But the 20-year-old Hawk isn't one to boast and is quick to play down his efforts.

The young forward crossed from Adelaide to Hawthorn during trade week last year, a move that could have happened two years earlier if the Hawks had had their way at the 2009 national draft.

Nevertheless, the club is not dwelling on the past, particularly last season's three-point preliminary final loss to Collingwood. It is focused firmly on the year ahead and Gunston is very much a part of its plans.

As soon as Gunston landed back in his home town, the Hawks were determined to pile weight onto his slender 81-kilogram, 193-centimetre frame. The plan is for him to take the pressure off Lance Franklin, who became the club's only key forward last year when Jarryd Roughead ruptured an Achilles tendon in round 12.

Despite impressing in a Hawks intraclub match last week in which he booted five goals - and putting on three kilograms through plenty of chicken dinners, steaks and gym time - Gunston is still cautious about the season ahead, referring to ''if'' he plays games rather than ''when''.

Coach Alastair Clarkson isn't nearly as hesitant, nor is Hawks skipper Luke Hodge.

''Jack's going well,'' Clarkson said. ''With 'Roughie' going down, we thought he was a guy who could give us another option in our forward half and that hopefully we wouldn't have as much of an emphasis of directing the ball to 'Buddy' [Franklin].

''We really admired Jack as an under-18 player with the [Sandringham] Dragons. Like any draft you like a lot of players, but you can't always take the ones you want, and we were unable to secure Jack at the time of the 2009 draft.

''He's played two years with the Adelaide Crows and expressed a willingness to come back to Victoria to play his footy and we are delighted he chose Hawthorn as a club he wanted to come and play at.''

Hodge had nothing but praise for Gunston's preparation. ''He's come in. He's fit. He can kick the ball and knows how to get the ball. He's just going to be another string in our bow on our half-forward line, which is going to be a positive for us,'' Hodge said.

Gunston said he was merely continuing to do what had been drilled into him as a junior player.

''It has been a big focus in juniors. Reading the play and being able to find the ball is probably one of the main focuses to pick up as early as possible.

''Hodgey has been great to me. It [reading the play] is one of the strengths of his game so I'll keep watching him and learning from him, and hopefully go well from there.''

Although he is still on the injury list, Roughead too has been eager to give Gunston advice; as has Franklin, who was promoted to the leadership group last year. Gunston said their support, particularly in teaching him the club's forward patterns, had been invaluable.

''I feel like I'm gradually developing into a much smarter footballer.

''They have definitely taken time away from themselves to help me and help me learn the game plan as quickly as possible. Especially when we're out in drills, they will pull me aside and show me the way Hawthorn plays, which has definitely helped me a great amount.''

Like any new player to a club, Gunston wants to earn the respect of his teammates, and feels that the hard work of earning his brown-and-gold stripes at the club is yet to come.

He admitted he had felt like a first-year player, moving back to his home town. But before he had even walked through the door at Waverley Park, he was on a plane again, and not a domestic flight from Melbourne to Adelaide.

He joined the Hawks' pilgrimage to the Kokoda Track - 92 kilometres of sloppy, wet and steamy, mountainous terrain. He loved it.

''It was a good chance to meet a few of the boys before I walked in and met 47 new blokes. That definitely helped a lot.

''It's a big part of the Hawthorn culture and it's definitely a trip worth doing. You spend about five or six days, 15-hour days, out there walking with them and it's definitely a great way to talk about life.''

It's at Hawthorn where he hopes to find the balance between living life and playing football.

Gunston said he felt a little homesick in Adelaide, although he had made some good friends there.

''My theory was I'd be able to come back and have that even balance of being at footy and having to be 100 per cent focused, and having your mates at the club - and also having the outlet of your mates outside of footy when you don't even think about footy.

''Just getting away with a couple of mates, or girlfriend, or whoever, family, I think it definitely makes it easier on your mind week to week.''

Gunston's return to Melbourne has not been without its problems for one family member. Dad Ray, a diehard Bombers fan and former Essendon board member, appears to have finally ditched the red-and-black.

''I don't know if he had ever fully converted to Adelaide,'' Gunston said with a wry grin.

''I don't think he barracks for anyone any more. He just watches footy, and I think he enjoys coming to watch me week to week. It's good to have him there as well.''