Who is Jason Dunstall? Hawthorn four-time premiership star crowned with Legend status in the AFL Hall of Fame
hawks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall, upon his elevation in the Australian Football Hall of Fame, has become the 32nd player to make it to Legend status, 22 years after his Induction in 2002.
By the end of his career in 1998, Dunstall was recognized as the third-most prolific goalkicker in V/AFL history with 1254 majors, behind Collingwood’s Gordon Coventry (1299) and St Kilda and Sydney’s Tony Lockett (1360). They are all AFL Hall of Fame Legends, Dunstall being the most recent addition.
The Hawk champion reached the 100-goal mark in six seasons (1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1996), with 1992 being his best year, in which he kicked 145 goals and booted a personal-best 17 goals in a single game.
Dunstall served as captain of the Hawks in the later years of his career before becoming the club's Football Director in 2004, while also briefly stepping up as interim CEO.
Dunstall served as Football Director for nearly a decade, setting up the club for its golden run; the remarkable three-peat (2013, 2014, and 2015), following a premiership in 2008. He now works in the media as a respected commentator and analyst across radio and television.
The 59-year-old told reporters after his elevation (via ESPN):
"It's an incredible privilege. I feel very humbled, almost to the point of embarrassment. When you consider there's just a tick over 30 Legends in the game, it's the highest honour you can imagine. I feel incredibly grateful to the AFL. It's been a massive part of my life and to sit amongst names that are synonymous with the game now is incredibly humbling."
His career with the Hawks spanned 13 years from 1985 to 1998. Dunstall was one of the game’s finest full-forwards. His combination of strong marking skills, fast feet on the lead, and neat goalkicking played a pivotal role in four of the club's premierships.
About his role in the premierships, Jason Dunstall said:
"I was at the end of the production line at Hawthorn. When you're full-forward and you've got all these great players further afield that continue to pump the ball down to you ... I always defer to my teammates. I was blessed to be on the receiving end of some of the most skilful players to have ever played the game."
Latest AFL Hall of Fame Legend Jason Dunstall’s stats, playing honors, achievements
On June 18, Hawthorn’s Jason Dunstall was elevated to Legend status in the AFL Hall of Fame. His playing career spanned from 1985 to 1998, details on his career are provided below.
Games: 269, Goals: 1254
Honours and Achievements
Hawthorn Captain 1995-1998
Second (equal) Brownlow Medal 1988, 1992
Third (equal) Brownlow Medal 1989
Four-time Club Best & Fairest: 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993
Four Premierships: 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991
Three-time Coleman Medal 1988, 1989, 1992
12-time Club Leading Goalkicker: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998
Four-time All Australian 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994
Hawthorn Hawks Hall of Fame: 2005
Hawthorn Hawks Legend: 2014
Hawthorn Team of the Century
Hawthorn Hawks Life Member: 1991
Hawthorn Football Club Board: 2004-2013