Haydn Bunton: Australian Football
Australian Rules footballer Haydn Bunton, Sr., (5 July 1911 – 5 September 1955) represented Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL), Subiaco in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). He was quite simply the finest Australian footballer ever, since becoming professional in the 1930s until 1940s. Bunton also coached Fitzroy in 1936 for 18 games and North Adelaide in 1947 to 1948 for 35 games.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
One of the main reasons Haydn Bunton is well renowned is because he’s the only footballer in VFL history to win the Brownlow medal as well as the Sandover medal, achieving both of the medals three times. It makes him one of the four footballers to have won the Brownlow medal three times and one of the only five to win the Sandover medal three times. In 1936 and 1937, he was Fitzory’s leading goal-kicker and Fitzroy’s best and fairest in 1934 and 1935. Bunton Sr. was inducted in to the AFL Hall of Fame with an inaugural legend status in 1996.
Why Was He So Good?
He is remembered for his balance, ball-handling skills which at times were simply outstanding and his ability to move swiftly from bumps and tackles. Haydn Bunton's handsome brilliance in the field was matched by his scrupulous fairness. He was a champion who helped make life more pleasant and tolerable for the Australian public during the dark times of the Great Depression that took over.
What You May Not Know
- Haydn Bunton, Sr. became Fitzroy captain in 1932, 1936 and 1937.
- Outside of his career in football, he became a shop assistant, a theater manager, a car salesman and an insurance agent.
- He had radio programs in Perth and Adelaide and was even regarded as a sex symbol during the 1930s. Buntons looks were often compared to film star Rudolf Valentino.
- Haydn Bunton Sr. died due to a car crash into three gum trees eleven miles north of Gawler, South Australia. He was alone in the car and was treated at the scene for severe injuries including one of the head, fractured ribs, fracture collarbone, punctured lung and shock.
- He had two sons – Haydn Bunton, Jr. who became a footballer and David Bunton.
Was he a legend?
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Related Pages
- More Australian Football legendary players
- Athlete Database home
- About the sport of Australian Football
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