Jack Gunston

Adelaide (2010–2011)

Gunston made his AFL debut against the Brisbane Lions in 9th round of the 2010 AFL season. In a promising debut Gunston collected seven disposals and kicked a vital goal in the final quarter.^[5] He played one more game in round 18 against Richmond collecting nine disposals. He finished the year on the wing with Central District's 2010 premiership Side.^{[citation needed]}

In 2011 he played 12 games, kicking five goals against Richmond in round 23.^[6]

After two years in Adelaide, Gunston became homesick and sought to return to Victoria. He refused to participate in the finals series for Central District, choosing to return home to Victoria before the end of the SANFL season.^[7] Adelaide had awarded him the Mark Bickley Award as the club's best young player, but he was stripped of the title after announcing his intention to leave.^[8]

Hawthorn (2012–2022)

He was traded to Hawthorn in a deal that saw three draft picks (pick 24, 46 & 64) given to Adelaide and two picks returned (pick 53 and 71).^[9]

In his first season at Hawthorn he played 19 games, including the 2012 Grand Final, and followed up in 2013 with 23 games.^[10]

Gunston played in the 2013 Grand Final against Fremantle, and was one of the best players on the ground, kicking 4 goals to be the leading goalkicker in the match and finishing second in the Norm Smith Medal count to teammate Brian Lake.^[11][12] Gunston played an important role as key forward in 2014, finishing with a career-high 58 goals for the season^[13] and earning his second premiership as Hawthorn triumphed in the 2014 Grand Final.^[14] In 2015, Gunston was Hawthorn's leading goalkicker, kicking 57 goals.^[15] He injured his knee in the Qualifying Final against the West Coast Eagles,^[16] but he returned in the Grand Final to kick 4 goals, in Hawthorn's three-peat victory against the Eagles once more.^[17]

In 2016, Gunston was forced to take on new roles due to the season-ending injury received by Jarryd Roughead, occasionally moving into the centre. Regardless, he kicked 51 goals over the home-and-away season and the finals, and he was widely regarded as being in excellent form.^[18][19]

Gunston had a poor beginning to 2017, not kicking a large number of goals. As both a result of this and a large number of injuries suffered by Hawthorn's key defenders, Gunston was moved into the backline, where he significantly improved his performance.^[20]

Gunston was moved back into the forward line for 2018.^[21] He enjoyed good form, forming a forward partnership with Luke Breust with the pair kicking a combined 105 goals between them.^[22] Gunston personally kicked 48 goals and came equal 6th in the Coleman Medal.^[23]

In February 2019, it was announced that Gunston had been appointed vice-captain, alongside the new captain, Ben Stratton.^[24] His forward partnership with Breust was not as effective as the previous season, with the pair kicking only a combined 60 goals between them, and Hawthorn missed the finals.^[22]

Gunston missed the majority of the 2021 season, playing just one game. He suffered a back injury that required surgery, before a premature comeback and recurrence of the injury required further surgery to correct the issue.^[25]

Gunston returned to full fitness in the 2022 season, finishing with 32 goals from 16 games and ending the season rated as 'above average' for marks inside 50, goals and score involvements.^[26]

Gunston collected 47 Brownlow Medal votes over the first part of his career at Hawthorn.

Brisbane Lions (2023)

At the conclusion of the 2022 AFL season, Gunston expressed a desire to move to the Brisbane Lions as a free agent. However, in order to avoid diluting their free agency compensation for losing Daniel McStay, the Lions instead sought to trade for Gunston, ultimately acquiring him on 11 October in exchange for AFL draft pick 48 and a future fourth-round selection.^[27][28]

Return to Hawthorn (2024–)

After one season at Brisbane, Gunston requested a trade back to Hawthorn, and he was traded on the final day of trade period.^[29]

In the 2025 season Gunston kicked a career-high 7 goals against North Melbourne in Round 16 in Launceston. It brought his total to 70 goals kicked at the venue, behind only Jarryd Roughead, Lance Franklin and Luke Breust.^{[citation needed]}. He was rewarded for his outstanding season, in which he finished third in the Coleman Medal with 65 goals (after H&A), won his second All Australian blazer, and won his second Peter Crimmins Medal.