SNAPSHOT: “A versatile mover and a consummate professional known for his playmaking ability that causes headaches for the opposition.” – Adrian Dixon

The Western Jets captain of 2025, Tom Burton is a natural leader who continually sets up plays with his run and carry, whether it be in the midfield or across half-back.

Burton started his footballing journey in the then known Western Region Football League competition with Point Cook’s Under 9s team in 2015. As he moved up the age groups, he continued to be a standout, and in 2021 he started his rise to prominence with selection in the Under 14 interleague squad.

12 months later, he would be selected for the Under 15 competition, being named in the best for both games that season. Burton also would also represent the Victorian Under 15 side in the 2022 national carnival where he was named All-Australian. As a result, he would be awarded with a scholarship to Caulfield Grammar for his final years of schooling, that would see him play in the APS football competition. 

Season 2023 saw Burton continue to progress – being named in the Western Jets Under 16s squad where he managed to make an appearance in two games in April of that year. He would then be called up to represent Vic Metro at the Under 16 Championships that year with his best game coming against South Australia.

September 2023 saw him make his Coates Talent League debut for the Jets in Wildcard Round, where he performed admirably against the reigning and eventual premiers, Sandringham Dragons. Weeks later, he was then called up to the Point Cook senior side to make his debut in a Grand Final of all games. Despite the game resulting in a loss, Burton fitted in seamlessly and felt as if he belonged out there, taking on the game with confidence and flair.

Season 2024 saw Burton spend most of his bottom-aged campaign playing with Caulfield Grammar while completing his Year 12 VCE studies. However, he also impressed in his limited appearances with the Jets, especially early in the season against the Calder Cannons in both a practice match and on Good Friday.

When he returned to the Jets team outside of school football commitments, his presence was noted, especially in the absence of his teammates who were on representative duty. While only managing seven games for the Jets, Burton was always consistent and would put in a solid performance representing Vic Metro, then Team Heppell in the 2024 Futures games.

With the stresses of school out of the way and putting more of his focus into football, season 2025 would see Burton appointed the Jets’ captain. But before that, along with earning selection in the AFL Academy and the Vic Metro summer hub, he completed a preseason training block with the Western Bulldogs, the club he supported growing up.

Despite being restricted by injury, Burton would overcome a poor Round 1 game by his standards to produce leadership and consistency for the Jets all season. As a result, he averaged 29.6 disposals, 5.3 marks and 5.6 tackles per game in 2025, taking out Western’s best and fairest award. While his averages were subdued playing for Vic Metro in the Under 18 Championships, he was awarded with captaincy for the game game against eventual title winners South Australia.

Burton models his game on 2016 Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen and fellow Western Jets alumni Zak Butters, players who are both known for their abilities to take the game on with their speed and flair, especially in the two positions that Burton is best suited to.

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