HAWTHORN forward Jack Gunston hopes his 100-game milestone is just the beginning.
The 23-year-old will play his 100th AFL game when the Hawks take on Brisbane Lions on Saturday afternoon.
Originally recruited by Adelaide with pick 29 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, Gunston played 14 games with the Crows before joining the Hawks prior to the 2012 season.
He said it felt as if the milestone had come around quickly.
“It’s obviously a nice little milestone to notch up,” Gunston told AFL.com.au earlier this week.
“I obviously started at Adelaide and spent the two years there and then came across.
“Being in my sixth year, it’s come around pretty quick and a lot of the boys sort of my age have come across it this year (playing 100 games), so it’s good that we can our footy going pretty much at the same time.”
The Hawks have played in grand finals in each of Gunston’s three completed seasons at the club.
The Sandringham Dragons product enters his 100th match with 207 goals and two premiership medals to his name, and says he has no regrets about moving clubs so early in his career.
“On and off the field it’s been a great move for me – I’ve still got plenty of mates at Adelaide,” Gunston said.
“It’s been a whirlwind (past) three years at Hawthorn – obviously losing the first one (grand final) but winning the next two.
“It’s amazing to think you’ve already got two premiership medals around your neck, and hopefully (there are) many more.”
As far as 2015 goes, Gunston says his own form has been a bit “up and down” – but as a team the Hawks are all finding ways to contribute.
“I‘ve had good patches of consistency without playing awesome footy,” he said.
“But I think that’s the beauty of our forward line, we don’t need one bloke to be able to kick all the goals each week. We can spread the love across the Breusts, Rougheads and Riolis.
“The beauty of playing here is that we’re able to share the load and get everyone involved.”
Gunston said the Hawks know they have room for improvement.
Externally the Hawks chances of a third consecutive premiership have been doubted, but the key forward is confident the team can challenge at the back end of the season.
“There’s always room for improvement,” he said.
“Coming off a loss before the finals, as much as you don’t want them, sometimes they can good to have because you can find the RFIs (room for improvements) and work out what we need to look at going forward.
“(Outside of the club) one week we’re unbeatable, the next week we’re just flag favourites and the next week we can’t win the flag.
“We’ll let anyone do the talking outside the walls of the Hawthorn Footy Club.
“Anyone’s a chance this year and it’s going to be an interesting finals series.”
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