By Grace Jones | posted on September 14, 2019
RECENTLY retired Fremantle Docker Hayden Ballantyne will be a regular fixture at the Mt Barker Saleyards after his appointment to Westcoast Wool & Livestock as a livestock representative.
Westcoast Wool & Livestock recently participated in their first sales at Mt Barker and Mr Ballantyne was there in his first gig with the company.
“They were the ‘new kids on the block’ at the Mount Barker sale and I’m a ‘new kid on the block’, so it’s a good fit and I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
Ballantyne played 171 games for Fremantle and won an All-Australian guernsey in 2014, goal of the year in 2011 and was a member of the 2015 Australian International Rules team.
He is still considering his playing options in 2020 and if not offered an attractive contract from another AFL club, could be strapping on the boots for Peel Thunder or a team in the South West Football League.
The forward pocket specialist has been renowned for constantly buzzing around the forward line and it has been a similar story off the field.
“Why rest? If I sit around for two days I would go crazy,” said Hayden, upon joining the Westcoast Wool & Livestock team.
In recent years, Mr Ballantyne has operated an 800 to 1000-head beef cattle feedlot near Donnybrook and this year, following in the footsteps of his father Graham, commenced training thoroughbreds, recently notching his first win with Mankind at a Saturday Ascot meeting.
His interest in livestock and the agriculture industry sparked from spending time with his stepfather, cattle buyer Greg Jones, and attending livestock market sales at Muchea, Boyanup and Mount Barker.
Livestock Manager with Westcoast Wool & Livestock Gerald Wetherall said the company was excited to welcome Mr Ballantyne’s strong profile to the business.
