“I literally had no clue”: Young Hawk praises Jack Gunston, Hawks leaders for rapid growth

Rising star Hawk Calsher Dear has confirmed the story told by teammate Dylan Moore revealing just how far he is come since arriving at the club.

Speaking on SEN Breakfast on Monday, Moore revealed that Dear ordered a fried chicken burger during a pre-season camp in front of coach Sam Mitchell, something that was not particularly well received.

“I haven’t seen someone grow so much in the space of six months,” Moore said.

“I don’t know if I should be saying this, but we had a pre-season camp in late December and we all ordered food and everyone was ordering chicken salads or sandwiches and Calsher ordered a fried chicken burger.

“Sam Mitchell was there and he was like, ‘oh god, this kid has got a long way to go’, and since that moment Jack Gunston’s worked really closely with him to help him with the off-field stuff and the professionalism of an AFL footballer because he had no idea.”

Dear, this week’s AFL Rising Star nominee, laughed when the audio was played for him on SEN Afternoons.

“It’s exactly like Moorey said, I literally had no clue,” Dear said.

“I think I’ve come a fair way since then which is good.”

Dear has formed a close bond with teammate Jack Gunston since arriving at the club. The pair share a close relationship given they both lost their fathers at roughly the same time.

The teenage Hawk says Gunston has worked closely with him on learning how to become a professional footballer, but also life away from the game.

“The first time I met Jack he asked me a question which was ‘what was the hardest thing about losing dad’ and I hadn’t really ever been asked that before,” he said.

“Ever since then I knew he was someone I could always go to no matter what it was.

“Ever since I got to the club he’s been the one helping me. He was the one speaking to me after the fried chicken burger incident and told me that my life is changed now that I’m an AFL footballer.

“He’s been absolutely huge for my development on and off the field.”

Gunston returned to the Hawks in the trade period after a year with the Lions and has taken on a leadership role with the club.

He booted five goals on the weekend in the win over Richmond.