KEN HUNTER IS 2025 CLUB LEGEND

Few players in the history of the Claremont Football Club have matched the fearless determination of Ken Hunter, a brave and inspirational player in his 99 league appearances for the Tigers.

Hunter went on to be a star and a triple VFL premiership player with Carlton and now has been honoured as Claremont’s 2025 match-day legend.

Rarely have we seen a footballer with such courage as the lightly-framed Hunter, who never shirked the fiercest of physical clashes. Resplendent with his trademark moustache, and often with his socks down around his ankles, the left-footed Hunter possessed an incredible aerial prowess as he launched into the air to take spectacular marks.

Hunter, now 67, was born in Derby in the far north of WA before coming to Perth as a youngster and playing for Cloverdale and then for the Dalkeith juniors. He was recruited by Claremont as a 17-year-old in 1975 and made his league debut at 18 late in the season when he played in the club’s final five matches and shone on a half-back flank.

His fearless play resulted in receiving a fractured jaw twice in 1976, keeping him out of action for 13 matches. He bounced back in fine style in 1977 when he made his interstate debut for WA in a match against Victoria at Subiaco Oval when he received another broken jaw, forcing him to miss Claremont’s following three games. His jaw was broken when, typically, he tried to smother a kick of Mark McClure’s boot which struck him on the chin and led to him leaving the field on a stretcher.

Hunter recovered in time to play for WA in the historic first State of Origin contest against Victoria in October that year when the WA side crushed the Victorians by 94 points, and even though he was out of action for five of Claremont’s 21 qualifying-round contests he finished second to captain-coach Graham Moss in the fairest-and-best award. Hunter also was runner-up to Moss in 1979 and 1980, and he finished third in the Sandover Medal voting, behind South Fremantle stars Stephen Michael and Noel Carter.

In 1978 Hunter played in the centre for several matches before returning to a half-back flank for the final six rounds. He was outstanding at centre-half-back in 1979 and 1980 when his spectacular high marking thrilled Claremont supporters, who were saddened when he was recruited by Carlton.

He enjoyed an outstanding nine seasons with Carlton, playing 147 games and scoring 160 goals. He was a VFL premiership player in 1981, 1982 and 1987. It was in the 1982 grand final that he was knocked unconscious in a clash with Richmond’s Jim Jess ten minutes after the start before returning to the fray late in the quarter and being adjudged one of his side’s best players.

Then in Carlton’s round one match against Richmond at Princes Park in 1983 Hunter took the VFL Mark of the Year when running into a pack with the flight of the ball, he leapt skywards and twisted his body to take a spectacular mark. It was later that year that he was affected by a hip injury and coach David Parkin used him as a ruck-rover and as a forward. He was Carlton’s leading goalkicker that year with a tally of 43.17.

Hunter was Carl  ton’s vice-captain in 1984 when he had the distinction of leading the side in the round 11 match against Footscray at Princes Park when captain Wayne Johnston was injured and unable to play. He celebrated the occasion by scoring eight goals and leading the side to a 34-point victory.

Hunter was named as an all-Australian in 1979, 1980, 1982 and 1983, and was chosen in the WA Team of the Century, the VFL Team of the Year in 1982 and 1983. He made ten appearances for WA and one for Victoria, was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Carlton Hall of Fame in 1998, and in 2000 was chosen in Carlton’s Team of the Century.

The much-admired Ken Hunter was a true champion throughout his distinguished career.