Jack Gunston hopes he is carved out his Brisbane Lions area of interest after an emotional six-goal exhibiting in his AFL return that coincided with the primary anniversary of his father’s demise.
The Hawthorn recruit and his coach Chris Fagan wore black armbands throughout Saturday’s conflict with West Coast on the Gabba, Gunston’s first since he was positioned in a month-long coaching block to recapture health and kind.
He stuffed his boots towards the cellar dwellers, simply lacking a career-best seven when a long-range set shot sailed huge within the last seconds of the Lions’ 81-point win.
“It was good to be able to have the family up here; it brought back a lot of good memories but we had a pretty tough day on Wednesday,” Gunston mentioned of his father Ray, who died of a coronary heart assault final 12 months.
“To go out and play for him again; it was nice to get onto a few and he’s always in my thoughts.
“He’s been superior, Fages. I can have trustworthy conversations about my kind and the place I’m at in my profession. It was a really good gesture.”
Gunston had kicked one goal in four games before he was dropped, fellow veteran Daniel Rich also pulled from the side after consultation with Fagan and ordered into an indefinite training cycle.
The 31-year-old, three-time premiership star said they were “joined on the hip” for a fitness camp that featured 14km runs followed by swims, cycling, gym and training with the VFL side.
“That was the entire principle; simply get the okay’s within the legs and thirst to wish to play footy once more,” Gunston mentioned.
“I did not have any doubt in my capacity to carry out.
“When you step back you get a better gauge. I watched a lot of vision as well, didn’t just get fit.
“At a brand new membership, I performed in a unique system for 12, 13 years.
“It started wearing on me a little bit mentally, not getting the ball and the patterns I was running.
“It was nice to get on the top of the few at present nevertheless it wasn’t all about kicking objectives.”
With stiffer tasks against Melbourne and Geelong to come, Gunston hopes he can play more of a link-up role to complement a forward line stacked with goal-scoring options.
“That’s what I did early in my profession, received up the wings into halfback and received concerned,” he said.
Gunston’s chance came with Lincoln McCarthy (suspended) and Callum Ah Chee (concussion) both missing.
“He is an efficient athlete and I believe at present he feels just like the previous, athletic Jack is again,” Fagan mentioned.
“We will not shout it from the rooftops, nevertheless it’s a step in the fitting route.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
