Port defender Ryan Burton not dwelling on Hawks departure and eager for Power success
While he insists he doesn’t have any bad blood with his old club, former Hawk Ryan Burton wasn’t happy at being turfed out. But the Power’s star recruit is moving on and dreaming of success at Alberton.
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Ryan Burton feels the Port Adelaide jumper is a good fit for him.
“Better colours too,” the 22-year-old South Australian says of his new wardrobe with the Power since returning home in his forced trade from the brown-and-gold Hawthorn in October.
For the scars that have far from healed with Burton on Hawthorn’s decision to make him trade bait last year, Burton insists he starts his Power journey with the right motivation to prove Port Adelaide right for its faith in him — rather than proving the Hawks wrong.
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“I don’t need to prove anything to Hawthorn,” Burton said. “Or even to family and friends or supporters.
“I might play with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder because — to put it bluntly — I was thrown out of the Hawthorn footy club. I’m not happy about that ... and it might drive me a little bit.
“But I am really happy at Port Adelaide. And I know how much they gave up for me and how hard Port Adelaide went for me.”
Burton’s move to the Power — while still on contract to Hawthorn — was cast as soon as Port Adelaide 2013 club champion Chad Wingard opted to make a new start in Melbourne as a Hawk, where he had been long sought by premiership coach Alastair Clarkson.
If Wingard had accepted the challenge to change his ways at Alberton — rather than change AFL clubs — Burton still would be at Hawthorn. But the 2017 Rising Star runner-up (to Essendon defender Andrew McGrath) holds no grudge with Wingard.
“I enjoyed watching (Chad) while I was growing up (as a Port Adelaide fan),” Burton said. “He could win games off his own boot — and as a kid I loved seeing that.
“And my feelings about Chad have not changed. I don’t know him as a person. I’ve played against him only once or twice. I’ve never spoken to him.
“Chad’s plan was to get to Melbourne; he felt he needed a change. And I was the player who had to make way for him ...
“But I don’t blame Chad. He did not pick me for the swap. I can’t blame him at all.”
The first moment for Burton to face his former Hawthorn teammates — and the football staff that sacrificed him for Wingard — is Saturday, May 25 at the Hawks’ Tasmanian base of Launceston.
“It will be a fierce contest, but I don’t expect too much niggle in the game — I did not have any bad blood with anyone at Hawthorn,” Burton said.
“That doesn’t mean I am not going to have a bit of fun with it all. I’ll try to enjoy the day as much as I can, but I won’t treat it any different to any other game.
“It will be an interesting day for my family and friends. And at the end of the game I’ll shake hands with my Hawthorn mates.
“I’m not too lippy on the field, unless someone comes at me. I don’t start any trouble, but I am happy to join in.”
In the Footy19 AFL season magazine Burton speaks of his exit from Hawthorn where he carried the dream of being a one-club player. He has now superseded this with the ambition of premiership success at Alberton.
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au
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