Adam Hunter (footballer)

Adam Hunter (born 18 June 1981) is an Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Hunter was born in Bunbury, Western Australia, and played with the South Bunbury Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) before being recruited to West Coast with the 29th pick overall in the 1999 National draft. Playing mainly in defence, though occasionally at centre half-forward, Hunter played a total of 151 games for the club between 2000 and 2009, including the 2006 premiership win.

Adam Hunter
Personal information
Date of birth (1981-06-18) 18 June 1981
Original team(s) South Bunbury
Draft 29th overall, 1999 National draft (West Coast)
Height 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Position(s) Utility
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2000–2009 West Coast 151 (86)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2011.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early career

Hunter originally played for South Bunbury Football Club in the South West Football League. He joined Swan Districts for the 1999 WAFL season, playing 16 games and kicking 11 goals.[1]

AFL career

Hunter was recruited with the number 29 draft pick in the 1999 National draft by the West Coast Eagles. He made his debut for West Coast in the final game of the 2000 AFL season against Melbourne, gathering three disposals in a game the Eagles lost by 70 points, 26.14 (170) to 15.10 (100). He played a further nine games in 2001.

Hunter played 17 games during the 2002, including the losing elimination final against Essendon, establishing himself in a role in the backline.

In 2005 Hunter established himself as the Eagles' centre half-back, replacing Glen Jakovich, who had retired the previous year, and Quinten Lynch, who had been shifted forward. Hunter played 23 games for the year, including the Grand Final loss to Sydney.

Hunter rates his 2005 qualifying final performance against the Sydney Swans as his career highlight, in which he turned the match around with two goals. He did the same in the 2005 AFL Grand Final, a few weeks later, but Sydney came back and went on to win.

Premiership

In 2006, Hunter played a key role in the Eagles' backline. Hunter was also often used by coach John Worsfold as a "swingman", being shifted to centre half-forward where he played a key role in the forward line. Hunter kicked 29 goals in 2006 to be third in the Eagles' goal-kicking behind Quinten Lynch (65 goals) and Andrew Embley (31 goals), scoring four goals in a game four times.[2][3] 11 of these goals were scored in the finals series. Hunter received a single Brownlow Medal vote, the only one against his career, for his efforts in the Eagles' win over Carlton, where he gathered 18 disposals and kicked 4 goals.

Hunter kicked four goals against the Adelaide Crows, in the preliminary final, which help get the Eagles to a grand final rematch against the Sydney Swans. He kicked the final goal for West Coast in the 2006 Grand Final, which turned out to be the match-winner for the Eagles.

Final years and injury

Hunter continued his premiership form in 2007, and was regarded by some as the club's most important player, due to injuries to Chris Judd and Ben Cousins. Hunter once again played every game of the 2007 season.

Due to debilitating knee and shoulder injuries, Hunter missed much of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, playing only 19 games over the two seasons, where he was played more often in the forward line.

There was speculation that Hunter would retire after his 150th game (earning him Eagles life membership) due to his chronic shoulder injury, but this was denied by Hunter and the club.[4][5] Hunter played his last game for the Eagles in Round 13, 2009 against Geelong, gathering 26 disposals in an Eagles loss, before once again succumbing to his shoulder injury. He announced his retirement from the game at the end of the 2009 season.

Comeback

Hunter returned to play for his junior club, South Bunbury, in the SWFL, for the 2010 season.[6] Hunter also assumed a role as patron of the South West Academy of Sport's football program.[7] Hunter kicked 47 goals in only seven matches for South Bunbury.[8]

In 2011, Hunter returned to play for Swan Districts in the WAFL.[8]

In 2015, Hunter has nominated to play for the Whitford Warriors in the WAAFL.

Statistics
[9]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2000 West Coast 39100123000.00.01.02.03.00.00.00
2001 West Coast 399033627631440.00.34.03.07.01.60.40
2002 West Coast 3917631408422453390.40.28.24.913.23.12.30
2003 West Coast 39204811410622063480.20.45.75.311.03.22.40
2004 West Coast 3916171059820373390.10.46.66.112.74.62.40
2005 West Coast 3923144178133311135440.60.27.75.813.55.91.90
2006 West Coast 39222913185151336122341.30.68.46.915.35.51.51
2007 West Coast 3924147188268456145530.60.37.811.219.06.02.21
2008 West Coast 391187727714969210.70.66.57.013.56.31.90
2009 West Coast 39810956541102781.31.17.06.813.83.41.00
Career 151 86 61 1075 1000 2075 701 290 0.6 0.4 7.1 6.6 13.7 4.6 1.9 2

References
  1. Adam Hunter Archived 31 December 2012 at archive.today – WAFLOnline player profile. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  2. Adam Hunter – AFLTables. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  3. Lovett, Michael (2007). AFL Record Guide to Season 2007. Melbourne: AFL Publishing. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-9758362-7-9.
  4. Hunter 'retirement' talk mystifies Worsfold Archived 30 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine – WAToday. Published 15 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  5. Wirrpanda laughs off Hunter speculation Archived 27 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine – The Age. Published 13 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  6. Eagles defend Hunter after Black jibe – Yahoo! Sport. Published 6 October 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  7. Adam Hunter announced as patron of academy's football program Archived 14 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine – SWAS Media Releases. Published 25 February 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  8. I'm back but still broken: Hunter – The West Australian. Published 19 March 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  9. Adam Hunter's player profile at AFL Tables
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