Paul Hunter (Australian footballer)

Australian rules footballer

Australian rules footballer

Paul Hunter

Personal information
Date of birth|  (1993-02-09) 9 February 1993 (age 31)
Original team(s)|  Redland Football Club
Draft|  No. 13, 2016 AFL rookie draft
Debut|  Round 1, 2021, St Kilda vs. Greater Western Sydney, at Sydney Showground Stadium
Height|  200 cm (6 ft 7 in)
Weight|  104 kg (229 lb)
Position(s)|  Ruckman
Playing career
Years|  Club|  Games (Goals)
2016–2019|  Adelaide|  0 (0)
2021|  St Kilda|  7 (1)
Total|  |  7 (1)
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Paul Hunter (born 9 February 1993) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who for played the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

## Early life[edit]

Hunter was raised in Redhead in New South Wales, near Newcastle. Hunter began playing football for Warners Bay Football club. In 2013, Hunter moved to Queensland to play with Redland in south east Brisbane who competed in the NEAFL. Hunter won the NEAFL Rising Star award in 2014 and was also awarded Redland's Best and Fairest,[1] drawing the attention of AFL recruiters.[2]

## AFL career[edit]

### Adelaide Crows[edit]

Hunter was drafted as a 22-year-old in the 2016 AFL Rookie Draft at pick number 13 overall. He spent three years on the Crows' rookie list, but was unable to break into the senior side with Sam Jacobs and Reilly O'Brien preferred by the Crows. He was redrafted by the Crows with pick 24 in the 2018 Rookie Draft, but again failed to earn senior selection. He was again delisted at the conclusion of the 2019 season.[3]

### South Adelaide (SANFL)[edit]

Hunter signed with VFL side Williamstown in early 2020, but the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He quickly moved to South Australia where he joined South Australian National Football League (SANFL) side South Adelaide. Playing alongside future St Kilda teammate Tom Highmore, Hunter had a prolific season and was named in the SANFL Team of the Year.[4]

### St Kilda[edit]

See also: 2021 St Kilda Football Club Season

Hunter was given a second chance at AFL level by St Kilda, which selected him for the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection period in February 2021. He was invited to play in an intraclub game where he impressed in the absence of injured players Rowan Marshall, Paddy Ryder and Shaun McKernan. Hunter's performance earned him a contract at his second AFL club. He played in the Saints' two pre-season practice matches against North Melbourne and Carlton. With regular ruckmen Marshall and Ryder unavailable, he finally made his AFL debut at age 28 in the Saints' Round 1 game against the Greater Western Sydney Giants in Sydney.[5]

In October 2021, Hunter was delisted by St Kilda.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Rookie Draft: Paul Hunter". www.afc.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
2. ^ Osland, Georgia (2 December 2015). "Hunter's big break". The Star. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
3. ^ "Adelaide Delist Two More Players". Triple M. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
4. ^ "Former Crow to join Saints after impressing in intraclub's 'A' side". www.afl.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
5. ^ "Hunter earns long-awaited debut". www.saints.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Paul Hunter's playing statistics from AFL Tables
* Paul Hunter at AustralianFootball.com

* v
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* e

2016 AFL rookie draft

First round|

* 1\. Jesse Glass-McKasker
* 2\. Jackson Paine
* 3\. Tom Keough
* 4\. Gach Nyuon
* 5\. Nick O'Kearney
* 6\. Josh Wagner
* 7\. Lachlan Keeffe
* 8\. Sam Reid
* 9\. Jock Cornell
* 10\. Will Snelling
* 11\. Brad Lynch
* 12\. Callum Moore
* 13\. Paul Hunter
* 14\. Tom Papley
* 15\. Farren Ray
* 16\. Matt Uebergang
* 17\. Jordan Snadden
* 18\. Luke Surman

Second round|

* 19\. Andrew Gallucci
* 20\. Reuben William
* 21\. Darcy Macpherson
* 22\. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
* 23\. Nick Coughlan
* 24\. Viv Michie
* 25\. Josh Smith
* 26\. Daniel Lloyd
* 27\. James Parsons
* 28\. Cameron Hewett
* 29\. Luke Goetz
* 30\. Mabior Chol
* 31\. Jono Beech
* 32\. Harrison Marsh
* 33\. Majak Daw
* 34\. Ryan Nyhuis
* 35\. Brant Colledge
* 36\. Kade Stewart

Third round|

* 37\. Matthew Korcheck
* 38\. Ryan Davis
* 39\. Will Hams
* 40\. Josh Saunders
* 41\. Joel Smith
* 42\. Josh Thomas
* 44\. Tom Ruggles
* 45\. Dan Houston
* 46\. Jed Adcock
* 47\. Adam Marcon
* 48\. Hugh Greenwood
* 50\. Anthony Morabito
* 51\. Alec Waterman
* 52\. Alex Woodward
* 53\. Cameron Loersch

Fourth round|

* 54\. Tom Wallis
* 55\. Tim Golds
* 57\. Kane Mitchell
* 58\. Alex Keath
* 59\. Kyle Galloway
* 60\. Josh Deluca
* 61\. Simon Tunbridge
* 62\. Conor Glass

Fifth round|

* 63\. Danny Stanley
* 64\. Darrean Wyatt
* 66\. Sam Murray

Sixth round|

* 67\. Jesse Joyce
* 69\. Colin O'Riordan

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