Matthew Burton: from colts to seniors

Matthew Burton is one of fourteen boys making the transition from colts to senior football in 2017.

The nineteen-year-old had an impressive season last year, averaging 20 disposals to finish with the Alan Trott Medal as the best and fairest winner.  His season also earned him a spot in the WAFL Colts Team of the Year for 2016. 

“The shift to senior footy has been pretty good, we started a week before the older boys so we had an idea of what we were getting into,” Burton said.

“I think the biggest challenge so far has been getting used to the size of the boys, being younger my body isn’t as mature as theirs,”

“But I’m learning new ways to play the game, finding how to counteract what the bigger guys do and working on ways to get the advantage.”

Last weekend the boys felt the wrath of the SAS at the annual training camp, facing not only physical but a number of mental challenges.

“It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in a while, but it definitely was a great experience,” he said.

“As time went on the group bonded and you could see the difference from the first to the second day.”

Burton said he is focusing on his running patterns and learning what the older boys do around the contest this season.

“I just want to play as many senior games as I can, whether that’s in reserves or league,”
Burton said.

Burton, along with the other Colts boys of 2016 have all progressed well in to senior training which is a very encouraging sign for the future of the East Fremantle Football Club.