Emotional AFL return for fresh Lion Gunston

Murray Wenzel | July 9, 2023

Jack Gunston hopes he’s carved out his Brisbane Lions niche after an emotional six-goal showing in his AFL return that coincided with the first anniversary of his father’s death.

The Hawthorn recruit and his coach Chris Fagan wore black armbands during Saturday’s clash with West Coast at the Gabba, Gunston’s first since he was placed in a month-long training block to recapture fitness and form.

He filled his boots against the cellar dwellers, just missing a career-best seven when a long-range set shot sailed wide in the final seconds of the Lions’ 81-point win.

“It was good to be able to have the family up here; it brought back a lot of good memories but we had a pretty tough day on Wednesday,” Gunston said of his father Ray, who died of a heart attack last year.

“To go out and play for him again; it was nice to get onto a few and he’s always in my thoughts.

“He’s been awesome, Fages. I can have honest conversations about my form and where I’m at in my career. It was a very nice gesture.”

Gunston had kicked one goal in four games before he was dropped, fellow veteran Daniel Rich also pulled from the side after consultation with Fagan and ordered into an indefinite training cycle.

The 31-year-old, three-time premiership star said they were “joined at the hip” for a fitness camp that featured 14km runs followed by swims, cycling, gym and training with the VFL side.

“That was the whole theory; just get the k’s in the legs and thirst to want to play footy again,” Gunston said.

“I didn’t have any doubt in my ability to perform.

“When you step back you get a better gauge. I watched a lot of vision as well, didn’t just get fit.

“At a new club, I played in a different system for 12, 13 years.

“It started wearing on me a little bit mentally, not getting the ball and the patterns I was running.

“It was great to get on the end of the few today but it wasn’t all about kicking goals.”

With stiffer tasks against Melbourne and Geelong to come, Gunston hopes he can play more of a link-up role to complement a forward line stacked with goal-scoring options.

“That’s what I did early in my career, got up the wings into halfback and got involved,” he said.

Gunston’s chance came with Lincoln McCarthy (suspended) and Callum Ah Chee (concussion) both missing.

“He is a good athlete and I think today he feels like the old, athletic Jack is back,” Fagan said.

“We won’t shout it from the rooftops, but it’s a step in the right direction.”