JACK Gunston's decision to switch clubs is proving even more successful than it was controversial.

Three years ago, Gunston returned to his home state and joined Hawthorn after only two seasons at Adelaide.

He made a hard call and not surprisingly it angered the Crows.

But the Hawthorn forward is about to play in his third straight Grand Final and could become a two-time premiership player.


He will complete his career-best season with Saturday's premiership decider against Sydney.

By contrast, the Crows are deep in crisis after last week's sacking of coach Brenton Sanderson.

Gunston did not dodge the issue when the two clubs' vastly different fortunes were put to him.

"Obviously I looked at it (Sanderson's sacking) - and it's pretty disappointing what happened - but they're a great club and they have a great culture," Gunston said.

"So I'm sure they'll find someone right for the job.

"But on a personal note, it hasn't really affected anything I've thought.

"It was a decision I made three years ago and it doesn't make me any happier or sadder that I left.

"They're good people - I always wish them well. It was a tough decision to leave."


Hawthorn knew Gunston would be a perfect addition to its attack, which at the time was built around key forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead.

This year, the Hawks were the only club with three players in the league's top-10 goalkickers - Gunston, Roughead and Luke Breust.

They were also the highest-scoring team by a wide margin of 53 goals.

For all the pre-Grand Final focus on Franklin and his fellow Swans forwards, Hawthorn's attack has been more potent.

Roughead (61 goals) and Luke Breust (53) won All Australian honours this season and Gunston (51) enjoyed a career-best haul.

So much for any concerns about where their goals would come from with Franklin's defection north.


"Over the last few years we've just worked out different avenues to goal," Gunston said.

"You don't want to be too one-dimensional going forward and it's great reward for the amount of effort and time we've put into working out our forward setups.

"But it's also the pressure of Paul Puopolo and Cyril (Rioli), when he's there, and also the midfielders who come down and create the turnovers.

"There are a lot of things that go into it."