Hawthorn forward Jack Gunston has spoken on the club's well-documented off-season, with the veteran sharpshooter having his name linked to the exit door at Waverley during last year's trade window.
With Gunston's premiership teammate Sam Mitchell stepping into the role of senior coach and highlighting a need for high draft selections, Gunston was among several key Hawks that were reportedly up for grabs to any potential interested suitors.
No move of the sought eventuated, with Gunston, Tom Mitchell, Chad Wingard, Luke Bruest and Jaeger O'Meara remaining in the brown and gold for another season.
Both Tom Mitchell and Wingard had ruled out any conjecture around their future with the club, while Bruest had weighed up a move to Greater Western Sydney in the final moments of the trade window before deciding to remain in Victoria.
Gunston's name had been thrown up as a potential target for rivals throughout the course of 2021, with Melbourne among clubs reported to have shown interest in the 30-year-old.
Despite all the external noise, Gunston and his new senior coach continued to keep communications open, with Mitchell expressing his desire to keep the athletic spearhead at the Hawks.
While Gunston was understanding of the direction the club was moving and the business aspect of the off-season, the former Adelaide forward revealed Mitchell had kept him "in the loop" of their decision making.
“I understand footy is a business and I left the Crows after two years,” Gunston told The Herald Sun.
“So if a football club wants to come to me – as long as they are open and happy to chat – then I am happy to chat and if it works for both parties, it works for both parties.
“But even though it was COVID lockdown then, we were still able to come to the club. So, I was having constant chats with Sam, and we all were.
“We were all in the loop about everything and I know the direction of the footy club and Sam’s message to me was he wanted me here."
With both parties transparent to each other, Gunston was confident in his position under Mitchell.
Having spoken with his manager in case the Hawks' front office went the other way, Gunston would have been prepared to weigh up his options elsewhere for the benefit of his career and the club.
“To me, there wasn’t too much in it (trade talk) but in saying that, I understand football is a business and it’s going to happen at some stage," Gunston added.
“If the club came to me and said ‘We are thinking about doing something here’ then maybe that’s where I get on the front foot but to me I just told my manager ‘If anything changes, let me know’.
“Sam and I, we’ve been teammates, so I know he is going to tell me how it is. That’s how we work together. So for me there was not too much going on.”
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Gunston remains unsigned for next season, having inked a three-year extension in 2018 to record 195 games and 378 goals with the Hawks.
A back injury curtailed his 2021 season and limited the gun Hawk to just the one appearance following pre-season surgery.
While a decision on his future is imminent this year, Gunston is placing his focus on being a key figure and leader among a youthful group inherited by Mitchell
“I haven’t entertained leaving at all yet,” Gunston said
“I’m happy. I love Hawthorn. If they want me here, all going well. But I totally understand that in a way it is a changing of the guard and there are a lot of good young kids coming through.
“I am enjoying teaching these young kids and we’ll see how we go.
“I just want to play footy. I just want to get back out there and even prove to myself that I can get back out there and play footy before I even talk about years ahead.
“Once I get back out onto the park and enjoy some good footy with these young kids, we’ll let that take care of itself down the track.”
Gunston will be eased into the new season, eyeing a Round 1 return against North Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, March 20.
