Round 6 VAFA Men’s Rising Star: Jethro Gunn

The VAFA congratulates Jethro Gunn from AJAX Football Club, who has been nominated as the Round 6 VAFA Men’s Rising Star.

Jethro continued his superb season on the weekend, producing another dominant performance with 26 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 11 tackles, 8 clearances and 136 ranking points.

What the club said:

Jethro has been a proud member of AJAX since joining Auskick as a 4-year-old. From a young age, he stood out for his determination, competitive spirit, and fearless tackling. Over many years as an AJAX footballer, one of his proudest moments was being part of the 2019 U12 Div 1 Premiership and being awarded Best on Ground. In 2022, he was awarded the U15 Graeme LeBransky Trophy for Male Club Champion.

During his high school years, a string of injuries unfortunately prevented Jethro from consistently playing across AJAX, Caulfield Grammar School and Sandringham Dragons. Despite these setbacks, Jethro remained resilient, disciplined, and focused. He approached every rehabilitation period with determination, maintaining his fitness and always working hard toward recovery and improvement.

The good news is that 2026 has been a real turning point, with Jethro making a terrific start to the season. He is thoroughly enjoying being part of the AJAX Senior Team while continuing to develop his game and make steady progress. Jethro is excited about the season ahead and is hoping to help contribute to the success of the team.

What the coach said:

Jethro is a fantastic young footballer and person, who has had some rotten luck with injuries over the past 4 years. His work rate and preparation is unmatched at the Club and it is great that he is now getting some recognition for his efforts. He is extremely coachable and competitive and I don’t think that there are too many other 19yo in A or B grade consistently putting up the performances that he is!