Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
William Mahomet Ah Mat

Known as
William 'Put' Ah Mat

Nickname
Put

Born
26 June 1904

Place of birth
Mabuiag Island, QLD (4875)

Died
6 March 1988 (aged 83)

Place of death
Darwin, NT (0800)

State of origin
QLD

William 'Put' Ah Mat


Club
League
Career span
Games
Goals
Avg
Win %
AKI
AHB
AMK
BV
Darwin BuffaloesNTFL1919-1940————————
Total1919-1940————————

After commencing with Vesteys in 1919 ‘Put’ Ah Mat went on to enjoy a highly noteworthy career spanning more than two decades. His distinctive nickname was conferred on him because of the telling precision with which he repeatedly managed to steer, or ‘put’, the ball between the big sticks. He was the NTFL’s top goal kicker on two occasions, and runner-up three times.

In what was a glittering period of success for his club, which altered its name from Vesteys to Buffaloes in 1926, Ah Mat was a member of no fewer than seven premiership-winning teams from fourteen grand finals. He won a club best and fairest award in 1935/6, the same season that saw him finish as runner- up in the league’s top award. When the AFL Northern Territory Hall of Fame was launched in 2010 ‘Put’ Ah Mat was an inaugural inductee.

Sources

Crème de la Crème, by John Devaney

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.