‘He loved watching me play’: Hawks star’s emotional interview after dad’s shock death

An emotional Jack Gunston has fought back tears as he thanked teammates for “looking after him” following the shock death of his father Ray.

Gunston Snr, a former league executive and interim Essendon CEO, sadly died of a heart attack earlier this month at the age of 64.

After taking leave from the club, Gunston walked back into the fold this week and responded in his first game back with five goals from 17 disposals in Hawthorn’s 46-point win over North Melbourne.

He kissed his black armband and pointed to the heavens after his first goal for the day at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.

In a heartbreaking post-match interview, Gunston called the Hawthorn footy club his “happy place” and spoke lovingly of his dad’s pride when watching his games.

“It’s good to be out here. It’s good to walk back in throughout the week and just be normal, boys paying you out, just having a few laughs,” he told Fox Footy.

“It’s always nice to kick a few. I missed a few as well, left a few out there.

“I’m not the first person to go through (the death of a loved one) – I came out here, I know this is the happy place for myself and my dad, he loved me playing footy. He loved watching me play footy.

“To come out here, it just felt normal and I could just focus on football.

“The boys looked after me and looked for me a little bit up forward today.”

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said he was “really proud” of Gunston’s efforts on such an emotional day.

“It was a game where I was just happy for him to run out and be amongst it,” he said.

“He was our most potent forward, just looked dangerous everywhere he went.

“Inside his own head would have been a ginormous battle … I was really proud that he was able to do what he did today.”

Mitchell admitted there were more emotional scenes inside the rooms after the win with Gunston’s mum present.

“She was emotional, which made him and a few of the rest of us as well,” Mitchell said.

“It’s been a really difficult couple of weeks.

“Just seeing them down here and being around everyone … I think it gives you a sense of belonging and I think that’s what he’s really needed.

“Football clubs are great places in times of need.”

Fox Footy’s Dermott Brereton said the win over North Melbourne would still be a “blur” for Gunston, given the emotion surrounding the match.

The Hawks veteran took the time to thank the AFL community for their support, and said he was grateful for everyone who had reached out.

“That’s the beauty of being at a footy club, you’ve got great support,” he said.

“My family has had a lot of support over the last two weeks.

“We’ve been incredibly grateful of everyone reaching out. We’re just fortunate, some people go through this and don’t have the support that we’ve been fortunate to have.”