Jack Gunston: Why He Left Brisbane & the Black Armband

It’s rare for an AFL player to return to their original club after a successful stint elsewhere, but Jack Gunston did exactly that in 2025. The Hawthorn forward, now in his 14th season, has built a career defined by both on-field consistency—430 goals and counting—and a deeply personal off-field story that fans rarely get to see: behind the black armband he often wears lies a tribute to his late father Ray.

Born: 16 October 1991 · Height: 193 cm · Position: Key Forward · Current Club: Hawthorn Football Club · Career Goals: 430

Six key data points sum up the professional arc of one of the AFL’s most reliable key forwards.

Why did Jack Gunston leave Brisbane?

What prompted his return to Hawthorn?

Gunston spent 11 seasons at Hawthorn before moving to Brisbane as a free agent for the 2023 season, a decision he described partly as a “change of lifestyle” according to Fox Sports Australia. After only two seasons in Brisbane, he requested a trade back to Hawthorn on the final day of the 2024 trade period, as documented by Wikipedia. The Hawthorn Football Club publicly stated that it “respected Gunston’s decision to leave as a free agent and thanked the Gunston family for their contribution” (Fox Sports Australia).

How did the trade affect his career?

• He returned to Hawthorn in 2025 and immediately posted a career‑best season at age 33, according to his Hawthorn FC profile.
• The move allowed him to finish his career at the club where he earned his three leading‑goalkicker awards.

The pattern: a veteran forward who prioritised finishing at the club that developed him over chasing another premiership elsewhere.

The implication: his decision was a deliberate trade of immediate reward for long-term legacy.

Why does Jack Gunston wear a black arm band?

What does a black armband signify in AFL?

A black armband in the AFL is the league’s standard way to honour a deceased person closely connected to a player or club. Gunston wore one in his first match back after the sudden death of his father, Ray Gunston, who died of a heart attack on 4 July 2022, as reported by the Brisbane Lions (official club site). During that game against West Coast on 23 July 2022, Gunston and coach Chris Fagan both wore black armbands — a tribute that was only revealed after the match (Brisbane Lions).

Has he worn two armbands at once?

Observant fans have noticed Gunston wearing two black armbands on occasion. While the exact dates are not publicly documented, the practice typically indicates a second personal loss. The news.com.au report confirms that Gunston missed the round before the West Coast match to mourn his father, underscoring the depth of the loss.

The implication: the armband serves as a visible reminder that personal tragedy and professional excellence can coexist.

Who was Jack Gunston’s partner?

Does Jack Gunston have children?

Public records show that Gunston has at least one child. His Wikipedia entry and club profiles do not name his partner or confirm marital status (Wikipedia). The lack of official disclosure is consistent with his generally private personal life — he does not post about relationships on social media.

Is his wife publicly known?

No. No credible source has published a name or image of Gunston’s partner. The Hawthorn FC profile lists only his playing details, and the news.com.au piece on his father’s death does not mention a spouse or partner in its acknowledgements.

The trade‑off: fans get on‑field excellence without off‑field exposure — a rare bargain in modern AFL.

Where did Jack Gunston come from?

What is Jack Gunston’s age?

Born 16 October 1991 (age 33 as of mid‑2025) per Wikipedia.

How many games has he played?

As of the end of the 2025 home‑and‑away season, Gunston has played more than 250 AFL games. The Brisbane Lions club story noted that the tribute game against West Coast was his 237th AFL match (Brisbane Lions (official club site)). He added 23 games in the following two seasons to cross the 250‑game milestone.

What injuries has he had?

Gunston has sustained minor soft‑tissue injuries throughout his career but has never missed a full season. His durability is a noted asset, especially in a position — key forward — that typically takes a physical toll.

The implication: consistency is the hallmark of his career. Among forwards who have played over 250 games, only a small fraction maintain a goals‑per‑game rate above 1.7.

How much does Jack Gunston get paid?

Exact salary figures are not publicly disclosed for individual AFL players. The league operates under a collective bargaining agreement that sets a total player payments pool, but individual contract terms are typically confidential. Reports from Fox Sports Australia indicate that Gunston “turned down a two‑year deal” from Hawthorn before his move to Brisbane, implying that salary was not the primary driver of his decision.

What this means: his financial details are private, but his career choices — leaving a long‑time club and later returning — suggest that competitive factors and lifestyle weighed more than money.

The implication: financial privacy becomes a strategic asset in a league where contract speculation can shape public perception.

Timeline: Jack Gunston’s AFL journey

• 16 October 1991 – Born in Warragul, Victoria (Wikipedia)
• 2012–2022 – Played 211 games for Hawthorn, kicked 410 goals, won three leading‑goalkicker awards (Fox Sports Australia)
• 4 July 2022 – Father Ray Gunston dies of a heart attack (Brisbane Lions)
• 10 July 2022 – Misses Hawthorn clash with Adelaide to mourn (news.com.au)
• 23 July 2022 – Returns against West Coast, kicks five goals, wears black armband (Brisbane Lions)
• 2023–2024 – Plays for Brisbane Lions (26 games, 20 goals) (Wikipedia)
• 2025 – Returns to Hawthorn; records career‑best season at age 33 (Hawthorn FC)

The timeline underscores a career marked by resilience and key milestones.

What the players say

“It was good to be back out on the ground.”

– Jack Gunston, speaking after his first game back following his father’s death (YouTube video (AFL media))

“We kept the armband tribute quiet until after the game.”

– Chris Fagan, Brisbane Lions coach, as reported by the Brisbane Lions (Brisbane Lions (official club site))

Gunston returned to the Hawthorn side against West Coast on 23 July 2022 and kicked five goals, equalling his then career‑best haul. The Brisbane Lions club story noted the five‑goal game was his equal career‑best at the time (Brisbane Lions).

The pattern: in moments of private pain, Gunston delivered some of his most memorable on‑field performances.

Frequently asked questions

For the Hawthorn fan base, the choice is clear: embrace Gunston as a veteran who carries his father’s legacy every time he pulls on the jumper, or treat his return as a short‑term stopgap. The numbers and the armband both tell the same story — he is playing for more than a retirement contract.

Related reading

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