It may only be his first season as a Demon after a stint in the AFL, but Matt Buntine is fully invested in the Casey cause.
Just 12 months ago Matt Buntine was bringing his 10th season on GWS’ AFL list to a close. Little did he know, just a year later he would be in red and blue in Victoria, waiting to play in his first ever VFL Grand Final with Casey.
Players could be forgiven for being dejected upon being delisted, but Buntine’s will was strong enough to immediately look forward. Upon landing at Casey Fields, the defender has loved his season with the Demons.
“It’s been a new experience in my first year out of the AFL and it’s been an absolute pleasure,” Buntine told Casey Media. “Getting to play with some exciting young players and stalwarts of the club has been lots of fun.
“We’ve been successful too, which is great, but equally we’ve been working hard each week to get better and we’ve been rewarded with the position we’re in now.”
When AFL footballers who have been in the system leave, it can often take time to readjust and find their feet. For Buntine, who is calm and aware, he quickly understood the key changes to life outside of footy at the highest level.
After adapting to the changes, he is now relishing in the different balance between his footy and work life.
“The main difference is having football run your life as an AFL player compared to it being one component and training at nights,” Buntine said. “I was lucky as the program that Casey has put together is accommodating for everyone’s needs as a player.
The culture has paid off in spades. While Buntine has had a fine season as an experienced leader in the side, Casey itself as had a dominant campaign, culminating in an appearance in this weekend’s VFL Grand Final.
After only losing the one game all season to Brisbane, who the Demons beat to the tune of 51 points in last weekend’s Preliminary Final, the red and blue army have been terrific all year long.
Buntine admitted he didn’t expect it to happen, but he isn’t surprised that the hard work put in by the entire group has resulted in the position the Demons are in now.
“I definitely didn’t expect this, but throughout training and knowing how strong Melbourne is, we knew we’d be competitive,” Buntine said. “That said, being nearly undefeated is different.
“What’s good is we’ve been challenged in games and moments, and the club has learnt from every win, loss and moment, so that growth aspect has put us in a great position now.”
Yet it hasn’t all gone to plan for Buntine. Upon arriving at Casey as a valuable recruit fresh out of the AFL system, the defender went down injured for the opening part of the season.
He was forced to watch on from the coaches box for the first couple of months as Casey got off to an undefeated start through some close wins. Despite the setback, Buntine used the challenge as an opportunity to grow as a leader, player and person.
“It was frustrating to come to a club and not be able to do what you’re meant to do in being out there performing and contributing,” Buntine said. “It was a good learning phase for me in seeing what the coaches wanted and understanding the change coming from GWS.
“To get that exposure without making a fool of myself out on the field and developing that connection was great.”
Upon returning to playing in a tight win over Box Hill, Buntine quickly fell into the Casey groove. He said he loved building a rapport with his teammates as he was deployed as a utility before dropping back to defence later in the year.
It could’ve been a reality check for Buntine. He said he is fortunate to have moved to a VFL club that was so professional and similar to how an AFL club is run.
“What shocked me was that for a semi-professional club, everything was so drilled in terms of structure, style and game plan,” Buntine said. “It all aligned so well with what the AFL side was doing, so there was a collective understanding of how the sides played footy.
Buntine found his leadership develop throughout the year. The defender said it’s one of his skills, so being able to develop it in a new environment was satisfying. Upon returning to defence in the back half of the year and forging a partnership with former GWS teammate in Adam Tomlinson has helped Buntine feel confident in the back line again.
He said it’s paid off in Casey’s two finals to date, with the defence being impassable in both big wins.
“The most pleasing part of that first win over Sydney was that we bounced back so well after a disappointing loss to Brisbane the week before,” Buntine said. “Last weekend was just simply a great performance.
“Each player has had their moment and we back each other in to deliver.”
Now Buntine is in the throes of VFL Grand Final week – something he is cherishing. He will come up against a familiar foe in Southport on Sunday, as his time with GWS’s NEAFL side means he has played the Sharks on numerous occasions before 2022.
“They’re an impressive side and a strong team,” Buntine said. “Our brand of footy has stood up all year, so we’ll focus on what we can to to perform on Grand Final day.
“You have some moments you remember playing against their players over the years, but it’ll be different now with Casey compared to in the NEAFL.”
Although this is only Buntine’s first year as a Demon, he is well aware of Casey’s VFL history. If the Demons can win their first VFL flag since Springvale last saluted in 1999, Buntine knows veteran teammates like Mitch White and Jimmy Munro will be aware of the impact it will have on the Casey faithful.
“You talk to a few like Whitey and Moose (Munro) who have been around for so long and missed out on recent opportunities and you understand how special it will be if we can win,” Buntine said. “You can’t imagine winning yet as we’ve got so much work to do first.
“If we can win, it’ll be a great testament to the energy and effort put in by everyone all year. We’re certainly confident but we understand we have lots to do to achieve that success.”
