Hawthorn champion and Fox Footy’s own Jason Dunstall is set to become the 32nd player elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
The 59-year old will be formally elevated during June’s Hall of Fame ceremony in Melbourne, the AFL confirmed on Monday.
Dunstall conceded he was “overwhelmed” and “humble almost to the point of embarrassment” after receiving the game’s most prestigious status.
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“When you consider there’s just a tick over 30 Legends in the game, it’s the highest honour. I feel incredibly grateful to the AFL,” Dunstall said on Monday.
“It’s been a massive part of my life and to sit amongst names that are synonymous with the game now, it’s incredibly humbling. I’m very grateful.”
It completes the stellar resume of one of the game’s all-time greats.
Playing in a golden era at Hawthorn in the late 1980s and early 90s where he won four premierships, Dunstall credited his superstar ex-teammates for his success, saying he was “blessed” to be on the end of “some of the most skilled players to ever play the game.”
As dominant as any full forward to ever play the game, Dunstall booted 1254 career goals – ranked third all-time in VFL/AFL history behind only Tony Lockett and Gordon Coventry – from 269 games for Hawthorn from 1995 to 1998.
In addition to his four premierships, Dunstall is a three-time Coleman medallist including leading Hawthorn’s goalkicking on 12 occasions, an AFLPA MVP, two-time All-Australian and four-time best and fairest winner.
He averaged just under 4.7 goals per game including kicking double figures in 16 seperate matches. Dunstall’s 17 goals against Richmond in 1992 mark the second-highest tally in a VFL/AFL game ever.
Dunstall, who in 2002 was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, already had legend status in Hawthorn’s Hall of Fame and is in the club’s Team of the Century.
Retiring in 1998 after a decorated AFL career, Dunstall has gone on to have a prominent role in the media including starring across Fox Footy broadcasts and the long-time host of popular show Bounce.
DUNSTALL’S CAREER
Games: 269 (1985-1998)
Goals: 1254
-Hawthorn Best & Fairest 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993
-Hawthorn captain 1995-98
-Premierships 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991
-Club leading goalkicker 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998
-Coleman Medal 1988, 1989, 1992
-Hawthorn Team of the Century
-All-Australian 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994
-State of Origin – Victoria (3 games, 14 goals); Queensland (4 games, 10 goals); Allies (1 game, 0 goals)
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME LEGENDS
Jason Dunstall
Russell Ebert
Merv McIntosh
Jack Oatey
John Kennedy snr
Kevin Sheedy
Malcolm Blight
Tony Lockett
Royce Hart
Kevin Murray
Alex Jesaulenko
Norm Smith
Darrel Baldock
James ‘Jock’ McHale
Bill Hutchison
Barrie Robran
Kevin Bartlett
Peter Hudson
Gordon Coventry
Ian Stewart
Bob Pratt
Bob Skilton
Dick Reynolds
Graham Farmer
Haydn Bunton snr
Jack Dyer
John Coleman
John Nicholls
Leigh Matthews
Ron Barassi
Roy Cazaly
Ted Whitten
Source Agencies
