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PROFILE
Name: Kingsley Vernon Hunter
D.O.B:  27 August 1975
Height: 191 cms
Weight: 102kgs
AFL debut: 1995
Recruited from: Claremont
Other clubs: Fremantle Dockers 1995-1998 (41 games, 86 goals)
Career Games: 79
Career Goals: 110
Player honours: Norwich Union AFL rising star nominee 1996
Channel 7 goal of the year 2000 (round 2 v Brisbane Lions)

The heartwrenching story of Kingsley Hunter begins in a sultry summer day in August 1974.
Nine months later little Kingsley Hunter was born on August 27. 
Kingsley was a blessed child, far more athletic then his peers and with an eyebrow that had assured Kingsley was popular with the kinder girls.  Kingsleys childhood was as normal as can be expected for a modern day genius, but it became apparent from an early age that football was his calling.
Kingsleys talent with the oval ball, was recognised early and he was eventually selected to play for Claremont in the Western Australian Football League.  It was here that Kingsley became noticed by the astute scouts from the Mighty Fremantle Football Club.  In the 1995 draft Kingsley was drafted by Fremantle.At Freo Kingsley  joined footballers he had idolised as a kid, great players like  Andrew McGovern and Todd Ridley.  Kingsley also had the privilege of being able to play under the great Peter Mann, and to be coached by the irrepresible Gerard Neesham. 
Kingsleys stint at Fremantle started slowly, as Fremantle were performing tremendously and looked destined to play a  huge part in September Kingsley was overlooked..  Kingsley was stuck playing in the WAFL as John Hutton went on his merry way in the seniors.  But eventually Kingsley got his break.  Kingsleys life in the Freo seniors, didn't start tremendously as it took him 10 matches at full forward to record his first goal.  But it was the other aspects of his game, his pace, shepherding and frightening physical presence that assured Kingsley stayed in the seniors and became adored by the millions of Freo faithful.
At Freo Kingsley played 41 Magnificent games kicking an astounding  86 goals.  Highlights included his eight goal haul against Collingwood at Vic Park in a hard fought 100 point defeat. 
At the start of 1998 the Fremantle football club were in trouble.  There dream start in the AFL had soured and they knew they had to sell off some of their bigger name players.  So it was in the pre-season of 1999 that Kingsley Hunter was traded for Brad "squirrel" Wira, much to the delight of Bulldog fans.  The acquisition of Hunter, left Bulldog fans feeling optimistic for a huge 1998 for the club.  But then tragedy struck as Hunter had an injury riddle season and only managed 1 senior game, a dashing cameo performance against Carlton at Optus Oval.

In the pre-season to 2000, Bulldog assistant Chris Bond realised that Kingsleys full talents were not being properly utilised as a forward, and he made the suggestion to Terry Wallace that they try him as a backmen.  This humble suggestion turned out to be a godsend as Kingsley dominated the pre-season matches, often running off and humiliating Bulldog champion Chris Grant in intra-club matches.  Kingsley maintained his form throughout the regular season as he became the mainstay in the Bulldog backline, and the man who generally started any Bulldog forward thrust.  But it was not only his defending that became feared throughout the league, Kingsley had an uncanny knack of running off his har inferior and slower opponents and kicking crucial, uplifting team goals.  The highlight of these being in round 2 against the Brisbane Lions when Kingsley ran 300 meters and took 12 bounces to win the channel 7 AFL goal of the year.  (click here to read more on this dazzling goal, and to download the video).  Tragically injuries caught up with Kingsley as the season went on, and he could no longer bravely play through the pain.  As he sat out the Bulldog players confidence was shattered, and despite returning in round 22 the Dogs premiership hopes had been dashed.  While Kingsley would then go on to be snubbed at the Brownlow medal count, there was no doubt among football experts that he was without a shadow of a doubt the leagues most improved player.

Coming into the 2001 season Kingsley again had high hopes of carrying his inferior team mates to premiership glory.  With a reinvigorated Trent Bartlett it seemed the Bulldogs had the key backmen, and forward they needed to take out the league.  But again tragedy struck, as Kingsley came down with the debilitating osteitus pubis during the pre-season.  A terrible disease that eats away at the pubis bone (part of the hip, see diagram).  This injury had hit many other players such as Wayne Carey and Steven Powell, but Kingsleys bravery and pain threshold allowed him to return far more succesfully from the disease then his counterparts.
Kingsley would go on to play .... Injury riddled games in 2001, and despite the injuries he hadn't lost a thing.  Despite being the Bulldogs best backmenfor the first 21 weeks of 2001, Kingsley was moved forward for the last gane of the year against Melbourne.  It payed instant dividends, as Kingsley revived memnories of the late great John Coleman with 7 of the finest sausage rolls you would ever wish to see  Kingsleys utter demolishment of Troy Simmonds, lead to Simmonds going to Freo, hoping to learn the way the great one did, and to as far away from possible from hisi tormenter.  It truly was a performance to behold, and one that will remain in the hearts and minds of all those present for many years to come.
Apart from the eight goal haul, other highlights included instigating a 47 point turn around at Kardinia Park when moved forward and kicking 4 goals in a quarter against St Kilda.  Kingsley would again be snubbed at the Brownlow medal, and even the Bulldogs best and faierst, where he only managed eight. 

Coming into 2002, Kingsley looks primed to be the full forward the Dogs havent had since Danny Del're wreaked havoc through the league in 1992.  There is no doubt if Kingsley remains fit, the John Coleman medal shall becoming West, and who knows perhaps Kingsley can lead us to Sepetmber glory, just as the Bulldogs other superstar Ted Whitten did 48 years ago.
But even if we don't win it you know Kingsley will be giving his all, as he has all throughout his illustrious career and will be worth thousands of bums on seats at Bulldog games.  He will also no doubt continue to win admiration from all male football followers, and lust from the millions of warm  blooded Aussie girls keen to team up with the Great One.


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