Haydn Bunton Jr becomes Hall of Fame Immortal

When Haydn Bunton Jr arrived at Bassendean in 1961, Swan Districts was at a low ebb but what he did over the next four years as playing-coach is simply remarkable and it's a natural for him to be elevated as an Immortal in the club's Hall of Fame.

Not only did Swan Districts win just the two games in 1960 on the back of five in 1959, six in 1958, four in 1957, four in 1956, five in 1955, six in 1954, seven in 1953, two in 1952 and you can go on, what Bunton Jr noticed upon arrival was a distinct lack of pride within the four walls of the club.

Bunton was appointed captain-coach at Swan Districts coming into the 1961 season and he was in charge of a team who had only made one finals appearance in the previous 26 seasons. What he did over the next four years defies belief upon reflection all these years later.

By the end of the 1964 season when Bunton departed Bassendean, he had inspired Swan Districts to a hat-trick of premierships in 1961, 62 and 63, and to this day he believes only a rough injury run denied them what would have been the only ever fourth consecutive premiership run for Swans.

Already inducted into the Hall of Fame at Swan Districts as a triple premiership winning captain and coach who played 89 games and kicked 112 goals in black-and-white, it's now a natural that Bunton Jr will be elevated to the status as an Immortal.

While Bunton's impact on the field as a player at Swan Districts over the next four years was obvious and what he did as a leader as captain and coach speaks for itself, what he did to build pride in the club from the start when he arrived is really what got the ball rolling.

The moment Bunton arrived at Bassendean, he looked around the club rooms and wanted them to become decidedly more black-and-white. He also felt the Swans logo was far too friendly and he quickly went about fixing up both.

"I noticed the club blazers were adorned with the placid looking swan and while that might have been the state's emblem, I wanted a fighting swan," Bunton recalled.

"Well known umpire and creative artist Ray Montgomery sketched a new-look swan and that showed we should be a fighting united, and it became symbolic.

"Then at the time, the club rooms were being painted a nice pastel shade, but I didn’t like that and had it all painted black and white. I wanted to get away from things that were leading to mediocre results.

"The black and white club house and he fighting swan logo gave us a good feeling that we should be proud of what the club stood for."

Obviously those changes were only symbolic and things still needed to turn around on the field, but what it did was create the environment to help the Swan Districts walk and feel that bit taller, and have extra pride for their football club.

The end result was the best four years in the history of the Swan Districts Football Club up to that point, and Bunton started off changing the culture within the four walls, and then leading from the front on the field that make him a natural to earn Immortal status.

Together with the 7 new Inductees, will be officially recognised at the Hall of Fame Induction evening held at the club on Saturday 1^st July 2023. It’s an opportunity for supporters to meet the Swans royalty.  

Tickets cost $100 and includes complimentary drinks on arrival and dinner.

Tickets can be purchased here - https://www.trybooking.com/CGDXB