Jason Dunstall

Jason Hadfield Dunstall (born 14 August 1964) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Originally from Queensland, Dunstall was one of the first of a generation of big-bodied, lead-up full-forwards who could also out-wrestle opponents for position in a marking contest, while remaining an agile, team-orientated player. He was a full-forward during an era in which power forwards—including Tony Lockett, Gary Ablett Sr., Warwick Capper, Allen Jakovich, Simon Beasley, Saverio Rocca, John Longmire, Tony Modra and Peter Sumich—dominated the league goalkicking. He is one of only six players to have kicked over 1,000 career goals in the VFL/AFL, and only Lockett and 's Gordon Coventry have kicked more career goals. In an interview in 2011, champion footballer Wayne Carey regarded Dunstall as the best player he had seen and played against. In 2024, he was promoted to be one of just 32 Legends in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

After finishing as a player, Dunstall became a prominent football media personality, commentating matches for various radio stations in Melbourne and appearing regularly on Fox Footy as the host of the show Bounce.

Early life Dunstall was born and raised in Brisbane as one of three sons; his brothers are Harry and Nicholas. He attended the Anglican Church Grammar School from 1977 to 1981. At school, he played soccer as a goalkeeper, as well as rugby union. His junior Australian rules football was spent playing with the Coorparoo Football Club in the then-Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL). He grew up supporting the Carlton Football Club due to Coorparoo wearing the same jumper and aspired to one day play for the VFL club.

In 1984, as a 20-year-old, Dunstall made his senior debut and enjoyed a stellar season, claiming the QAFL leading goalkicker award with 73 goals in the home-and-away season and kicking seven goals in Coorparoo's Grand Final win.

Attracting interest from the VFL, Dunstall approached Carlton; however, the club appeared to not be interested. He instead received an offer to train with Fitzroy, but reserves coach Brian Walsh was not impressed, choosing to recruit fellow Queenslander Scott McIvor instead. Dunstall was recruited to VFL club Hawthorn in 1985, touted as a new tall forward option, a recruitment which was largely overshadowed by the hype of West Australian recruit Steve Malaxos.

Although coach Allan Jeans was not immediately impressed by Dunstall's physical appearance, he became somewhat of a father figure over the course of the 1980s. When a group of players was arrested after a night out during an overseas trip, Jeans was called to the local police station to address their detention. Jeans' advice to the officer has become a highlight of premiership reunion events; he reputedly advised the officer in charge he was free to shoot "him, him and him, but don't shoot the fat one" as he looked at his star full-forward.

League playing career

Dunstall made his 1985 VFL debut against Melbourne at Princes Park. He had an immediate impact, kicking an impressive three goals and three behinds in his team's demolition of the Demons; however, he was third in the team's goalkicking, behind Dermott Brereton and John Kennedy. He was dropped from the side three games later after a loss to Richmond; however, he regained some form towards the end of the season, finishing with 35 goals. In his breakout game against Richmond, he kicked eight goals, and the media heralded the twenty-year-old Queenslander as a future star.

In 1987, expansion club the Brisbane Bears—in search of a marquee Queenslander—made a 10-year offer of A$2 million to Dunstall. Despite the lucrative deal and the opportunity to return to his home state, he turned it down, choosing to stay with the Hawks.

1988 was a special year for Dunstall. In Round 19, against , he brought up his first century of goals in a season. He had kicked 98 goals going into the match, and Hawthorn supporters expected the required two goals to come sooner rather than later. However, Dunstall missed his first two shots and dropped a few marks before putting through his first goal at the 17-minute mark. In Round 4 against at Princes Park in wet conditions, Dunstall kicked 8 goals, bringing up his 500th career goal in the process, as the Hawks won by 82 points. But in Round 9 against , Dunstall was injured in the first quarter. He fell heavily on an opponent's boot and sustained a serious injury at the front of his head. He was taken from the ground and admitted to The Alfred Hospital. At that stage of the season, Dunstall had kicked 41 goals. The injury would cause him to miss the next four matches. After his return in Round 14, he kicked a further 42 goals, including 11 goals against Collingwood in Round 20. On a television program after the 1990 AFL Grand Final, Leigh Matthews said that he was glad Hawthorn got knocked out of the finals, because Dunstall always seemed to kick a huge number of goals against the recently crowned premiers.

Dunstall kicked 82 goals in 1991, including six in the Grand Final as Hawthorn claimed their 9th Premiership. They were unable to defend the premiership in 1992 after they lost to in a closely contested Elimination Final. But Dunstall enjoyed arguably his most successful season on an individual level. He won his third Coleman Medal after kicking 139 goals during the home-and-away season (six more in the Elimination Final took his season tally to 145), and finished second in the Brownlow Medal vote count. In Round 7, Dunstall kicked a career-best 17 goals against , just one goal short of the VFL/AFL record held by Fred Fanning of . Dunstall reached his century of goals against in Round 16 at Kardinia Park with his fifth goal of the match just before half-time. He ended the match with 9 goals and beat three opponents as Hawthorn won by 19 points. Dunstall's outstanding season was recognised with his third club best and fairest award, as well as his first selection in the All-Australian team at full-forward.

In the Elimination Final in 1996 against Sydney, Dunstall tumbled over Andrew Dunkley and was left writhing on the ground clutching a badly injured knee, which required a knee reconstruction. Surprisingly, it healed well enough for him to play half a reserves match just before the start of the 1997 AFL season, and was picked to play against in the opening round.

Dunstall recovered in time for the start of the 1998 AFL season. He had kicked 52 goals for the season before tragedy again struck in Round 14 against , the same team against which Dunstall had injured his knee the previous season. Lining up on illustrious opponent Stephen Silvagni, Dunstall twisted and fell on his right shoulder early in the second quarter. Silvagni accidentally landed on top of Dunstall at the same time, forcing Dunstall's shoulder into the ground and breaking his collarbone.

Dunstall's shoulder was put in a special brace for several weeks, and club physiotherapist Barry Gavin was optimistic of his chances of returning before the end of the season, a view not shared by doctors at several other clubs.

Before Dunstall's final game, against at Waverley Park, a number of his former teammates and associates came to congratulate him, including coach Allan Jeans. Dunstall was clearly moved by the occasion; however, a severe lack of match fitness meant he struggled to have much impact on the game.

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Honours and achievements Team 4× VFL/AFL premiership player : 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991 3× Minor premiership : 1986, 1988, 1989

5× VFL/AFL night series premiership: 1985, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992

Individual AFLPA MVP: 1992 3× Coleman Medal: 1988, 1989, 1992 2× All-Australian team: 1992, 1994 4× Peter Crimmins Memorial Trophy: 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993 12× Hawthorn leading goalkicker: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998 Queensland State of Origin captain 1993 Hawthorn captain: 1995–1998 Simpson Medal: 1989 E. J. Whitten Medal: 1989 Australian Football Hall of Fame: 2002; elevated to Legend status in 2024 Hall of Fame – Legend status Team of the Century

Post-football Dunstall has been a guest commentator on the Seven Network and radio station 3AW, and was a regular panellist in the early days of The Footy Show.

In 2002, Dunstall was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

In 2004, Dunstall held the position of interim CEO at . After handing over the CEO position, Dunstall remained on the Hawthorn board until his term expired at the end of 2013. He later worked on radio station Triple M as a commentator. Newman also dubbed him "Silverback" due to his alleged similar appearance to a gorilla—a moniker apparently intended as a compliment. His mannerisms on Fox Footy and Triple M lean towards professionalism, which at times can be seen as too serious (as seen on the 1980s Heritage Round episode of The AFL Footy Show on 20 July 2006, where he refused to dress up to mark the occasion). He has been the focus of continual baiting by his Triple M co-commentators and is nicknamed "The Ugandan National Symbol" for his gorilla-like style, attitude and demeanour. These gorilla references made their way onto The Footy Show, where both fans and Sam Newman repeatedly baited Dunstall with video clips and props.

In early September 2008, the hosts of The Footy Show launched "The Great Chief Chase" in which viewers were offered five double passes to The Footy Show Grand Final concert for the best photo a person could take with Dunstall. Dunstall was reportedly furious when details of his whereabouts were made public, resulting in people knocking on his house door asking for photos with him.

A stand at the Coorparoo Oval and the schoolboys competition in Brisbane (Jason Dunstall Cup) are both named after him.

In July 2014, Dunstall was elevated to Legend status in the Hawthorn Hall of Fame.

On 9 April 2015, the Melbourne Renegades announced that they had appointed Dunstall as the club's new Chairman, replacing outgoing Chairman and fellow Triple M Footy colleague James Brayshaw.

In 2024, Dunstall was made one of 32 players in the history of Australian rules football to be elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

In 2025, he was inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame as an athlete member.

Personal life As of 2003, he was married to wife Deb Dunstall.