A major attraction for visitors to the Hawks Museum is the Hall of Fame Legends portraits that hang in the foyer to the entrance of the museum.
These portraits that are virtually life size and capture the physical presence each of the seven Club Legends. The backgrounds to each portrait are full of interest as they reflect for the viewer the various football grounds where the Legends established their outstanding reputations.
On July 12, 2014 at the Silver Anniversary of the 88/89 Back-to-Back Premiership Celebrations, Jason Dunstall was named a Legend of the Hawthorn Football Club.
Dunstall is the seventh player to receive this prestigious award. He joins John Kennedy Snr and Leigh Matthews who both were named Legends in 2003, Graham Arthur 2005, Michael Tuck 2008, Peter Hudson 2010 and David Parkin 2013.
To be named a Legend of the Hawthorn Football Club is the highest honor that the club can bestow on an individual for his or her outstanding contribution to the club. To gain Legend status the individual must first be an Inductee of the HFC Hall of Fame, only Life Members are eligible for induction.
Dunstall has a very impressive record being the third highest goal kicker in the AFL with 1254 goals. He won three Coleman medals, led the Club’s goal kicking on 12 occasions, won four Best & Fairest Awards and as Football Director he is considered to be the architect of the 2008 and 2013 Premierships.
The Legends are honoured with a portrait commissioned by the Club as a lasting tribute to they’re outstanding contribution. Prominent artists, Jamie Cooper and David Thomas have painted the portraits. The Club should be highly commended for taking this initiative, as they are unique within the AFL and sporting world in general.
