his clearance was finally approved by the Victorian Football League's Permit Committee. Bunton finally made his much anticipated VFL debut in round one of the 1931 VFL season against Melbourne Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, kicking one goal in a losing team. Bunton played as a rover/follower and achieved instant success, winning Brownlow Medals in his first two seasons (1931 and 1932) in the VFL. He worked in a department store during the day, and practised baulking by weaving his way through crowds of shoppers. One of his opponents, Dick Reynolds, spied on him during this activity in order to learn how to defeat his technique. During his career at Fitzroy, Bunton won five club best-and-fairest awards, in addition to his Brownlows. He was appointed captain of Fitzroy in 1932. He was runner-up for the Brownlow Medal in 1934 before winning the award for a third and final time in 1935. While playing, Bunton also spent the 1936 VFL season as senior coach at Fitzroy, but could only manage two wins. He was also Fitzroy's leading goalkicker in 1936 and 1937. Subiaco (1938–1941) In 1938, Bunton moved to Western Australia, taking the position of captain/coach of , while very competitive, they failed to play finals during his coaching stints of 1938, 1939 and 1941. Bunton captained the Western Australian team to a victory against St.Kilda Football Club in July, 1938. He won the Sandover Medal three times, in 1938, 1939 and 1941, Bunton polled 17 votes in the 1940 Sandover Medal, finishing in 6th position. Altogether, Bunton had won six league best and fairest awards in only eleven seasons between the two states in which he had played. Return to Fitzroy (1942) Corporal Haydn Bunton returned to Melbourne from Perth to enter the Army's Physical Training School at Frankston and was accompanied by four Fitzroy Football Club recruits from Western Australian in April, 1942. Bunton returned to his Army unit in Perth in late May, 1942. He managed to play only two games for Fitzroy Football Club in rounds one and three of 1942 VFL season, due to his Army commitments. Army/Services Football (1943 & 44) Bunton played in the 18-team Services Football competition in Perth, which was divided into a 10-team A-grade competition and 8-team B-Grade competition. Port Adelaide (1945) After being discharged from army service at the end of World War II at the age of