Coming from the small community town of Barmera in South Australia, Bates’ stepdad introduced him to football.
“My stepdad was coaching at the time and decided for me to go out when I was 8 years old,” Bates said.
“There are two different leagues in the riverland and I was actually playing in both leagues, with two different teams, at the time.
“I was the youngest by far and I was playing on people twice the size of me which was pretty scary at the time. I just tried to absorb the play and look out for the bigger bodies.
“The umpires looked after me very well, which was good, otherwise I probably would have been on a stretcher by now,” Bates admitted laughing.
Fast-forward ten years and Bates is listed with Geelong Football Club, picked up at No.46 in the 2012 rookie draft after being overlooked in the main draft.
“The NAB Combine draft was pretty daunting and scary because you don’t know what it holds for your future.
“Missing out on the national draft was pretty upsetting but I knew there was ‘rookies’ coming around the next week, so I just kept looking forward to that and then when they called my name out I was just so happy and excited,” Bates explained.
Bates admitted he was concerned that perhaps a football career wasn’t meant to be, following the first draft.
“It definitely crossed my mind, but I just tried to keep sorting my life out and thought, well if I don’t get picked up I can still continue working and just continue on with my life in Adelaide,” Bates said.
The 19 year old plays as a small defender and is renowned for taking the game on with his run and carry and counter-attack, however, hasn’t been able to show his ability throughout the year due to injury.
“It’s been very frustrating and I just want to get back out there again,” Bates said.
Bates injured his hamstring in his VFL debut in round two after having just two disposals.
“I was lucky enough to get the preseason in which meant I could show a little bit about me and how I play which was good. But then I wasn’t too lucky at the start of the season, had my first game in round two and didn’t last ten minutes,” Bates explained.
Just as he’d recovered, Bates reinjured his hamstring at training in June.
“Doing the same thing again and having to start from square one again was very frustrating, but I try to be positive,” Bates said.
With fellow Cats Daniel Menzel and Nathan Vardy also on the injury list for an extended period of time, Bates admitted they’ve spent invaluable time training together.
“We’re isolated from the other boys, we don’t get to see much of them, so we just hang out and get to know each other a bit more.
“We’ve kind of got a special bond now I guess, we just stick together and help each other along the way,” Bates said.
The VFL Cats were unable to qualify for finals so Bates is firmly focused on making a strong return next year.
“I’m ‘put on ice’ for the rest of the year to just try and get ready for the preseason and that way I can have another good crack at it next year,” Bates said.
Moving out of home at 15, Bates is no stranger to independent living and took to it quickly following his move to Geelong.
“I had a host family but just recently moved out, about a month ago, got my own little place around the corner from the club and I’m living by myself,” Bates said.
Bates, who is always oozing with positivity and happiness, revealed he aptly considered mentoring as a career path before he was drafted.
“(If I wasn’t playing AFL) I’d probably be doing a trade like building or carpentry. Or maybe even mentoring younger kids coming through school,” Bates said.
So what can you expect when Zac Bates finally gets back on the turf? Well, he models his game on Hawthorn’s Cyril Rioli and Cats star Mathew Stokes so the possibilities are exciting to say the least.
