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From a skinny 18-year-old to Grand Final hero - the story of Jack Gunston

29th September, 2013
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29th September, 2013
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Jack Gunston was just a wiry 18-year-old kid from Sandringham when he was drafted by Adelaide in the 2009 draft at pick 29.

His first game came in 2010 when he collected seven disposals and kicked the sealer in a 12-point win over Brisbane. And that was only the beginning.

In round 23, 2011, Gunston kicked five goals and collected 16 disposals in a best on ground performance.

At the end of the 2011 season, Gunston was at a crossroads. He was homesick and wanted to return home to Melbourne. Because of this, Adelaide stripped him of the Mark Bickley best young player award that he was due to be awarded at the best and fairest. Eventually he was traded to Hawthorn for picks 24, 46 & 64.

Gunston made his debut for Hawthorn as the substitute and came on in the second half and kicked a goal in front of 80,000 in a Round 1 blockbuster against Collingwood.

“It was a different night to what I’m used to, coming out, round one with 80,000 people in the crowd, I was pinching myself at the start,” he said.

“Being the substitute was probably a good way to get introduced to the game, being the sub and being able to pick up the tempo and then come on in the second half.”

From then on, Gunston has become a key player for Hawthorn and averages 2 goals a game. Gunston starred for Hawthorn in the 2012 grand final kicking 2 goals.

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The 2013 season also brought Gunston a lot of success. In the finals series, Gunston kicked 11 goals, including 4 in the Grand Final, to help Hawthorn defeat Fremantle by 15 points, and many have said that Gunston should have won the Norm Smith Medal.

There is no doubt that if Lance Franklin decides to leave Hawthorn, Gunston can most definitely step up into the Centre Half Forward role. He is strong overhead and good on the lead, and is good at ground level. He is a superstar in the making.

Gunston is also well-known for his set shot accuracy in the tradition of the most decorated Hawk to wear No 19. Over the past 2 seasons, Gunston has been the most accurate forward in the competition with a conversion rate around 80%, just ahead of Chris Mayne’s 79%.

His ability to read the play, out-position his opponent, think quickly and take one grab marks do remind one of the great Dunstall, albeit in a slightly taller, slimmer frame.

If Gunston can continue these feats into the 2014 season, he can become a superstar in his own right as he has all the traits: flair, reliability, star quality, clean hands and quick decisive thinking to go with his accurate kicking.

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