks, Wayne Couch and Tom Hill. I was also lucky enough to play in a premiership side with West Warrnambool in 2011-2012, under Andrew Robb.