Above: Matthew Buntine sidesteps a European Legion player as the AIS showed off their skills in London. 63613 Picture: Sarah Ansell
By Jarrod Potter
MATT Buntine has added another accomplishment to an already impressive football résumé after returning from the AIS/AFL Academy trip to Europe last month.
From small beginnings as a five-year old Auskicker, Buntine has progressed rapidly through football ranks.
Starting as a Berwick junior footballer in under-9s with Stingrays team mates Jack Sheppard and Nathan Wright, he has gone through all the levels, reaching the apex of under-age football with his appointment as Stingrays co-captain and selection in the AIS/AFL Academy squad.
The proudest moment of his football career was when he captained the AIS/AFL team onto the MCG, in a match against Geelong’s VFL side, which the AIS won.
“I was captain at the G, so I was first one to run out. It was pretty amazing,” Buntine said.
“We shocked Geelong. Don’t think they thought we had what we did. We gelled as a team well in the win.”
After beating Geelong VFL, Buntine and the AIS/AFL Academy team headed to England to play against the European Legion; an historical moment for Buntine, in spite of an unexpected British heatwave.
“It was pretty weird because of the weather; it was 26 degrees, so it was hotter than normal in Australia,” Buntine said.
“It’s pretty special to be part of history with Shifter (Kevin Sheehan) saying we were the first, proper, affiliated under-age team to play in Europe.”
The AIS/AFL Academy spent Anzac Day in Gallipoli, a moment of great significance which Buntine won’t ever forget.
“Seeing the 8000 people shivering in the cold overnight to experience what the Anzacs did for eight months over there was pretty surreal,” Buntine said.
“It’s something that everyone will look back on and say it was a great thing to do.”
The talented backman prefers to ply his craft in the defensive end of the ground, with his football senses being put to best use there.
“I read the ball pretty well I feel. I’m mature in the body, so I can handle myself in the one-on-ones. Endurance wise, I’m lacking, but that will come. But other than that, it’s backline for me. I love it down there,” Buntine said.
His coaches have nothing but praise for Buntine, highlighting hard work, an excellent skill set and great mateship as qualities he exemplifies.
“Matt’s been a stand out player for us all last year and in his first two games for us this year,” Stingrays coach Graeme Yeats said.
“He’s a great leader around the group and highly respected among his peers. He’s a great reader of the game and an all round good guy.”
Sheehan, the AFL’s national talent manager, sees maturity and a strong presence on the field as the key characteristics Buntine possesses in abundance.
“He’s an outstanding prospect. Going back to his form last year with Dandenong and Vic Country, he had a coolness under pressure as a under age player,” Sheehan said.
“Having been away with him with the AIS Academy, I see him as a fantastic player who will work hard to get the best out of himself.
“I like his coolness across half back. He reads the ball coming in and can play both a disciplined role on big or small opponent or can zone off and be effective.
“Matt’s a fantastic leader; it’s so important in terms of footy clubs getting very good people into the club. He sets a very high example for all the guys around him.”
Whatever the future may bring for Matt, his outlook on his game is focused on the task at hand.
“I don’t put too much pressure on myself with that (his form this season),” Buntine said.
“I just go out there and play football.”
