Chance Bateman
Encyclopedia
Chance Bateman is an Australian rules football
er who currently plays for Hawthorn
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
Chance Bateman is Hawthorn's first indigenous player to reach 100 games, first Aboriginal life member, and the club's longest-serving WA recruit.
and then with Perth
in the WAFL. He was an under 18 all Australian in 1999. He was in the squad for the Westar state side in 1999.
at pick 48 in the 1999 AFL Draft
, the Hawks considered themselves lucky as they thought he would have been picked up earlier. His light frame made him a longer term prospect as he would require to develop more physically. His early career was interrupted by a variety of injuries. Each time he bounced back and became a key member of the team.
Bateman said the true sense of worth for Aboriginal players was founded on their family's value and strength and that fact provided him with his toughest times when he lost his sister Candace in a tragic train accident in 2001 he was desperate to return home to be with his parents and was shattered when he could not work a trade with West Coast or Fremantle.
I'd stay at Hawthorn for as long as they'd have me, they've been fantastic for me. You don't really think too much about the milestones as they're coming up, but as you pass them you sort of look back with a bit of pride. I'm our first indigenous life member and to have had a small part in the club's history is pretty special.
In 2006 managed to play 21 games and came 12th in the club Best and Fairest award. Chance Bateman is known for his trademark dreadlocks
. Chance Bateman is one of Hawthorn's most valuable players. His speed and hardness at the ball while playing on the wing allows the team to play a free flowing brand of game. He averaged 20 possessions a game in his 21 games in 2006 and is hitting top form just before the 2007 season.
His elite speed was recognised and was named in the 2006 International Rules Series
side to tour Ireland.
Bateman said a major career highlight was when he captained the Hawks in an indigenous round victory over West Coast at Launceston in 2007 when the Eagles were led by David Wirrpanda
.
Chance kicked Hawthorn's first goal in the 2008 Grand Final. Bateman had his dreadlocks cut off for charity after the Grand Final victory. The money was donated to the Rioli Fund, set up to improve Aboriginal health throughout Australia.
Along with captain Sam Mitchell
, Bateman was the only Hawthorn player to play in all games in 2009. He missed the first game of 2010 because of a one game suspension for striking Matthew Lloyd
of Essendon in the last game of 2009 season. Bateman was put on Hawthorn's veterans list in 2011.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who currently plays for Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Chance Bateman is Hawthorn's first indigenous player to reach 100 games, first Aboriginal life member, and the club's longest-serving WA recruit.
Early life
Chance learn't his football during his formative years in YorkYork, Western Australia
York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia, situated 97 km east of Perth in the Avon Valley near Northam, and is the seat of the Shire of York...
and then with Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in the WAFL. He was an under 18 all Australian in 1999. He was in the squad for the Westar state side in 1999.
AFL career
Drafted by HawthornHawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
at pick 48 in the 1999 AFL Draft
1999 AFL Draft
The 1999 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 1999 there...
, the Hawks considered themselves lucky as they thought he would have been picked up earlier. His light frame made him a longer term prospect as he would require to develop more physically. His early career was interrupted by a variety of injuries. Each time he bounced back and became a key member of the team.
Bateman said the true sense of worth for Aboriginal players was founded on their family's value and strength and that fact provided him with his toughest times when he lost his sister Candace in a tragic train accident in 2001 he was desperate to return home to be with his parents and was shattered when he could not work a trade with West Coast or Fremantle.
I'd stay at Hawthorn for as long as they'd have me, they've been fantastic for me. You don't really think too much about the milestones as they're coming up, but as you pass them you sort of look back with a bit of pride. I'm our first indigenous life member and to have had a small part in the club's history is pretty special.
In 2006 managed to play 21 games and came 12th in the club Best and Fairest award. Chance Bateman is known for his trademark dreadlocks
Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks, also called locks, a ras, dreads, "rasta" or Jata , are matted coils of hair. Dreadlocks are usually intentionally formed; because of the variety of different hair textures, various methods are used to encourage the formation of locks such as backcombing...
. Chance Bateman is one of Hawthorn's most valuable players. His speed and hardness at the ball while playing on the wing allows the team to play a free flowing brand of game. He averaged 20 possessions a game in his 21 games in 2006 and is hitting top form just before the 2007 season.
His elite speed was recognised and was named in the 2006 International Rules Series
2006 International Rules series
The 2006 International Rules series is the 9th annual International Rules Series and the 15th time that a test series of international rules football has been played between Ireland and Australia....
side to tour Ireland.
Bateman said a major career highlight was when he captained the Hawks in an indigenous round victory over West Coast at Launceston in 2007 when the Eagles were led by David Wirrpanda
David Wirrpanda
David Selwyn Wirrpanda is a former Australian rules footballer, who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League between 1996 and 2009...
.
Chance kicked Hawthorn's first goal in the 2008 Grand Final. Bateman had his dreadlocks cut off for charity after the Grand Final victory. The money was donated to the Rioli Fund, set up to improve Aboriginal health throughout Australia.
Along with captain Sam Mitchell
Sam Mitchell (footballer)
Samuel Mitchell is an Australian rules football player for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League .- Debut season :...
, Bateman was the only Hawthorn player to play in all games in 2009. He missed the first game of 2010 because of a one game suspension for striking Matthew Lloyd
Matthew Lloyd
Matthew James Lloyd is a former Australian rules footballer who played for and was the captain of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League...
of Essendon in the last game of 2009 season. Bateman was put on Hawthorn's veterans list in 2011.