Matt Buntine heads to Sydney on Thursday to find out which club will take him at the AFL National Draft. 64250
By Jarrod Potter
MATT Buntine’s football journey will take a major leap forward on Thursday night, when he finds out if he will become an AFL footballer.
This week’s AFL National Draft, in which Buntine, 18, from Berwick, has been predicted as a top 10 pick, is the culmination of a big season for the defender.
Buntine represented the AIS-AFL Academy and Vic Country teams and gained selection in the 2011 TAC Cup Team of the Year on a back pocket.
“It was a big year… it started off with the shin splints, so that didn’t help the whole season with the fitness, but I think being in and out of sides, with form and getting rested, all in all the year was pretty consistent.
“To say it simply, my game was pretty sound all year.
“As the year progressed I got a little bit more attacking and things like that, but overall the leadership was pretty consistent and pretty good.”
While hampered by shin splints at the national combine in October, Buntine still managed to hold his own against fully fit bodies at Etihad Stadium.
“I couldn’t do the endurance based events with the shin splints, so that was disappointing,” Buntine said.
“I would’ve liked to have showcased a bit more of myself… not that my endurance is that flash, but it would’ve been good to get it all done.
“Did the football and handball clean hands test, 20 metre sprint and the jump.
“I didn’t do the agility, but they tried to get me up for a beep test, but the shins were sore and they didn’t want me on the hard surface.
“I think the interview process, the way I conducted myself and did all the tests I did do, showed off everything I was capable of, but I would’ve liked to have done all the tests.”
His last few weeks have been the culmination of a different lifelong pursuit, with Buntine finishing his VCE exams on Monday.
“It’s been full on with the studies and all that with Year 12,” Buntine said.
“I’m focusing on school because football is a very temporary thing in life.
“Other than that I’ve been trying to stay as fit as possible, getting in the pool and doing a little bit of running.
“But I’ve been basically locked in school for the last couple of weeks.”
With his exams over, the focus is now on Thursday’s draft.
“I think we fly up on Thursday during the day and then I’m not too sure,” he said.
“We’ll get briefed about what’s happening through the night and get a chance to talk to some of the clubs.
“The main thing is just going through the night and finding out who’s going to draft you.”
The AFL Draft starts at 7.00pm on Thursday night and is televised on FOX Sports.
