John Gastev

Who is John Gastev?

John Gastev is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL/AFL.

A cult figure and "crowd favourite" standing at only 177 cm and weighing just 73 kg, 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. Gastev’s main roles were as a tagger, though he occasionally played as a forward in his early years. In an upset with over the Sydney Swans early in 1989, Gastev kicked seven goals after half-time, a feat made more remarkable by the fact that he kicked no other goal in the first thirteen rounds of 1989. In this first year at the Bears he won the best and fairest, repeating the feat in 1992.

After 1990, Gastev played chiefly in defence, and his career was ended when he suffered a major hit at the hands of Gary Ablett in a match in 1994 at Kardinia Park. Gastev announced his retirement during the off-season, despite being only thirty years old.

His other honours include playing for Western Australia in State of Origin.