STAR forward Jack Gunston has “gone up a level” this year, according to former Essendon spearhead Matthew Lloyd – and teammate Sam Mitchell agrees.

In the absence of Jarryd Roughead and for the bulk of the season, Ryan Schoenmakers, Gunston has established himself as the Hawks’ main tall target inside 50.

“I reckon he’s gone up a level,” Lloyd said on The Sunday Footy Show.

“(With) no Jarryd Roughead this year, I reckon he’s raised his level since even the last three flags.”

Gunston has kicked 28 goals from 11 matches this season, as well as averaging more than 16 disposals and almost seven marks per game.

In his 100^th match for Hawthorn, against Melbourne on Saturday, Gunston added three goals to his season tally and battled through an ankle knock which reduced his impact late in the contest.

Mitchell says it’s Gunston’s work ethic which has helped him go from strength-to-strength in 2016.

“It’s been a challenge for him… at the start of the year he realised he’s probably going to get the best defender, because Roughy’s not going to be there,” Mitchell said.

“Now that he’s playing on those guys, he’s found a way to play and he’s really developing as a player.

“I think he’s really hard on himself. He wants to play really, really well every week, and he’s got a lot of pride in his performance, which is why he’s been able to get better and better.”