AFL legend Jason Dunstall to be inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame
Jason Dunstall hit the ton six times in his legendary career and is excited by the prospect of welcoming Jeremy Cameron to the club, as the legendary Hawk celebrates another fine achievement.
Legendary forward Jason Dunstall would love to welcome another member into the 100-goal club as he backs Geelong’s bold approach to help Jeremy Cameron reach the milestone.
Dunstall, who was on Thursday announced as one of the 2025 inductees into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, said he had no problem with the Cats’ Cameron-heavy focus going inside 50.
The mercurial left-footer has booted 22 goals in his last three games to bring the ton into reach by the end of the season, with another chance to pile on a big individual score against an undermanned Essendon on Friday night.
Dunstall booted more than 100 goals in a season six times during his glittering 269-game Hawthorn career, and said he was excited to see whether Cameron could get there from his current 75 goals.
Cameron’s teammate Gryan Miers could not have been more emphatic that the Cats wanted to keep feeding their star forward.
“Damn straight I do,” he said when asked if he wanted to deliver the goal assist for his 100th.
“If we get the chance to get him a goal or two I think we should do that. We still are in a very tight situation in the eight so we have to get our job done first and foremost, and if the romance and the theatre of it comes about, I am all for it because those things don’t happen often and may never happen again … I want to be a part of it.”
Dunstall doubted the focus on the milestone would hurt the Cats if it followed them into their finals campaign.
“I don’t think it’s going to affect them in the finals. I think it’s natural that when a player is gravitating towards a milestone like this, his teammates want to get him there,” Dunstall said.
“They want to help out, they want to be a part of something special … by all means, do it.
“You’re not going to (overtly target Cameron) in a game against one of the top teams if it’s going down to the wire – you’ve got to act on instinct and pick the best option.
“But I think there’s a luxury when you’re a team as strong as Geelong, particularly if you’re playing down at GMHBA and thrashing the opposition.
“I think (Friday night) is a great opportunity to look after someone like Jeremy in that instance … ideally, they’d love to get him to 100 before the finals.”
Dunstall will be the 25th Australian Rules footballer inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at its 40th anniversary gala in November.
The former Hawks captain and four-time premiership player again said he was “embarrassed” by the accolade, after having the same reaction to his elevation to legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame 12 months ago.
“I guess the embarrassment comes from how I’ve been able to do something I’ve loved for a long time,” Dunstall said.
“Playing for a long time and then working in the same industry … it just feels like a privilege, and all of a sudden you’re having these honours bestowed upon you and your thinking, ‘I’m one of the lucky ones’.
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“We just play a domestic sport that doesn’t go overseas – it’s a little overwhelming given how celebrated Australia’s sporting history is in international sport.
“There are so many wonderful past and present sporting champions that play individual or team sports and compete on the world stage … we never got to do that, but to be recognised alongside them is incredibly humbling.
“There will be so many incredible people there (in November) … to be a part of that is going to be really special.”
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