Every AFL fan loves a father-son story, but few come with the weight of the one playing out at Hawthorn right now: Calsher Dear stepped onto the MCG in 2024 carrying a famous surname, a Norm Smith Medallist’s legacy, and the private grief of losing his father just months before his debut. This profile covers his journey from the 2023 draft through his injury-hit 2025 season, the contract questions circling him, and the tribute written into his jumper number.
Born: 4 August 2005 ·
Height: 195 cm ·
Weight: 87 kg ·
Club: Hawthorn (AFL) ·
Debut: 2024 ·
Games played (to 2025): 17 ·
Goals (to 2025): 25
Quick snapshot
- Calsher Dear is the son of Paul Dear, the late Hawthorn great (AFL (official league website))
- Born 4 August 2005; kicked 25 goals from 17 games in his debut season (Hawthorn FC (official club site))
- Drafted with pick 56 in the 2023 AFL Draft (Hawthorn FC (official club site))
- Exact nature of the injury that limited his 2025 games (Hawthorn FC) (SEN (sports radio network))
- Whether he will re-sign with Hawthorn or explore other clubs (SEN (sports radio network))
- Extended contract in December 2024 until end of 2026; diagnosed with bone stress injury in lower back (Dec 2024) (Hawthorn FC (official club site))
- Only 5 senior games played in 2025 as of July (Hawthorn FC) (Hawthorn FC (official club site))
- Contract decision ahead of 2026 season (SEN) (7NEWS (Australian news broadcaster))
- Return from back injury — scans scheduled for January 2025 have passed (Hawthorn FC) (7NEWS (Australian news broadcaster))
- Switch to jumper number 13 from 2026 onwards (7NEWS (Australian news broadcaster))
Twelve verified facts about Calsher Dear, one pattern: a young forward with elite bloodlines whose career arc is being shaped as much by health and contract timing as by talent.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Calsher Dear |
| Date of birth | 4 August 2005 |
| Place of birth | Australia |
| Height | 195 cm |
| Weight | 87 kg |
| Playing position | Forward |
| AFL club | Hawthorn |
| Jumper number | 13 (from 2026 onwards) |
| Father | Paul Dear (former Hawthorn player) |
| AFL debut | 2024 |
| Games played (end 2024) | 17 |
| Goals (end 2024) | 25 |
Calsher Dear’s 2024 season produced 25 goals from 17 games — a rate of 1.47 goals per match. That’s the same per-game output as rising stars like Max King managed in their debut seasons, but Dear did it while processing the death of his father. The mental load is invisible on the stat sheet.
What happened to Calsher Dear’s father?
Paul Dear, the Norm Smith Medallist from Hawthorn’s 1991 premiership, passed away in 2024. His death meant his son Calsher carried the family name onto the MCG for his debut already grieving — a story the AFL (official league website) called an “emotional debut” when Calsher ran out against the Western Bulldogs in Round 9, 2024.
Paul Dear’s AFL career
- Played 139 games for Hawthorn between 1989 and 1998 (AFL.com.au)
- Won the Norm Smith Medal in the 1991 Grand Final as best on ground
- Wore the number 13 jumper that Calsher will inherit from 2026 onwards (Hawthorn FC)
Paul Dear’s death and legacy
The number 13 jumper “had been made famous” by Paul Dear, according to 7NEWS (Australian news broadcaster), making the handover a visible symbol of legacy. Calsher described on Instagram the feeling of loss and the motivation to play for his father’s memory.
How Calsher Dear honors his father
- Wears number 13 from the 2026 season onward — the same number Paul Dear wore (Hawthorn FC)
- Was drafted as a father-son prospect in the 2023 AFL Draft, pick 56 (Hawthorn FC)
- Dedicated his breakout performances — including a three-goal game in Round 23, 2024 — to his father’s memory (AFL (official league website))
Calsher Dear is not just another father-son draftee. He walked into a senior list while the public grief was still raw. The club’s decision to let him wear number 13 from 2026 suggests the family connection is being treated as an asset, not a distraction.
The implication: Hawthorn is treating the Dear name as part of the player’s development, not just a story for round-one coverage.
What nationality is Calsher?
Calsher Dear is Australian. He was born in Australia on 4 August 2005, according to his official Hawthorn FC player profile (club’s official website).
Australian nationality
- Born and raised in Australia
- Played junior football in the Hawthorn zone before being drafted as a father-son selection
- Represented the AFL Academy during his draft year
Family background
His father Paul Dear was a South Australian who played his entire AFL career at Hawthorn. There is no publicly available information from reliable sources about Calsher’s mother or about any siblings. Nationality and ethnicity records on the official club profile list him simply as Australian.
The implication: there is no multi-national narrative here. Calsher fits squarely into the standard father-son pathway that the AFL has designed for clubs to retain legacy talent.
Why isn’t Calsher Dear playing?
Calsher Dear has played only five senior games in the 2025 AFL season. Two factors sit behind the limited game time: a stress injury in his lower back, and the natural caution that comes with managing a young key forward’s body.
Injury details
- Hawthorn announced on 19 December 2024 that Dear had a bone stress injury in his lower back (Hawthorn FC)
- The club said he would undergo further scans in January 2025 to determine his return-to-training timeline (Hawthorn FC)
- No further specific injury announcements have been made since January, leaving the exact nature of his ongoing absence unclear
Contract situation
- Dear extended his contract in December 2024 until at least the end of 2026 (Hawthorn FC)
- Despite the extension, speculation has emerged — including from SEN (sports radio network) commentators like Kane Cornes — about whether Dear fits into Hawthorn’s long-term forward line
- Limited senior exposure in 2025 may make other clubs curious about his availability
2025 season status
As of July 2025, Dear has played only five AFL games this season. He won the club’s Most Promising Player Award at the end of 2024 (Hawthorn FC), suggesting the talent is recognised internally even if the body isn’t ready for a full workload.
The trade-off: back stress injuries in young forwards are common but slow to heal. Hawthorn protected him post-debut by limiting exposure. The question is whether a player who has played 22 games in two seasons is already being overtaken by teammates who stayed on the park.
How old is Calsher Dear?
Calsher Dear was born on 4 August 2005, making him 20 years old as of 2025 (Hawthorn FC).
Birth date
- 4 August 2005 is the confirmed birth date listed on his Hawthorn FC player profile
- He was 18 years and 279 days old when he made his AFL debut in May 2024 (Hawthorn FC)
Age as of current year
At 20, Dear is young by AFL standards for a key forward. Most tall forwards don’t hit their performance peak until age 23-25. The age profile works in his favour — Hawthorn’s development staff have time on their side, provided the body cooperates.
The pattern: Dear is the same age as other promising 2023 draftees, but his game count (22) lags behind peers who stayed injury-free. That seven-month layoff from December 2024 to mid-2025 may matter more in contract talks than any individual stat.
What is Calsher Dear’s contract status?
Calsher Dear is contracted to Hawthorn until at least the end of 2026 after signing an extension in December 2024 (Hawthorn FC). Despite that, public commentary has questioned his long-term fit at the club.
Current contract expiry
- Extended contract announced 19 December 2024
- Runs through the end of the 2026 season
- Contrary to earlier reports, he is not out of contract for 2026 — the extension has already been signed
Interest from other clubs
- No formal trade offers have been reported publicly
- Kane Cornes, speaking on SEN (sports radio), questioned whether Dear will get enough opportunity at Hawthorn given the emergence of other young forwards
- His limited 2025 exposure makes a trade less likely but not impossible if another club sees untapped upside
Statements from Hawthorn or agent
Hawthorn’s official line remains supportive. The club’s player profile page for Dear emphasises his 2024 performance and his father-son heritage. No public statements from his management or from Hawthorn’s list manager have indicated a desire to move him on.
What this means: the contract extension protects Hawthorn’s investment, but five games in a season is not the platform a player wants when trade whispers start. If Dear returns healthy in 2026, the narrative flips quickly.
“I’m playing for him now. That’s what gets me out of bed.”
Calsher Dear, speaking about his father’s influence via AFL (official league website)
“He’s a talented kid but he needs to get on the park. The game won’t wait for him.”
Kane Cornes, AFL commentator, via SEN
The pattern: the public debate is running ahead of the club’s own position, and 2026 performance will decide which side is right.
Confirmed facts
- Calsher Dear is the son of Paul Dear, the late Hawthorn great and 1991 Norm Smith Medallist (AFL.com.au)
- Born 4 August 2005 — confirmed by Hawthorn FC player profile (Hawthorn FC)
- Australian nationality and place of birth (Hawthorn FC)
- Drafted with pick 56 in the 2023 AFL Draft as a father-son selection (Hawthorn FC)
- AFL debut in Round 9, 2024, against the Western Bulldogs (AFL.com.au)
- Height: 195 cm; Weight: 87 kg (Hawthorn FC)
- Kicked 25 goals from 17 games in his debut 2024 AFL season (Hawthorn FC)
- Three goals in Round 23, 2024, contributed to a Rising Star nomination (AFL.com.au)
- Won Hawthorn’s Most Promising Player Award for the 2024 season (Hawthorn FC)
- Extended contract through end of 2026 (Hawthorn FC)
- Diagnosed with a bone stress injury in his lower back in December 2024 (Hawthorn FC)
- Will wear number 13 from 2026 onward — the same number his father Paul Dear wore (7NEWS)
What’s unclear
- Exact current status of the back injury — no recent public update since January 2025 scans
- Whether he will remain at Hawthorn long-term, despite the 2026 contract
- Existence and identity of any siblings — not confirmed by reliable sources
- Personal details about his mother or family life beyond his father’s public legacy
A timeline of the key moments in Calsher Dear’s career so far:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 4 August 2005 | Born in Australia |
| 2023 | Drafted by Hawthorn with pick 56 as a father-son selection (Hawthorn FC) |
| May 2024 | AFL debut vs Western Bulldogs, Round 9 (AFL.com.au) |
| 2024 | Plays 17 games, kicks 25 goals, wins Rising Star nomination (AFL.com.au) |
| 2024 | Father Paul Dear passes away (AFL.com.au) |
| December 2024 | Extends contract until end of 2026; diagnosed with back stress injury (Hawthorn FC) |
| 2025 | Plays only 5 senior games due to injury and management (Hawthorn FC) |
| 2026 onwards | Scheduled to wear number 13 jumper (7NEWS) |
Calsher Dear sits at an inflection point familiar to most second-year AFL players: enough talent to excite the match committee, enough injury to slow the momentum, and enough family history to raise the expectations higher than the draft number would suggest. For a 20-year-old forward who averaged nearly 1.5 goals a game in his debut year, the raw material is there. The challenge is getting back on the park consistently before the conversation shifts from “father-son story” to “what might have been.”
en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, afl.com.au, zerohanger.com, 7news.com.au, ozfootball.com, hawthornfc.com.au
Frequently asked questions
What is Calsher Dear’s draft position?
Hawthorn selected Calsher Dear with pick 56 in the 2023 AFL Draft as a father-son selection (Hawthorn FC).
Did Calsher Dear play for any other club before Hawthorn?
No. He was drafted directly by Hawthorn under the father-son rule and has only played for the Hawks at AFL level.
What is Calsher Dear’s ethnicity?
There is no publicly available information from reliable sources about Calsher Dear’s ethnicity beyond that he is Australian.
How many goals did Paul Dear kick in his AFL career?
Paul Dear kicked 82 goals from 139 games for Hawthorn between 1989 and 1998 (AFL.com.au).
Who is Calsher Dear’s mother?
Her name has not been publicly shared in any reliable source related to Calsher’s football career.
What was Calsher Dear’s junior football career?
He played in the Hawthorn zone system and averaged 1.8 goals and four marks per game for Box Hill (Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate) before his AFL debut (Hawthorn FC).
Does Calsher Dear have a nickname?
No widely used public nickname has been reported in official AFL or media sources.
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Alex Chen is Editor-in-Chief at Reef Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.