John Gastev
Encyclopedia
John Gastev is a former Australian rules football
er in the VFL/AFL.
A cult figure and "crowd favourite" standing at only 177cm and weighing just 73kg, Gastev debuted with the West Coast Eagles
in their inaugural season in 1987 after playing for West Perth
. After only two seasons and 30 games, Gastev was dumped and joined the Brisbane Bears
in 1989.
In his first year at the Bears he won the best and fairest
, repeating the feat in 1992. His other honours include playing for Western Australia
in State of Origin. Gastev's main roles were as a tagger, and he played 113 games for the Bears before retiring in 1994. Gastev was probably best known for some of the massive hits he copped during his career and his trademark beard
. Many players did not like his negative approach to the game and as such opted to make him a target, resulting in many significant blows that contributed to his early retirement.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the VFL/AFL.
A cult figure and "crowd favourite" standing at only 177cm and weighing just 73kg, Gastev debuted with the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
in their inaugural season in 1987 after playing for West Perth
West Perth Football Club
The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia, competing in the West Australian Football League . It is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia. It competes in the West Australian...
. After only two seasons and 30 games, Gastev was dumped and joined the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
in 1989.
In his first year at the Bears he won the best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
, repeating the feat in 1992. His other honours include playing for Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in State of Origin. Gastev's main roles were as a tagger, and he played 113 games for the Bears before retiring in 1994. Gastev was probably best known for some of the massive hits he copped during his career and his trademark beard
Beard
A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
. Many players did not like his negative approach to the game and as such opted to make him a target, resulting in many significant blows that contributed to his early retirement.