{{short description|Australian rules footballer}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox AFL biography | name = Neil Besanko | image = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|4|28|df=y}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | originalteam = Mentone | height = 187 cm | weight = 88 kg | position = | statsend = 1981 | years1 = 1968–1977 | club1 = St Kilda | games_goals1 = 149 (4) | years2 = 1978–1981 | club2 = Essendon | games_goals2 = 35 (1) | games_goalstotal = 184 (5) | careerhighlights = }}
'''Neil Besanko''' (born 28 April 1951) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda and Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Besanko made his VFL debut as a 17 year in 1968 and was a regular fixture in the St Kilda defence during the 1970s. Besanko played in the 1971 VFL Grand Final with St Kilda.
In 1978 he moved on to Essendon and he was joined there by his brother Barry in the 1980 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neil Besanko: Player Profile |url=https://essendonfcpastplayers.com.au/past-player-profiles/listing/besanko-neil/ |website=Essendon FC: Past Players |access-date=15 January 2026}}</ref>
After 184 VFL games, Besanko moved to South Australia to play with Central Districts.
Nicknamed 'Racehorse' as he was also a professional sprinter and he won the 1971 and 1972 Burramine Gift and finished second in the 1971 Bendigo 1000.<ref>{{cite web |title=1972 - Three runners barred |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/101751132 |publisher=The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) |access-date=15 January 2026 |page=11 |date=3 January 1972}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}} * Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). ''The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers''. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
==External links== * {{AFL Tables|ref=N/Neil_Besanko.html}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Besanko, Neil}} Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state) Category:St Kilda Football Club players Category:Essendon Football Club players Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen