Paul Dear
Paul Dear (born 28 December 1966) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn.
| Paul Dear | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 28 December 1966 | ||
| Original team(s) | Churchill | ||
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 106 kg (234 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1987–1996 | Hawthorn | 123 (80) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1996. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Younger brother of fellow Hawk ruckman Greg Dear, Paul was the smaller of the two, Greg stood at 199 cm to Paul's 188cm. Though giving away inches to taller opponents Paul would occasionally second ruck for the team. The Dear brothers were recruited when the Latrobe Valley was in the Hawthorn zone. A half forward, Dear made his debut in the 1987 season and played in that year's Grand Final. He filled in for the unavailable Jason Dunstall at full forward but ended up on the losing side.
Unable to break into the side during back to back premiership years of 1988 and 1989 Dear was consistently named as emergency.
In 1990 he got a regular game, playing 23 games and his form continued into 1991. He got his premiership medallion, helping Hawthorn defeat West Coast in the 1991 Grand Final with two goals and winning the Norm Smith Medal. Dear almost single-handedly turned a nine-point deficit into a ten-point half time lead by dominating across the Hawthorn half forward line and setting up several goals.
He turned his skills to coaching in the Victorian countryside. He was successful in leading Apollo Bay to a premiership in the Colac & District Football League.