By David Nagel
Born and bred Bunyip boy Tom Papley experienced the exhilarating highs and devastating lows of an AFL football career last week.
Papley, now in his sixth season with the Sydney Swans, earned his first All-Australian selection, named in the forward pocket alongside Carlton full-forward Harry McKay and GWS Giants superstar Toby Greene.
Papley, who as a 16-year-old was a member of Bunyip’s 2012 premiership-winning senior side against Garfield, kicked 43 goals this year, his highest since joining the Swans in 2016.
He told Fox Sports his All-Australian selection was something he was extremely proud of.
“It’s a huge honour, and obviously I couldn’t do it without the boys kicking it to me, but yeah it’s a huge honour,” Papley said.
Papley has a proud connection with the Sydney Swans/South Melbourne Football Club, with his grandfather Max winning the club best and fairest award in 1966.
Max also won the Swans’ leading goal-kicker award in 1964, a feat Tom has achieved twice in 2019 and 2020.
“I’ve got that one over Max, which is good, he’s got a best and fairest but I’ve got an All-Australian, but hopefully a bit of team success this year would be good.”
Unfortunately that wasn’t to be the case for the Swans this year after they were eliminated by Greene and his GWS Giants in a one-point thriller at Launceston on Saturday.
The Bunyip connection didn’t end there for Papley on Saturday, with the livewire forward having several run ins on the weekend with another former Bunyip player in Shane Mumford.
The Giants’ ruckman, who won the Bulldogs 2006 best and fairest award, had Papley in his sights on several occasions during the match.
Papley has now played 122 games for the Swans and kicked 189 goals.
