A four-time premiership player, Dunstall kicked 1254 goals in a glittering 269-game AFL/VFL career before injuries forced him into retirement in 1998.

Only Tony Lockett (1360) and Gordon Coventry (1299) are higher on the competition’s all-time list of leading goal-kickers.

Queensland-born Dunstall will officially be elevated to Legend status at the Hall of Fame induction dinner in Melbourne on June 18.

“It’s an incredible privilege. I feel very humbled, almost to the point of embarrassment,” the 59-year-old told reporters on Monday.

“When you consider there’s just a tick over 30 Legends in the game, it’s the highest honour you can imagine.

“I feel incredibly grateful to the AFL. It’s been a massive part of my life and to sit amongst names that are synonymous with the game now is incredibly humbling.”

Dunstall’s career-best 17 goals against Richmond in May 1992 remains the second-highest tally ever kicked by a player in a single match – behind Fred Fanning’s 18 for Melbourne against St Kilda in 1947.

Dunstall is one of only six players in AFL/VFL history to have kicked more than 1000 goals and was the most prolific spearhead in a golden era for Hawthorn.

“I was at the end of the production line at Hawthorn,” he said.

“When you’re full-forward and you’ve got all these great players further afield that continue to pump the ball down to you … I always defer to my teammates.

“I was blessed to be on the receiving end of some of the most skilful players to have ever played the game.”

Three-time Coleman medallist Dunstall came from a great era of full-forwards that included fellow leading goal-kickers Lockett and Gary Ablett.

“Plugger (Lockett) and I had a very healthy rivalry, we had a great competitiveness,” Dunstall said.

“I had a couple of knee (injuries) at the end and my body was just done.

“I wanted to beat him badly, make no mistake about that … but he was just too good.

“We had a good crop of full-forwards at the time that motivated and pushed each other along.”

Dunstall’s career was almost cut short when he suffered a fractured skull from an accidental knock from an opponent’s knee in 1990.

He returned wearing a protective helmet after several weeks on the sidelines and won his fourth flag with the Hawks the following year.

Dunstall spent a brief period assisting Hawthorn coaches Ken Judge and Peter Schwab after his retirement as a player but admits he never had the patience to pursue coaching.

“A little taste of it was enough for me,” Dunstall said.

“I’m still emotionally involved as a Hawthorn supporter through and through, but just not to have some skin in the game is nice.

“I’ve been involved in the club for a long time and did 10 years on the board, so it’s nice to sit back and actually now just be a supporter and watch.”