| Jason Dunstall | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Dunstall in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Jason Hadfield Dunstall | ||
| Nicknames | Chief,[1] Piggy, Bung, Silverback | ||
| Born | (1964-08-14)14 August 1964 (age 61) Brisbane, Queensland | ||
| Original team | Coorparoo[2] | ||
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 98 kg (216 lb) | ||
| Position | Full-forward | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1985–1998 | Hawthorn | 269 (1254) | |
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 1988–1989 | Victoria | 3 (14) | |
| 1992–1993 | Queensland | 4 (10) | |
| 1996 | Allies | 1 (0) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1998. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Jason Hadfield Dunstall (born 14 August 1964) professionally known as Jason Dunstall, is a formerAustralian rules footballer who played for theHawthorn Football Club in theAustralian Football League (AFL).
Dunstall is arguably the greatest Australian rules footballer to come fromQueensland. 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 and was also an agile team-orientated player. He made his name as a full-forward during an era in which power forwards—includingTony Lockett,Gary Ablett Sr.,Warwick Capper,Allen Jakovich,Simon Beasley,Saverio Rocca,John Longmire,Tony Modra andPeter 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 andCollingwood'sGordon Coventry have kicked more career goals. In an interview in 2011, championNorth Melbourne footballerWayne Carey regarded Dunstall as the best player he had seen and played against.[3] In 2024, he was promoted to be one of just 32 Legends in theAustralian Football Hall of Fame.
After finishing as a player, Dunstall has become a prominent football media personality, commentating matches for various radio stations in Melbourne and appearing regularly onFox Footy as host of the showBounce.
Dunstall was born and raised in Brisbane as one of three sons, his brothers are Harry and Nicholas.[4] He attended theAnglican Church Grammar School from 1977 to 1981.[5] At school he playedsoccer as a goalkeeper and alsorugby union.[6] His junior Australian rules football was spent playing with theCoorparoo Football Club in the thenQueensland Australian Football League (QAFL). He grew up supporting theCarlton Football Club due to Coorparoo wearing the same jumper and aspired to one day play for the VFL club.[7]
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.[8]
Attracting interest from the VFL, Dunstall approached Carlton; however, the club appeared to not be interested. He instead receive an offer to train with Fitzroy, but reserves coachBrian Walsh was not impressed, choosing to recruit fellow QueenslanderScott McIvor instead. Dunstall was recruited to VFL club Hawthorn in 1985, touted as a new tall forward option, his recruitment largely overshadowed by the hype of West Australian recruitSteve Malaxos.[9]
While not immediately impressed by Dunstall's appearance,Allan Jeans became somewhat of a father figure over the course of the 1980s as his coach. When a group of players was arrested after a night 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.[citation needed]
Dunstall made his1985 VFL debut against Melbourne at Princes Park.[10] 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, behindDermott Brereton andJohn Kennedy. He was dropped from the side three games later after a loss to Richmond;[11] however, he regained some form towards the end of the season, finishing with 35 goals. In his breakout game against Richmond, he would kick eight goals, and the media heralded the twenty-year-old Queenslander as a future star.[12]
In 1987, expansion club theBrisbane Bears—in search of a marquee Queenslander—made a $2 million, 10-year offer to Dunstall; however, despite the lucrative deal and the opportunity to return to his home stage, he turned it down, choosing to stay with the Hawks.[13]
1988 was a special year for Dunstall. In Round 19, againstFitzroy, 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.[14] However, Dunstall would miss his first two shots and drop a few marks before putting through his first goal at the 17-minute mark.[14] The moment of truth came at the 30-minute mark of the first quarter when teammateDermott Brereton kicked the ball high into the air. It took a vicious bounce over Fitzroy defenderBrett Stephens' head and landed in Dunstall's arms.[14] The goal was kicked and the fans came running onto the ground to congratulate only the second Hawthorn player, afterPeter Hudson, to kick 100 goals in a season.
Dunstall kicked a further six goals for the game to finish with 8 goals. He would finish the home-and-away season with 124 goals, winning his firstColeman Medal. He also won his first club best and fairest award. In the1988 Grand Final massacre againstMelbourne, he kicked 7 goals.
Dunstall established his reputation as one of the best full-forwards in Australia during the1989 VFL season.[citation needed] He won his second straight Coleman Medal, tallying 128 goals, during the home-and-away season and finished third in theBrownlow Medal vote count. He kicked ten or more goals in a match twice: In Round 16, he kicked 11 goals againstCollingwood; in Round 22, he kicked 11 goals againstSt Kilda.[2] Dunstall added ten more goals during the finals series, four of those in the epic1989 premiership victory, to take his overall tally to 138 goals for the season. He also won the club best and fairest award for the second straight year. Representing Victoria in the State of Origin series, Dunstall won theSimpson Medal for best on ground in the match against Western Australia played in Perth.
1990 began promisingly enough for Dunstall. In Round 1, in the Grand Final rematch againstGeelong atWaverley Park, he kicked a then career-best 12 goals after being held goalless in the first quarter. Hawthorn went on to thrash the Cats by 115 points.[15] In Round 4 againstBrisbane Bears atPrinces Park in wet conditions, Dunstall kicked 8 goals, bringing up his 500th career goal in the process, as the Hawks won by 82 points.[16] But in Round 9 againstMelbourne, 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 toThe Alfred Hospital.[17] 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 show[which?] after the1990 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.[citation needed]
Dunstall kicked 82 goals in1991, including six in theGrand Final as Hawthorn claimed their 9th Premiership. They were unable to defend the premiership in1992 after they lost toWest Coast 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 theBrownlow Medal vote count. In Round 7 Dunstall kicked what would be his career best of 17 goals againstRichmond, just one goal short of the record held byFred Fanning ofMelbourne.Dunstall reached his century of goals againstGeelong in Round 16 atKardinia 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.[18]Dunstall's outstanding season was recognised with his third club best and fairest award, as well as his first selection in theAll-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, Dunstall's knee healed well enough for him to play half a reserves match just before the start of the1997 AFL season,[19] and was picked to play againstSt Kilda in the opening round.
Dunstall recovered in time for the start of the1998 AFL season. He had kicked 52 goals for the season before tragedy again struck in Round 14 againstCarlton, the same team against which Dunstall had injured his knee the previous season. Lining up on illustrious opponentStephen 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 hiscollarbone.[20]
Dunstall's shoulder was put in a special brace for several weeks, and club physiotherapistBarry Gavin was optimistic of his chances of returning before the end of the season, a view not shared by doctors at several other clubs.[20] Dunstall did return for the final game of the year, but only after having announced his retirement, first to the Hawthorn coaching and management staff, then to the general public on theSeven Network football showLive and Kicking.[21]
Before Dunstall's final game, againstFremantle atWaverley Park, a number of his former teammates and associates came to congratulate him, including coachAllan Jeans.[22] Dunstall was clearly moved by the occasion; however, a severe lack of match fitness meant he struggled to have much impact on the game.[22] He did, however, score the first goal of the game and the first goal of the last term.[22] Nevertheless, the 40,000 or so Hawthorn fans that came to pay tribute to their champion cheered every touch that Dunstall got of the ball. The Hawks kicked 11 goals in the last quarter to win by 89 points, and amid emotional scenes Dunstall was chaired off the ground by his teammates, bringing to a close one of the most successful eras in Hawthorn's on-field history.[citation needed]
G | Goals | K | Kicks | D | Disposals | T | Tackles |
B | Behinds | H | Handballs | M | Marks | ||
# | Played in that season's premiership team | † | Led the league for the season |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 1985 | Hawthorn | 19 | 16 | 36 | 27 | 123 | 42 | 165 | 62 | — | 2.3 | 1.7 | 7.7 | 2.6 | 10.3 | 3.9 | — | 2 |
| 1986# | Hawthorn | 19 | 22 | 77 | 31 | 163 | 55 | 218 | 123 | — | 3.5 | 1.4 | 7.4 | 2.5 | 9.9 | 5.6 | — | 5 |
| 1987 | Hawthorn | 19 | 24 | 94 | 58† | 231 | 42 | 273 | 143 | 13 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 9.6 | 1.8 | 11.4 | 6.0 | 0.5 | 9 |
| 1988# | Hawthorn | 19 | 23 | 132† | 66† | 270 | 47 | 317 | 185† | 20 | 5.7† | 2.9 | 11.7 | 2.0 | 13.8 | 8.0† | 0.9 | 16 |
| 1989# | Hawthorn | 19 | 24 | 138† | 76† | 306 | 54 | 360 | 207† | 21 | 5.8 | 3.2† | 12.8 | 2.3 | 15.0 | 8.6 | 0.9 | 16 |
| 1990 | Hawthorn | 19 | 18 | 83 | 39 | 157 | 36 | 193 | 113 | 10 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 8.7 | 2.0 | 10.7 | 6.3 | 0.6 | 9 |
| 1991# | Hawthorn | 19 | 18 | 82 | 47 | 177 | 41 | 218 | 105 | 18 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 9.8 | 2.3 | 12.1 | 5.8 | 1.0 | 4 |
| 1992 | Hawthorn | 19 | 23 | 145† | 84† | 284 | 59 | 343 | 199† | 19 | 6.3† | 3.7† | 12.3 | 2.6 | 14.9 | 8.7 | 0.8 | 18 |
| 1993 | Hawthorn | 19 | 21 | 123 | 55 | 235 | 42 | 277 | 166 | 16 | 5.9 | 2.6 | 11.2 | 2.0 | 13.2 | 7.9 | 0.8 | 16 |
| 1994 | Hawthorn | 19 | 19 | 101 | 47 | 194 | 58 | 252 | 144 | 23 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 10.2 | 3.1 | 13.3 | 7.6 | 1.2 | 12 |
| 1995 | Hawthorn | 19 | 17 | 66 | 38 | 142 | 32 | 174 | 102 | 10 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 8.4 | 1.9 | 10.2 | 6.0 | 0.6 | 2 |
| 1996 | Hawthorn | 19 | 23 | 102 | 45 | 187 | 62 | 249 | 132 | 12 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 8.1 | 2.7 | 10.8 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 11 |
| 1997 | Hawthorn | 19 | 8 | 21 | 10 | 43 | 16 | 59 | 33 | 6 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 7.4 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 0 |
| 1998 | Hawthorn | 19 | 13 | 54 | 18 | 88 | 21 | 109 | 65 | 6 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 6.8 | 1.6 | 8.4 | 5.0 | 0.5 | 9 |
| Career | 269 | 1254 | 641 | 2600 | 607 | 3207 | 1779 | 174 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 9.7 | 2.3 | 11.9 | 6.6 | 0.6 | 129 | ||
Team
Individual
Dunstall has been guest commentator on theSeven Network and radio station3AW and was a regular panellist in the early days ofThe Footy Show.
In 2002, Dunstall was inducted into theAustralian Football Hall of Fame.[24]
In 2004, Dunstall held the position of interimCEO atHawthorn.[25] After handing over the CEO position Dunstall remained on the Hawthorn board until the end of 2013 when his term expired. He currently works on radio stationTriple M as a commentator.[25] His stint as CEO led to the nickname of "The Chief", coined bySam Newman,[26] who also coined another of his nicknames, "Silverback", due to his alleged similar appearance to agorilla, apparently intended as a compliment.[27] His mannerisms on Fox Footy and Triple M lean towards professionalism, which at times can be seen as too serious (as seen on the 1980sHeritage Round episode ofThe AFL Footy Show on 20 July 2006, where he refused to dress up to mark the occasion.) He has been the focus on 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 ontoThe Footy Show, where both fans andSam Newman repeatably baited Dunstall with video clips and props.
In early September 2008, the hosts ofThe Footy Show launched "The Great Chief Chase" in which viewers were offered five double passes toThe Footy Show Grand Final concert for the best photo a person could take with Dunstall.[28] 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.[28] He was especially threatening towardsJames Brayshaw, a colleague atTriple M and one of the hosts onThe Footy Show who had labelled Dunstall a "sook".[28] Dunstall and Brayshaw formally ended their feud the following week at theVictoria Racing Club footy finals fever lunch.
Dunstall has also hosted various television shows, including the Seven Network'sLive and Kicking andFox Footy'sSaturday Central (withWayne Carey),On the Couch andLeague Teams. He was a host of Triple M radio showThe Gospel withNathan Brown,Peter Everitt andNick Riewoldt until 2006.[citation needed]
He was a member of The Friday Rub on Friday nights alongside James Brayshaw,Garry Lyon and Damian Barrett on Triple M.[25] Dunstall is also the host of Bounce, a weekly football show broadcast onFox Footy.
Reflecting his Queensland upbringing, Dunstall is depicted lining up for goal wearing a Queensland state guernsey inJamie Cooper's paintingThe Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport.[29]
A stand at the Cooparoo Oval and the schoolboys competition in Brisbane (Jason Dunstall Cup) are both named after him.[citation needed]
In July 2014, Dunstall was elevated to Legend status in the Hawthorn Hall of Fame.[30]
On 9 April 9, 2015, theMelbourne Renegades announced that they have appointed Dunstall as the club's new Chairman, replacing outgoing Chairman and fellow Triple M Footy colleague James Brayshaw.[31]
In 2024, Dunstall was made one of 32 players in the history of Australian rules football to be elevated to Legend status in theAustralian Football Hall of Fame.[32][33]
In 2025, he was inducted intoSport Australia Hall of Fame as athlete member.[34]
As of 2003, he was married to wife Deb Dunstall.[35]