A lack of information on Bunton’s career in the Ovens and Murray was the major reason why the AFL and Albury Team of the Century member was yet to feature in the league’s elite group.

Bunton is believed to be the youngest player to play at senior level in the 125-year history of the league, debuting at 13 years of age.

The committee couldn’t confirm the number of games he played, but established he made his debut for Albury in 1924, in an era which included fellow Hall of Fame inductees Doug Strang and Maurie Hunter.

Bunton played in two premierships and two grand finals before joining Fitzroy in the VFL in 1931, where he won the first of three Brownlow medals, his second coming the following season.

The Morris Medal was first presented in the Ovens and Murray in 1933. 

Ovens and Murray Hall of Fame committee member Peter Tossol admitted the absence of Bunton was one of the first questions he raised when he joined last year.

“For me as a coach, playing at Albury was always pretty special because I used to say to the players, you’re probably sitting in the seat where Haydn Bunton once sat,” Tossol said.

“I just assumed there may have been a reason why and that could have been he hadn’t had much exposure to the Ovens and Murray, or he might have gone to VFL level early and made history there and not done much at Ovens and Murray level.

“We did a bit of research and all this stuff came about him, particularly around him being so young.

“He went on to win three consecutive best and fairests at Albury, I don’t know if it was at 13, 14 and 15 or 14, 15 and 16, but either way it was ridiculously good.

“In the end, he was probably the person we left out when quite obviously he should have been there.

“We all went away and did our research and were gobsmacked at how little information there was.

“It’s not uncommon, not only for Haydn Bunton, but for a lot of those early teams involved in the Ovens and Murray, there are hidden gems everywhere if we can get the information on it.”

Former Border Mail journalist and historian Howard Jones revealed Bunton was one of four brothers, all of whom featured in the Ovens and Murray.

“He played in the Ovens and Murray for five years, so he did have quite a big history here,” Jones said.

“He was only 18 when he left to go to Fitzroy, so it’s quite an incredible record.”

Bunton will be one of six inductees into the Hall of Fame on July 4.

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