BIO
Christopher Bennett joined Norwood after having stints at Adelaide (1889-1890), North Adelaide (1888), West Adelaide (1887), and South Adelaide (1886). A fine follower, he was tireless and consistent.
Bennett made his Norwood debut on the Kensington Oval in the 1891 season opener against South Adelaide when he was named in the best players and Norwood won the match 5.13 to 2.7. On 16 May 1891 he played against Port Adelaide on the Kensington Oval; Norwood lost 4.6 to 9.7.
He was a member of the Norwood team that defeated Carlton on the South Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 25. Final scores: 6.10 to 3.3 and in late May and early June 1891, Bennett was part of the Norwood squad that travelled to South Ballarat and Southern Tasmania to play a series of matches.
On June 22 1891, a crowd of 13,000 saw Norwood defeat Port Adelaide on the Adelaide Oval 6.11 to 5.6 and Bennett was the best of the Norwood followers.
He again played as a follower when Norwood met the touring Fitzroy team on the Adelaide Oval on August 8 and went down 3.4 to 4.8
South Adelaide defeated Norwood on August 22 at Adelaide Oval although Norwood had won the previous three encounters between the two clubs that season. Bennett was one of Norwood's better players. Final Score: 1.6 to 3.16.
The decider for the 1891 flag was between Norwood and Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on September 5. Both teams had won 11 games and were level on top of the table. Norwood fielded its best team for the season and won 5.4 to 3.4. Bennett was named in a forward pocket.
In 1892 he continued to play in the ruck and on May 14 played in the easy win against Adelaide. The following week he was in the team that narrowly lost to Port Adelaide on the Kensington Oval and later kicked a goal in Norwood's defeat of Medindie on June 11.
On June 20, Bennett played against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval and Norwood's inaccuracy in front of goal was a major reason for the loss. Final scores : Norwood 2.11 to Port Adelaide 3.4 *
In 1893 he decided to take on umpiring in the South Australian Football Association. His debut as central umpire was on May 6 in the match between Port Adelaide and North Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.The match report stated that Bennett could have used the whistle more, but that he was fast and able to keep up with the play.
During the year he also played for Palmers in the City and Suburban Football Association.
His brother Thomas (Tom) Bennett was also a member of Norwood's 1891 premiership team, and played with Christopher at several other clubs before they joined Norwood.
* Prior to 1897 behinds did not count in the final score
R Cialini May 2023