Triple premiership Hawk Jack Gunston will reach a milestone fewer than one per cent of all players in the history of the AFL have reached when he runs out for his 300th match this Sunday night.

Having begun his junior footy journey with Beaumaris and the Sandringham Dragons, Gunston packed his bags and headed to South Australia following his 2009 National Draft selection by the Adelaide Crows with Pick 29.

After making his debut in Round 9 the following year, he would go on to play 14 games for the Crows before being traded to the Hawks at the end of 2011.

Gunston began his brown and gold career in 2012 and was immediately bestowed with the honour of wearing the famous #19 guernsey. Coincidentally, he played 19 games for the Hawks in his first season, including booting two goals in a losing Grand Final against the Swans.

He wouldn’t have to wait long to get another chance in a Grand Final, playing a major role in the 2013 decider against the Dockers, kicking four goals to guide the Hawks to their 11th VFL/AFL flag.

In 2014, Gunston continued to play a vital role in Hawthorn’s forward line, kicking 58 goals for the season and winning his second premiership in the brown and gold.

He went on to kick another 57 majors in 2015 to be awarded his first Hawthorn leading goalkicker title. This included another four majors on the biggest stage of all against the Eagles on Grand Final day, as Gunston and the Hawks claimed a magical three-peat.

In 2018, Gunston received his first major individual accolade, earning All-Australian honours for his 51 goals across 23 games.

In a testament to his on-field success and growth as a respected teammate, Gunston was appointed as the Hawthorn vice-captain in 2019.

Despite a COVID-stricken year in 2020, Gunston went on to take out Hawthorn’s highest individual honour, claiming his first Peter Crimmins Medal. His outstanding season also saw him lead the club’s goalkicking for the third time.

His first major setback came the following year; he was restricted to just two games in 2021 as he dealt with a persistent back injury.

Gunston then elected to head to the Brisbane Lions at the end of 2022 for a brief stint, before returning home to Hawthorn to don the #19 guernsey again in 2024.

In 2025, Gunston proved that age is just a number, winding back the clock to enjoy a career-best season, culminating in a second Peter Crimmins Medal, a second All-Australian blazer, and a fourth Hawthorn leading goalkicking award (after finishing runner-up in the league’s Coleman Medal race).

The 34-year-old's 2025 season saw him ranked elite in his position for goals (3.1 per game), disposals (12.5 per game), kicks (9.4 per game), score involvements (7.6 per game), and marks inside 50 (3.2 per game).

The evergreen forward continue to defy Father Time in season 2026, currently averaging a league-leading 3.4 goals per game, along with 5.9 marks (ranked elite in his position) and 11.1 disposals (ranked above average for his position).

He is also sitting fourth in the Coleman Medal race with one round to go, having kicked 54 goals from his 16 games to date.

Gunston’s 300th match follows several other achievements this year, including surpassing his great mate Luke Breust to sit seventh on Hawthorn’s all-time goalkicking list and kicking his 600th major - only 447 days after he kicked his 500th goal last year.

Away from the Hawks, the star goalkicker has also represented Australia in International Rules and his home state of Victoria in AFL Origin earlier this year.

Speaking in front of his teammates and the media ahead of his 300th game on Tuesday morning, Gunston expressed gratitude to everyone who has helped him get to this point in his illustrious journey.

“I haven't really reflected too much on the whole career," he said.

“I’ve played at three different clubs, I’ve had a few battles along the way with some injuries and form, and I have played in the backline. Everyone says I didn't play in the backline, but I have played in the backline before, and played different roles.

“I'm just so grateful that everyone's continued to give me the opportunity and a shot to continue my career.

“I look forward to the day that it does wind up and I can just go through and thank so many people along the way.

“I'm just really grateful to be able to be here and play 300 games.”

Jack Gunston resume 

299* games
3x AFL Premiership Player: 2013, 2014, 2015 
2x All-Australian: 2018, 2025
2x Peter Crimmins medallist: 2020, 2025 
4x Hawthorn leading goalkicker: 2015, 2016, 2020, 2025 
HFC Life Member: 2018
International Rules: 2017
State of Origin: 2026