Bunton, Haydn, Jr. (1937-…), was one of the greatest players and coaches in the history of the Australian Football League (AFL). Bunton’s football career extended four decades, from 1954 to 1994.
Bunton began his playing career with North Adelaide of the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) in 1954. He began his coaching career with Norwood of the SANFL in 1957. At 19, he was the youngest coach of a major league Australian Rules football club. As player-coach of Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), Bunton’s teams won premierships (championships) in 1961, 1962, and 1963. Bunton won the Sandover Medal as the “fairest and best” player in the WAFL in 1962. Bunton coached Subiaco of the WAFL to premierships in 1986 and 1988.
Haydn Austin Bunton, Jr., was born in Melbourne on April 5, 1937. He suffered from a severe hip disease as a child and wore leg braces and used crutches until he was 10 years old. Bunton was seriously injured in a 1959 automobile accident, but he recovered and continued his career. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1996. Bunton’s father, Haydn Bunton, Sr. , was one of the sport’s greatest players during the 1930’s and early 1940’s.
