Alan Hunter

NSL Career: Brisbane Lions, Heidelberg, Sydney Croatia, Melita Eagles, Brisbane Strikers, Carlton 345 (53) / 1983 - 1997/98

Socceroos Career: 7 (0) A Internationals / 2 (1) B Internationals

Tough tackling and dominant in the air, the Northern Irish-born Alan Hunter was a goalscoring defender who was a good ball distributor and familiar face in the NSL during the 1980s and 1990s. With 53 NSL goals to his name, Hunter was the highest scoring out-and-out defender in the history of the competition.

Born in Larne, Northern Ireland - Hunter immigrated to Australia at the age of four and played his junior football at Brisbane club Acacia Ridge. Hunter made his first team debut at the age of 15 in the Queensland Division One before the club won the premiership in the same season and spent some time back in Northern Ireland where he was part of the 1980/81 Irish Youth Cup winning side.

In 1983, NSL club Brisbane Lions signed Hunter from Acacia for $1,500 where he made his NSL debut at the age of 18, playing in all but three games for the club in his debut season. Another consistent season followed for the young defender, helping the wooden-spooners of the 1983 season achieve their highest finish in the NSL (fourth) and reach the Southern Conference Minor Semi-Final.

Part of the Brisbane defence that improved their defensive record drastically over three seasons, Hunter was named NSL U-21 Player of the Year in 1985. The tough defender moved to Heidelberg in 1986 and further enhanced his reputation as a goalscoring defender, becoming an accurate penalty taker and ventured forward often to score headers.

Hunter's form at Heidelberg earned him his full international debut for the Socceroos in a friendly against Czechoslovakia before playing in both legs of Australia's Trans-Tasman Cup victory over New Zealand. After a disappointing season in which Heidelberg finished last, Hunter moved to Sydney Croatia for the 1988 season.

Playing next to master defender Vedran Rožić and behind the brilliant Arnold-Lamond-Slater attacking trio, Hunter was able to develop his defensive skills and play balls in to space for the dangerous attackers. Croatia reached the grand final against Marconi where Hunter drifted in to the 18-yard box and scored a well-timed equalising volley from a Manis Lamond cross. The match ended in a penalty shoot-out where Hunter converted his penalty to put Croatia in front four-three, however, team mate Shane Clinch missed and allowed Tony Henderson to score the winning penalty in his last game for the club.

Hunter remained at Croatia for another two seasons, scoring 10 goals in 26 games before going to the Netherlands to trial with Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam, in the hope of earning a one-year loan and a guaranteed full-time contract if the club were satisfied with his first season. The big defender broke his leg during a trial match and was subsequently signed by NSL club Melita Eagles.

After recovering from his injury, Hunter came in to the side late in the 1990/91 season and helped Melita qualify for the finals series for the first time and win the NSL Cup, unfortunately getting substituted at half time in the final due to a recurring injury. Hunter returned home to Brisbane at the end of the season, joining new franchise club Brisbane United.

The experienced defender captained the side in five of their first six seasons in the league in a side consisting mostly of young local players - with the exception of former Lions team mate Steve Jackson and NSL veterans Frank Pimblett, Gary Phillips, Danny Wright and Rod Brown. After Frank Farina returned from Europe and joined the Strikers (formerly United) for the 1995/96 season, the club began to find their feet and qualified for the finals series for the first time.

Farina stayed on as player-coach for the 1996/97 season and Hunter captained the side to it's first (and only) grand final: keeping the dangerous Sydney United (formerly Croatia) attacking threat of Ante Milicic, David Zdrilic and Krešimir Marušić at bay and was part of the build-up play for Farina's opening goal. 

For his outstanding performance in his last game for the club, Hunter was awarded the Joe Marston Medal as Brisbane became champions for the first time. Hunter signed on as captain of new franchise club Carlton for the 1997/98 season where he made just six appearances before hanging up his boots at the age of  33. Following his playing career, Hunter began coaching at state league and grassroots level and had a stint as Sydney United head coach in the 2000/01 NSL season.