Bunton Makes Legend Status
Written by Simonette Cox
Haydn Bunton Jnr is regarded as one of Subiaco's all time coaches and last night was elevated to Legend Status in the WA Football Hall of Fame.
Bunton had a successful coaching career and is Subiaco's longest serving coach having coached for 14 years over two periods, from 1968-1972 and 1984-1992. In that time he coached Subiaco to contest the finals on nine (9) occasions and to five (5) grand finals. Under Haydn subiaco won WAFL premierships in 1986 and 1988.Bunton was also selected as coach of Subiaco's Team of the Century.
Bunton joins Barry Cable, George Doig, Graham Farmer, Stan (Pops) Heal, Steve Marsh, George Moloney, Merv McIntosh, Graham Moss, Jack Sheedy,
John Todd, Williams (Nipper) Truscott & Bill Walker in one of WA's most prestegious lists.
Haydn Bunton was regarded as a tough and skilful player and was a very successful coach in both Western Australia and South Australia. He was inducted into the coaches section of the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, as well as the Western Australian Institute of Sport Hall of Champions in 2003 and he was made an inaugural member of the WA Football Hall of Fame in 2004 and SA Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
He was named an All-Australian player at the age of 19, in 1956, while at North Adelaide in the SANFL. In 1956 he finished runner-up for the Magarey Medal. In 1957, as a 20 year old he was a non-playing coach of Norwood, having "stood out" as a player for the year due to a transfer dispute with North Adelaide. In 1958-60, he played for Norwood, in spite of a serious knee injury sustained in a car accident in Tasmania in 1959.
Haydn enjoyed another remarkable year in 1961, when he was recruited by Swan Districts in the WAFL as captain-coach, captained Western Australia to a rare win at the Australian championships, and he oversaw Swan Districts' first ever premiership, the first of three consecutive premierships for the club. The following year he won the Sandover Medal, completing a unique father and son achievement. In 1965-67, he returned to Norwood.
Jeff Lind said “Haydn Bunton has a special place in the history of the Subiaco Football Club. He is highly respected by everyone and we consider ourselves very fortunate that Haydn continues to have an active interest in our Club. He is a true legend in every sense of the word."
