Chance Bateman

Chance Bateman (born 21 June 1981) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Chance Bateman
Bateman with Hawthorn in 2007
Personal information
Nickname(s) Changa
Date of birth (1981-06-21) 21 June 1981
Place of birth Perth, Western Australia
Original team(s) Perth Football Club
Draft No. 48, 1999 AFL Draft
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2000–2012 Hawthorn 177 (67)
International team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2006 Australia 2 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2012.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Bateman was Hawthorn's first indigenous player to reach 100 games, first Aboriginal life member, and the club's longest-serving WA recruit. He was a development coach at the West Coast Eagles until the end of the 2020 season.[1]

Early career

Bateman learnt his football during his formative years in York and then with Perth in Westar Rules. He was an under 18 all Australian and in the squad for the Westar state side in 1999.

AFL career
Bateman tackling an opposition player in 2007

Drafted by Hawthorn 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.[2]

"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."[2]

In 2006 he managed to play 21 games and came 12th in the club Best and Fairest award. Bateman was known for his trademark dreadlocks. Bateman was one of Hawthorn's most valuable players. His speed and hardness at the ball while playing on the wing allowed the team to play a free flowing brand of game. He averaged 20 possessions a game in his 21 games in 2006 and was hitting top form just before the 2007 season.

His elite speed was recognised and he 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.[2]

Bateman 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.[3]

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 the 2009 season. Bateman was put on Hawthorn's veterans list in 2011.

Statistics
[4]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2000 Hawthorn 1031314216410.31.04.70.75.31.30.3
2001 Hawthorn 104002712391150.00.06.83.09.82.81.3
2002 Hawthorn 101132953212729150.30.28.62.911.52.61.4
2003 Hawthorn 1011201074515236160.20.09.74.113.83.31.5
2004 Hawthorn 1013821124916135240.60.28.63.812.42.71.8
2005 Hawthorn 1012431658124652190.30.313.86.820.54.31.6
2006 Hawthorn 102157270146416123220.20.312.97.019.85.91.0
2007 Hawthorn 102176221127348109300.30.310.56.016.65.21.4
2008 Hawthorn 102197275161436110520.40.313.17.720.85.22.5
2009 Hawthorn 10221314264236500115560.60.612.010.722.75.22.5
2010 Hawthorn 10185916813029872390.30.59.37.216.64.02.2
2011 Hawthorn 101710614710224973360.60.48.66.014.64.32.1
2012 Hawthorn 1030019928440.00.06.33.09.31.31.3
Career 177 67 59 1884 1132 3016 773 319 0.4 0.3 10.6 6.4 17.0 4.4 1.8

References
  1. "Rosa, Bateman join West Coast's coaching ranks". westcoasteagles.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  2. "Bateman bumps Bucky as top 'WA Hawk'". The West Australian. 20 August 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012 – via Yahoo! News.
  3. "Bateman doesn't dread losing trademark locks". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 September 2008.
  4. Chance Bateman's player profile at AFL Tables
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