Adam Hunter (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Adam Hunter is an Australian rules football
er who played in the Australian Football League
for the West Coast Eagles
. He currently plays for Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League
.
in the South West Football League
. He joined Swan Districts for the 1999 WAFL
season, playing 16 games and kicking 11 goals.
. He made his debut for West Coast in the final game of the 2000 AFL season against , 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 , 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 all 23 Eagles' game for the year, including the Grand Final loss
to .
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.
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. 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 , were he gather 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.
, 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. Hunter played his last game for the Eagles in Round 13, 2009 against , 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.
, in the SWFL
, for the 2010 season. Hunter also assumed a role as patron of the South West Academy of Sport's football program. Hunter kicked 47 goals in only seven matches for South Bunbury.
In 2011, Hunter returned to play for Swan Districts in the WAFL
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
for the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
. He currently plays for Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
.
Early career
Hunter originally played for South Bunbury Football ClubSouth Bunbury Football Club
South Bunbury Football Club is a semi-professional Australian rules football club based in Bunbury, Western Australia. The club plays in the South West Football League. Since being founded in 1897 the club has won 44 premierships and has been a runner-up 24 times...
in the South West Football League
South West Football League
The South West Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the south-west of Western Australia. The league is affiliated to the West Australian Country Football League.-History:...
. He joined Swan Districts for the 1999 WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
season, playing 16 games and kicking 11 goals.
AFL career
Hunter was recruited with the number 29 draft pick in the 1999 National Draft by the West Coast EaglesWest Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
. He made his debut for West Coast in the final game of the 2000 AFL season against , 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
2001 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2001.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:Port Adelaide defeated Brisbane Lions 17.9 to 3.8 in the Final....
.
Hunter played 17 games during the 2002
2002 AFL season
-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Ladder:All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 176...
, including the losing elimination final against , establishing himself in a role in the backline.
In 2005
2005 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2005.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:...
Hunter established himself as the Eagles' centre half-back
Centre half-back
In Australian rules football, the centre half-back refers to a position in the half-back line of a football field.Centre half back is considered a key position in defence. Examples of centre half-backs include Glen Jakovich, Darren Mead, Tom Harley and Chris Tarrant....
, replacing Glen Jakovich
Glen Jakovich
Glen Jakovich is a former Australian rules footballer for the West Coast Eagles.Glen was recruited from South Fremantle in Western Australia and debuted in 1991 and played most of his career at the Centre Half Back position, in the number 27 gernsey...
, who had retired the previous year, and Quinten Lynch
Quinten Lynch
Quinten Peter Lynch is a West Coast Eagles Australian rules footballer. He mainly plays at full forward and centre half forward, and is a regular goal-kicker.-Career:...
, who had been shifted forward. Hunter played all 23 Eagles' game for the year, including the Grand Final loss
2005 AFL Grand Final
The 2005 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 24 September 2005. It was the 109th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League, staged to...
to .
Hunter rates his 2005 qualifying final performance against the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
as his career highlight, in which he turned the match around with two goals. He did the same in the 2005 AFL Grand Final
2005 AFL Grand Final
The 2005 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 24 September 2005. It was the 109th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League, staged to...
, 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 WorsfoldJohn Worsfold
John Worsfold is a former Australian rules footballer who represented in the West Australian Football League and the West Coast Eagles in the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League . He also represented Western Australia in State of Origin matches...
as a "swingman", being shifted to centre half-forward
Centre half-forward
In Australian rules football, the centre half-forward is a position on the half-forward line of a football field. The directly opposing player is a Centre-Half-Back....
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
Quinten Lynch
Quinten Peter Lynch is a West Coast Eagles Australian rules footballer. He mainly plays at full forward and centre half forward, and is a regular goal-kicker.-Career:...
(65 goals) and Andrew Embley
Andrew Embley
Andrew Embley is an Australian rules footballer currently playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League.-Early life:Andrew Embley was born to Maurice and Anne Embley on 27 June, 1981, in Perth, Western Australia...
(31 goals), scoring four goals in a game four times. 11 of these goals were scored in the finals series. Hunter received a single Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
vote, the only one against his career, for his efforts in the Eagles' win over , were he gather 18 disposals and kicked 4 goals.
Hunter kicked four goals against the Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
, 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
2006 AFL Grand Final
The 2006 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 30 September 2006. It was the 110th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League, staged to...
, which turned out to be the match-winner for the Eagles.
Final years and injury
Hunter continued his premiership form in 20072007 AFL season
The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia...
, and was regarded by some as the club's most important player, due to injuries to Chris Judd
Chris Judd
Christopher Dylan "Chris" Judd is a professional Australian rules footballer and current captain of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
and Ben Cousins
Ben Cousins
Benjamin Luke "Ben" Cousins is a former Australian rules footballer, best known for his 270-game career with and in the Australian Football League ....
. Hunter once again played every game of the 2007 season.
Due to debilitating knee and shoulder injuries, Hunter missed much of the 2008
2008 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:...
and 2009 seasons
2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
, 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. Hunter played his last game for the Eagles in Round 13, 2009 against , 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 BunburySouth Bunbury Football Club
South Bunbury Football Club is a semi-professional Australian rules football club based in Bunbury, Western Australia. The club plays in the South West Football League. Since being founded in 1897 the club has won 44 premierships and has been a runner-up 24 times...
, in the SWFL
South West Football League
The South West Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the south-west of Western Australia. The league is affiliated to the West Australian Country Football League.-History:...
, for the 2010 season. Hunter also assumed a role as patron of the South West Academy of Sport's football program. Hunter kicked 47 goals in only seven matches for South Bunbury.
In 2011, Hunter returned to play for Swan Districts in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
.