UNVEILED: April, 2005
LOCATION: Outside Gate 6
Haydn Bunton Sr made his debut for Fitzroy in 1931 at the age of 19, and immediately made an impact on the then VFL, winning the Brownlow medal in his first two seasons in the competition, before adding a third in 1935.
Bunton eventually played 119 games and kicked 207 goals for the Lions in two stints - 1931-37 and 1942 - and was also captain of the club for three seasons, won the goalkicking in 1936 and ‘37, took two best and fairests (1934, ‘35) and coached the team in 1936.After seven seasons with Fitzroy, he switched to Subiaco in Perth where he also won the WAFL’s equivalent of the Brownlow, the Sandover medal, three times, and spent time with Port Adelaide in the SANFL as well.
Bunton even turned his hand to umpiring after his playing days were over, and went on to a successful coaching career with North Adelaide, before his untimely death in 1955 in a car accident.