“I hope it’s as good to you as it was to me. Give ‘em hell.” 

That was the message St Kilda great Lenny Hayes etched into the back of the No. 7 locker before passing on his famous number to Luke Dunstan. 

After six seasons at the Saints, the 24-year-old will bring up the century against Adelaide this Saturday in his home state. 

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And while reaching the milestone has always been a childhood dream for ‘Spook’, it hasn’t come without its share of challenges. 

By his own admission, his career has been a little “up and down”, with bursts of raw strength and contested dominance dotted in between lapses in form and stints in the VFL. 

Dunstan was originally selected with pick No. 18 in the 2013 National Draft, making his debut for the red, white and black in Round 1, 2014 against Melbourne. 

Luke Dunstan prior to his first game in the red, white and black.

It caught the eye of the St Kilda faithful, with the fierce left-footer amassing 21 disposals, seven tackles and five clearances in his maiden outing. 

As with all footballers, that first taste of senior football was one he’ll never forget. 

“Unfortunately at the time, the leadership group for some reason scrapped the Gatorade shower, so I never got one of them in my debut,” Dunstan told saints.com.au. 

“But it’s still something I’ll never forget – it was pretty special.” 

TON UP: Dunstan hits 100

The taste only got sweeter as the year progressed, evolving into a ravenous hunger as his form and impact grew in tandem with his confidence. 

His career had begun swimmingly in the No. 36 guernsey; a Rising Star nomination in his first game, two Brownlow votes in his third and an average of 19 disposals and three clearances per game had the Saint on an upward trajectory. 

The promising youngster went on to feature in 16 games, before ending the year early to undergo shoulder surgery. 

Dunstan was a revelation in his debut year along with fellow draftees Jack Billings and Eli Templeton.

Yet the highlight of his debut season came with the inheritance of Lenny Hayes’ revered No. 7 guernsey, following the St Kilda great’s retirement at the end of the 2014 season. 

As the sun set on an esteemed 297-game career, another was at its dawn. 

PRESSER: Luke Dunstan on 100 games 

But while the handover was an incredible honour, the young Dunstan underestimated the expectations that would inevitably come with St Kilda’s famous No. 7.

Subsequent drop-offs in form saw the budding Saint pushed to the periphery, with 2017 marking the first time he’d been sent to the VFL.

He was omitted three times that season, and as the young Saint found himself going in and out of the senior side, questions around his assumption of the No. 7 became increasingly frequent.

Comparisons between Dunstan and Hayes would be a talking point among media outlets and fans, something that started playing on the inside mid’s mind.

Being subject to heightened criticism is something he’s been forced to battle with across his career, but ultimately something he’s been forced to take in his stride. 

Dunstan following the Saints' loss to Hawthorn in Round 6, 2018.

“When you’re out of the team it does get to you a little bit,” Dunstan said. 

“It hasn’t really fazed me too much this year. I’ve done a fair bit of work in the mental space with sports psychs, so that’s helped my game a lot. 

But when the team’s not winning and you’re not in the team, it can sort of swallow you up."

There’s no doubt that this season he’s emerged stronger – both from a footballing and personal perspective – given the adversity he’s had to overcome.

After a 2018 bookended by stints in the VFL, Dunstan was able to secure a Round 1 berth against Gold Coast, before once again finding himself on the outer a short three weeks later.

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Another return to the VFL and a match-winning performance against Frankston had him back in the senior side by Round 8.

And the 24-year-old hasn’t looked back since. 

Dunstan has since emerged as one of the most vital cogs in St Kilda's evolving engine room. 

His grunt has seen him become the Saints' leader in stoppage clearances (58), with his strength complementing his high tackle numbers (75) and contested possessions (163). 

Dunstan has reaped the rewards of a huge pre-season in 2019.

An increased engine in the pre-season and a concise approach to his output – guided by coaches Brett Ratten and Brendon Lade – has given Dunstan belief. 

Belief he can take to the park each week and perform not only at a high level, but deliver a performance which is centred around selflessness. 

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2019 has seen breakout displays from Jack Billings, Jade Gresham and Hunter Clark, among others, leaving the efforts of the No. 7 to go largely under the radar. 

For the work-horse Dunstan, however, he’s content to forego the individual accolades and instead roll up his sleeves and play his role for the team. 

They’ve always been traits of the bullish insider, but they were bolstered in his first year by his number’s sake, Hayes.

Lenny Hayes is chaired off the ground in his final game by teammates James Gwilt and Nick Riewoldt.

The St Kilda veteran took the youngster under his wing, with the then-19-year-old undertaking a dream apprenticeship from one of the best in the business. 

“I guess that’s the only disappointing thing, that I couldn’t play with Lenny for longer,” Dunstan said. 

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But despite all the football wisdom Hayes imparted, it was the qualities that made him such a beloved member of the AFL community which resonated most. 

“For me, it’s more about the way he acted and how he treated other people,” Dunstan said. 

He was such a selfless team player, and I think that’s something I’ve tried to incorporate myself into the way I play. 

“I’m not so much worried about the kicks, marks and handballs, but more about what I can do for my teammates and how I can help them.” 

Luke Dunstan tears down the wing at Riverway Stadium.

Now on the eve of his 100^th game, that focus hasn’t shifted. 

“I’ve never really made too much of a big deal about what I’ve achieved; even when I was drafted, I didn’t make a massive fuss over it,” Dunstan said.

“But I’ve reached the point in my life where I can acknowledge what I’ve done.

“To make it to 100 AFL games – given some of the adversity I’ve faced over the past few years – is pretty special and something I’m really proud of.”