BEWICK, Darren

Darren "Boris" Bewick was the ultimate goal-sneak. He made his senior debut for the Club in Round 1, 1988, after being recruited from West Perth. His great strengths were his ability to play in the centre or on the ball, his pace, skill and ability to kick goals.

He was Best First Year Player in 1988 and runner-up in the Best and Fairest Player award in 1991.

In 1995 Bewick endured a full knee reconstruction which sidelined him for the rest of the year. He made his come-back in the AFL's Centenary Re-enactment Game and played one of his best-ever games, kicking nine goals against Geelong. It was also his 150th appearance for the Club. The only downside to a great Essendon victory was that Michael Long suffered the same injury.

Bewick represented Western Australia in every year they played from 1990 to 1994.

After a quiet year in 1997, he played 23 games in 1998 as one of the top 10 Essendon players for the year. In 1999 he was again dangerous around goals, kicking 20 goals and averaging 12.5 kicks a game. His best game arguably for the season was against Sydney in which he had 27 possessions.

Darren Bewick retired at the end of his Testimonial year in 2000 after playing in the 2000 premiership side. He began working for the Northern Territory Institute of Sport in 2003 and coached the NT Under 18 side. He returned to Victoria as coach of Eastern Ranges in the NAB Under 18 competition in 2010 and coached them to a premiership in 2013.