That other guy? He's now a Legend
How a stocky forward from Queensland become one of the greats
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Steve Malaxos had Hawk fans giddy with excitement when he joined the club in 1985. But another interstate recruit started that same season with no fanfare at all. His name was Jason Dunstall. ASHLEY BROWNE reports.
When Hawthorn opened the 1985 season, supporters could barely conceal their excitement about their shiny new toy, the boom recruit who had come from interstate.
Plenty of clubs had sought his signature, but with a VFL club from his own home state still very much a pipedream, he headed to Victoria to make his name. And more specifically to Glenferrie Oval.
His name? Steve Malaxos.
Malaxos appeared in all the papers that summer and even the Footy Record bought into the hype, planting him on the cover and profiling him extensively inside.
And for a week or so, he justified the hype, kicking three goals and figuring in the best players in a 14-point loss to Essendon in what was a rematch of the previous year’s Grand Final.
It was actually a round three game brought forward by the VFL in a bit to extend the season by a week. It was Opening Round, except at Waverley, not the SCG.
But the Hawks actually had two interstate recruits that year. The other was Jason Dunstall, a stocky forward from Queensland.
Dunstall had previously trained with Fitzroy, alongside fellow Brisbane-ite Scott McIvor, who the Lions chose to keep.
Dunstall tried out with the Hawks on his way home and they decided to keep him. He had played for the Queensland state team as an 18-year-old so he obviously had some ability, but initially, the Hawks didn’t know where to play him.
While Malaxos was tearing things up in that opening game, Dunstall watched on from the stands having played in the reserves earlier on. He was named on the half-back flank in a star-studded team and kicked two goals, but obviously didn’t create that much of an impression as the details panel in the following week’s Record indicated.
‘Dunstan’ made his senior debut in round 2 (Hawthorn’s third game of the year) and kicked three goals. But the first game in which he was truly noticed was when he jagged eight goals against Richmond in round 16.
It was the sign of things to come. Leigh Matthews didn’t play that day, serving a four-game de-registration for the Neville Bruns episode the previous month. It was clear then that the two players would struggle to share the forward line, but Matthews was — well, Matthews and he wasn’t going to make way for the chubby kid from Coorparoo until he was good and ready.
Matthews retired at the end of that season and the forward line now revolved around Dunstall.
It is fair to say he made the most of the opportunity.
If 1985 is remembered at Hawthorn as the year one Legendary career finished, it can now also be remembered as the year another one started.
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I, along with many others on this forum had the privilege of seeing his whole career, moving from end to end at Waverley, training nights at Glenferrie seeing him working so hard on his craft. It is truly a well deserved honour.
Thanks Ash - the Hawthorn Family needed some good news and that is it! Well Done JD.
Your article was a great read and stroll down memory Lane. To be honest I had forgotten all about Malaxos. Hoping there is a lesser light on the list who is yet to get their chance. Would love that to be Paul Dear. Who doesn't love a legendary goal kicker and they are even better when they wear Brown and Gold.