Jack Gunston has been named in the 2020 extended All Australian squad, putting him in the running to receive his second AA blazer on Thursday night.
While there were many outstanding forwards in the competition this year, we wanted to provide you with our persuasive pitch as to why our Jack ranked among the very best.
In order to take bias and opinion out of it, let’s focus on the stats.
Like splitting hairs! What was your favourite moment of Round 18?
First off, Gunston finished third in the Coleman Medal race this year and only one major behind runner-up Charlie Dixon. If you wind your mind all the way back to last Sunday, you might recall the star Hawk passed up the opportunity of sharing silver with Dixon to instead set up Ben Stratton for the second and final goal of his career.
The three-time premiership Hawk was the only player in the competition to record at least 30 goals and 30 inside 50s this year.
Only Coleman Medal winner and All Australian certainty Tom Hawkins recorded more disposals as a key forward this season than Gunston.
The 28-year-old Hawk was the picture of consistency in 2020 too, as he failed to hit the scoreboard in just two of his 16 outings this year. Hawkins and Dixon similarly had two games where they missed being amongst the scorers.
Gunston ranked number one amongst key forwards for metres gained, averaging 236.2 m per appearance in 2020.
He also rated third amongst key forwards and fifth amongst all forwards for score involvements – this is made more impressive when you consider the four players who recorded more involvements play for minor premiers Port Adelaide (Charlie Dixon and Robbie Gray), top four side Geelong (Tom Hawkins) or fifth-placed West Coast (Liam Ryan).
Finally, if the selectors’ dilemma came down to Gunston vs Kennedy, who matched the Hawk forward’s 31-goal tally this year, we have a number of numbers that should help alleviate any doubts about that head-to-head:
Gunston averaged nearly five more disposals per game this season and took five more marks than the Eagle this year.
Jack also registered nine goal assists to Josh’s one.
And, last but not least, Gunners recorded more than double Kennedy’s tallies for inside 50s (31-13) and forward 50 ground ball gets (21-9) in 2020.
Seeing all his 2020 statistics written down on paper, it’s hard to argue with the fact that Jack Gunston was one of season 2020’s premier forwards.
And to do it in a year in which wins for his side were hard to come by only makes Jack’s performance up forward all the more impressive.
For now - over to you, selectors!
Disclaimer: We said at the start of this article that we’d take bias out of it, and while the stats don’t lie, it’s hard to deny that we are, in fact, more than a little biased. Campaign ‘Jack Gunston for All Australian’ is in full swing!
