Tributes have been reached for former West Coast Eagles star, Adam Hunter, after it was announced that the former prime minister had tragically died on Tuesday, at 43.
The defender born in Bunbury made 151 appearances for the Eagles during his distinguished career and played a key role in the inclination of the club's premier in 2006, kicking a vital goal in the fourth quarter of the great final victory of the Eagles against Sydney .
Hunter was recruited at the Footy Club as Pick No 29 in the 1999 National Draft and kicked 86 goals during the nine years he played at AFL.
He retired prematurely from AFL football in 2009 due to injuries, but would continue with his Junior South Bunbury club in the SWFL and in recent years Wafl Footy played with the switen districts.
It is understood that Hunter had trained with South Bunbury on Tuesday night, hours before his tragic death.
On Wednesday, West Coast was paying tribute to the former winner of the Premier League, with the legend of the John Worsfold club, who had trained Hunter during his time in the Eagles, praising the former football player as a “wonderful taxpayer” to The history of the club.
Tributes have been paid to the former star on the west coast of the Adam Hunter Eagles, who has tragically died, at the age of 43
Hunter (left) played a fundamental role in the winning season of the Eagles 2006 Premier League, kicking a goal in the last quarter of his great final victory against Sydney
“I was lucky to train 'hunt' for a long time and he was just one of those players who put 100 percent in everything he did in the club,” said Worsfold.
'All I wanted to do was play football with their teammates and share success with them.
'I know that many of his teammates reflect on what brought them as a group and as soccer players.
“Of all my time in football, which is a long time now, it is probably the player who loved the game more than any player he has seen.”
Andrew Mcqualter's team wore black bracelets during his training session on Wednesday and paid tribute to Hunter with a moment of silence.
The club had also shown an image of Hunter celebrating winning the 2006 flag on an electronic screen, located next to the Mineral Resources Park.
A Guernsey who had the number of Hunter, no 39, printed on his back, was also hung at the door to the oval during the training session.
“I understand that he went to football training last night and had a kick for South Bunbury because that is just what he does,” said Worsfold.
“It makes me smile in knowing that one of the last things he did was that he went to football training, and I would have loved, I can guarantee that.”
Hunter would continue to kick the best 29 goals in 2006. Eleven of those goals arrived during the final series
During the winning season of the Eagles flag in 2006, Hunter continued with the best 29 goals of his career, 11 of which arrived during the west coast enders. He would also receive a Brownlow medal vote, the only one in his career, that same season.
The next campaign, the Eagles were hindered by injuries to the key stars Ben Cousins and Chris Judd, but Hunter would take a step forward again and is considered by some as the best player of the club in the 2007 season as well.
'It was an integral part of a wonderful football team that played and won that 2006 prime minister.
'One of the iconic moments in the history of this club is the goal that kicks in that grand final, and that summarizes who it was. He did not seek any recognition, even from that goal.
The Eagles also issued a statement about their tragic death on the club's website.
“The Eagles of the West Coast are mourning after the sudden player of the 2006 Premier League, Adam Hunter, on Tuesday,” said the club.
'Hunter was a crucial member of the successful teams of the Eagles in the mid -2000s, it was often used as a swingman that would impact the games at key moments.
“He will be remembered with love for the Eagles fans for his final goal of the fourth quarter in the great victory of the Grand Final of 2006 against Sydney.
“The club extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones from Hunter.”
The west coast paid tribute to Hunter in X earlier this afternoon, writing: “We are devastated by the loss of 2006 Premiership Eagle Adam Hunter”
Hunter is shown to the left in a tribute published by his club, the South Bunbury Tigers, with whom he supposedly trained Tuesday night
Hunter (second from the left) is shown with his teammate of Eagles, Great Chris Judd (third from the left) in 2007
It comes when the AFL community has also been shaken this week due to the tragic death of Troy Selwood and Tapping Dale.
Selwood's brother, Adam, played with Hunter during his time at the Eagles.
“At times like these, unfortunately, I have gone through it a couple of times, it only reinforces how tight the world of football is,” said Worsfold.
'We know that two previous players of this football club in Adam and Scott Selwood lost their brother 24 or 48 hours ago. We feel for them too.
The Eagles added: “The sympathies of the west coast are also with Selwood families and the families take advantage of at this difficult time for the football community.”
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