View source for Rex Hunt

{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1949}}
{{for|the British diplomat|Rex Hunt (diplomat)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Rex Hunt
| image = 
| fullname = Rex James Hunt
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|3|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Mentone, Victoria]], Australia|
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = Parkdale
| height = 191 cm
| weight = 97 kg
| position = Full-forward/centre half-back
| statsend = 1978
| years1 = 1968–1974
| club1 = {{AFL Ric}}
| games_goals1 = 113 (121)
| years2 = 1974–1975
| club2 = {{AFL Gee}}
| games_goals2 = {{0}}32 {{0}}(44)
| years3 = 1976–1978
| club3 = {{AFL StK}}
| games_goals3 = {{0}}57 (111)
| years4 = 1980–1981
| club4 = [[Sandringham Football Club|Sandringham]]
| games_goals4 = {{0}}38 (203)
| games_goalstotal = 240 (479)
| careerhighlights = *2× [[Australian Football League|VFL]] Premiership [[1969 VFL Grand Final|1969]], [[1973 VFL Grand Final|1973]]
*2× [[Championship of Australia]] Championship [[1969 Championship of Australia|1969]], [[1973 Championship of Australia|1973]]
*[[Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal]]: 1981
}}

'''Rex James Hunt''' (born 7 March 1949) is an Australian television and radio personality. A former [[Australian rules football|Australian rules footballer]], he became a commentator known for his habit of making up quirky nicknames for players. He has also been known around the world for fishing and wildlife programs on the [[Seven Network]] and overseas stations. He was a former police officer who reached the senior rank of Sergeant in [[Victoria Police]] at age 30.<ref name=VicPol>{{cite web |url=http://www.vpasws.org.au/customdata/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_main&ItemID=41883&OrgID=7951 |title=Rex Hunt |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=2014 |website=Victoria Police Amateur Sports & Welfare Society |access-date=8 April 2014}}</ref> He also previously owned a restaurant, the ''D'lish Fish'' located in [[Port Melbourne, Victoria|Port Melbourne]].

==Early life==
Hunt was born in [[Mentone, Victoria]], and attended [[Mordialloc High School]]. He joined the police force as a cadet after leaving school.<ref name=VicPol/> In 1970, he was called up to [[Conscription in Australia|national service]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/talkingheads/txt/s2242030.htm|title=Talking Heads with Peter Thompson: Rex Hunt|date=19 May 2008|publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref>

==Football career==
Hunt was recruited from [[Parkdale, Victoria|Parkdale]] by {{AFL Ric}} and made his debut in the then [[Victorian Football League (1897–1989)|Victorian Football League]] in 1968. He was a key position player who was usually positioned at [[Football (Australian rules) positions#Full forward|full-forward]] or [[Football (Australian rules) positions#Centre half-forward|centre half-forward]]. Later he played at [[Football (Australian rules) positions#Centre Half-Back|centre half-back]]. He was part of Richmond's premiership sides in 1969 and 1973. In the middle of 1974, Hunt moved to the [[Geelong Football Club]] due to his work as a policeman. As a big strong forward he played with Geelong in 1974 and 1975, playing 32 games for the club before moving back to Melbourne and playing with [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]]. He retired from VFL football at the end of the 1978 season, but continued to play in the lower-level [[Victorian Football Association|VFA]] in 1980 and 1981 with [[Sandringham Zebras|Sandringham]]. He won the [[Frosty Miller Medal]] for kicking 110 goals in 1981.

==Statistics==
:<ref name="afl tables">{{cite web|title=Rex Hunt statistics|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/R/Rex_Hunt.html|publisher=AFL Tables|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref>
{{AFL player statistics legend}}
{{AFL player statistics start}}
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1968 VFL season|1968]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Ric}}
| 43 || 13 || 16 || 25 || 144 || 15 || 159 || 97 || {{n/a}} || 1.2 || 1.9 || 11.1 || 1.2 || 12.2 || 7.5 || {{n/a}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1969 VFL season|1969]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Ric}}
| 5 || 20 || 55 || 45 || 153 || 14 || 167 || 93 || {{n/a}} || 2.8 || 2.3 || 7.7 || 0.7 || 8.4 || 4.7 || {{n/a}}
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1970 VFL season|1970]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Ric}}
| 5 || 16 || 36 || 34 || 140 || 28 || 168 || 104 || {{n/a}} || 2.3 || 2.1 || 8.8 || 1.8 || 10.5 || 6.5 || {{n/a}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1971 VFL season|1971]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Ric}}
| 5 || 20 || 4 || 3 || 240 || 24 || 264 || 141 || {{n/a}} || 0.2 || 0.2 || 12.0 || 1.2 || 13.2 || 7.1 || {{n/a}}
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1972 VFL season|1972]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Ric}}
| 5 || 14 || 1 || 2 || 156 || 16 || 172 || 66 || {{n/a}} || 0.1 || 0.1 || 11.1 || 1.1 || 12.3 || 4.7 || {{n/a}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1973 VFL season|1973]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Ric}}
| 5 || 23 || 4 || 3 || 270 || 18 || 288 || 114 || {{n/a}} || 0.2 || 0.1 || 11.7 || 0.8 || 12.5 || 5.0 || {{n/a}}
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1974 VFL season|1974]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Ric}}
| 5,6 || 7 || 5 || 11 || 65 || 8 || 73 || 40 || {{n/a}} || 0.7 || 1.6 || 9.3 || 1.1 || 10.4 || 5.7 || {{n/a}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1974 VFL season|1974]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Gee}}
| 5,6 || 15 || 26 || 17 || 221 || 20 || 241 || 137 || {{n/a}} || 1.7 || 1.1 || 14.7 || 1.3 || 16.1 || 9.8 || {{n/a}}
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1975 VFL season|1975]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Gee}}
| 6 || 17 || 18 || 12 || 139 || 17 || 156 || 85 || {{n/a}} || 1.1 || 0.8 || 8.7 || 1.1 || 9.8 || 5.3 || {{n/a}}
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1976 VFL season|1976]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL StK}}
| 2 || 22 || 21 || 31 || 259 || 40 || 299 || 168 || {{n/a}} || 1.0 || 1.4 || 11.8 || 1.8 || 13.6 || 7.6 || {{n/a}}
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1977 VFL season|1977]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL StK}}
| 2 || 18 || 52 || 31 || 180 || 18 || 198 || 103 || {{n/a}} || 2.9 || 1.9 || 10.0 || 1.0 || 11.0 || 5.7 || {{n/a}}
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1978 VFL season|1978]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL StK}}
| 5 || 17 || 38 || 29 || 163 || 35 || 198 || 106 || {{n/a}} || 2.2 || 1.8 || 9.6 || 2.1 || 11.6 || 6.2 || {{n/a}}
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 202
! 276
! 243
! 2130
! 253
! 2383
! 1254
! {{n/a}}
! 1.4
! 1.2
! 10.6
! 1.3
! 11.9
! 6.3
! {{n/a}}
|}

==Sports media and commentary career==
After his retirement as a player, Hunt became a popular football commentator for [[3AW]]. He also hosted Sunday morning panel shows on the [[Seven Network]], ''the Sportsworld Footy Panel'' and ''I'm Rex Hunt and You're Not''. Early in the 2007 season, Rex celebrated his 1,500th game as a commentator of VFL/AFL games.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} He announced his resignation from [[3AW]] to join [[Triple M]] on 17 November 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/rex-hunt-may-leave-3aw-after-shock-offer-from-triple-m/story-e6frf7jo-1225798376939|title=Rex Hunt may leave 3AW after shock offer from Triple M |publisher=News Corporation)|date=16 November 2016|access-date=8 April 2016}}</ref>

In 2008, Hunt gave a poetic tribute to fellow commentator [[Clinton Grybas]], who died unexpectedly at 32 years old.<ref>{{Citation |title=Clinton Grybas Tribute |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wl8c7uuGmQ |access-date=2023-03-29 |language=en}}</ref>

Hunt announced his retirement from mainstream metropolitan commentary in 2011;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news/legendary-footy-commentator-rex-hunt-is-leaving-triple-m/|title=Legendary footy commentator Rex Hunt is leaving Triple M|publisher=Southern Cross Austereo|date=29 August 2011|access-date=8 April 2016}}</ref> however, he continued as a commentator for [[Crocmedia]]'s AFL coverage, calling alongside Peter Donegan. In 2015, Hunt called his 2,000th game of AFL football<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/how-footy-legend-rex-hunt-revolutionised-afl-broadcasting/news-story/285f7f58be3f1547edf9e8a8463b65b0|title=How footy legend Rex Hunt revolutionised AFL broadcasting|publisher=News Corporation|date=16 May 2015|access-date=8 April 2016}}</ref>

In April 2014, Hunt started a new radio show on SEN 1116 called ''This Is Your Football Life'' exploring the lives and achievements of various VFL/AFL football legends. The show is produced by Crocmedia and airs on Sunday mornings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiotoday.com.au/news/whats-new/4472-rex-hunt-to-host-this-is-your-football-life.html |title=Rex Hunt to host This Is Your Football Life |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=7 April 2014 |website=Radio Today |access-date=8 April 2014}}</ref>

In 2017, Hunt returned to [[3AW]] as host of a new post-match talkback program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.3aw.com.au/news/rex-hunt-to-return-to-3aw-20161117-gss0tb.html |title=Rex Hunt to return to 3AW |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=18 November 2016 |website=3AW |publisher=Fairfax |access-date=22 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122153634/http://www.3aw.com.au/news/rex-hunt-to-return-to-3aw-20161117-gss0tb.html |archive-date=22 November 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After Richmond advanced to a preliminary final against the GWS Giants, Hunt also commentated on a Richmond-centric "Tiger Radio" broadcast on AFL Nation with fellow Tiger footballers [[Dale Weightman]] and [[Tony Jewell (footballer)|Tony Jewell]].<ref>[http://aflnation.com.au/2017/09/18/richmond-greats-to-call-preliminary-final-on-tiger-radio/ ''Richmond greats to call Preliminary Final on Tiger Radio''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011093546/http://aflnation.com.au/2017/09/18/richmond-greats-to-call-preliminary-final-on-tiger-radio/ |date=11 October 2018 }} AFL Nation</ref>

In July 2021, Hunt parted ways with [[3AW]] after an on-air disagreement with management.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-08|title=Rex Hunt quits 3AW after on-air blow up: 'I'll just go fishing'|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/rex-hunt-quits-3aw-after-onair-blow-up-ill-just-go-fishing/news-story/ef5513c9acf6b067728a95123d677f39|access-date=2021-07-08|website=NewsComAu|language=en}}</ref>

===Nicknames===
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2019}}
Hunt is best known for his commentary on [[3AW]] and has a penchant for making up nicknames for players such as "not a well man" for [[Sean Wellman]] of the [[Essendon Football Club]]; "[[Christiaan Barnard|Doctor Christiaan Barnard]]" for Essendon Football Club player [[Paul Barnard]]; "Ot 'n' Sticky" for [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] footballer [[Brad Ottens]]; "[[Yellow brick road|Yellow Brick Croad]]" for [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] footballer [[Trent Croad]]; "[[Oysters Kirkpatrick|Oysters Kilpatrick]]" for [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] footballer [[Glenn Kilpatrick]]; "[[Yangzhou fried rice|Special Fried Rice]]" for ex-[[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]] footballer [[Dean Rice]]; "[[Hahn Brewery|Premium Light]]" for [[Western Bulldogs]] footballer [[Mitch Hahn]]; "The Mediator" for [[Kangaroos Football Club|Kangaroos]] footballer [[Troy Makepeace]]; "Heavy Overnight Dew" for [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] footballer [[Stuart Dew]]; "Horney Torney" for [[Richmond Football Club|Richmond]] and [[Adelaide Crows|Adelaide]] footballer [[Jason Torney]]; "[[Orson Welles|Awesome Wells]]" for [[North Melbourne Football Club|Kangaroos]] player [[Daniel Wells (footballer)|Daniel Wells]]; "[[Hooligan]]" for [[Carlton Football Club|Blues]] player [[Ryan Houlihan]]; "[[Thomas the Tank Engine|Thomas the Tank]]" for [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] player [[Dale Thomas (footballer)|Dale Thomas]]; "[[Rogan josh|Brogan Josh]]" for [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] player [[Dean Brogan]]; "Yaaaablett!!" for [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] star [[Gary Ablett Sr.|Gary Ablett]]; and "[[Perry Como|Presti-gee-a-perry-como]]" for [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] player [[Simon Prestigiacomo]]. He is also known for his ''[[It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings|fat-lady-sings]]'' impression and the build-up that surrounds it when he (she) bellows out a tune declaring the match over. He was also known for "Listen to the fans", a feature he did during the 2006 and 2007 season after a player kicked a goal, when "[[Listen to the Band (song)|Listen to the Band]]" by [[The Monkees]] was played.

==Fishing journalist career==
In 1981, Hunt was giving regular radio fishing reports and had made two videos on the subject. His first television fishing show was ''Angling Action'' on the [[Network Ten|Ten Network]]. Two series of 13 episodes were made and were shown in 1981 and 1982, respectively. His [[Mix 101.1|3DB]] radio fishing show began in 1982. Throughout the 1980s, Hunt continued to write for a number of newspapers and magazines. In 1991, a series of ''Rex Hunt's Fishing World'' was made and broadcast in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] on [[Seven Network|Channel Seven]]. A new and longer series of the show went national as ''Rex Hunt's Fishing Australia'' the following year. In 1992, the name changed again to ''[[Rex Hunt's Fishing Adventure]]'', which remained on air until 2004. He also had a show on radio 1116 SEN hosting a fishing program called ''Off The Hook'' with son-in-law Lee Raynor.

Hunt's two most famous catchphrases from these shows were "Folks, it doesn't get any better than this!" as he reeled in a huge fish from the waters of one of Australia's most beautiful natural areas and, at the end of each episode, "It's yibbida-yibbida time!", a parody of the [[Warner Brothers]]' cartoon character [[Porky Pig]] saying "Be-bidda be-bidda be-bidda be... That's all, folks." He also had a famous habit of kissing the fish he didn't keep before releasing them.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rexhunt.com.au/adventure |title=Rex Hunt - Adventure |access-date=1 June 2013 |archive-date=13 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513012757/http://www.rexhunt.com.au/adventure |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/09/prweb442200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930050632/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/09/prweb442200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 September 2012|title = Australia's Rex Hunt to Debut on American TV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.saxton.com.au/rex-hunt/|title = Rex Hunt}}</ref><ref>http://www.americaone.com/shows/Rex_Hunts_Fishing/Rex%20Hunt_Bio.pdf{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rex-hunts-controversies/2006/05/17/1147545369610.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Rex Hunt's controversies | date=17 May 2006}}</ref>

Hunt also made public pronouncements regarding the "thugs in the scallop industry" and their dredging of [[Port Phillip Bay]], describing their actions as "dizzy stuff". He and a group of anglers and activists were successful in removing the dredging boats and restoring fish populations within the bay.{{citation needed|date=February 2012}}

==Controversies==

===Airline incident===
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2019}}
In May 2004, Hunt made a curious attempt to make a statement about airline security, which has been markedly increased in Australia after terrorist threats. Hunt was agitated at having to remove his pants and footwear after setting off a metal detector. He then took ten metal forks from the [[Qantas Club]] and took them on board a Qantas flight from [[Adelaide]] headed for [[Melbourne]] in an attempt to prove that airport security was totally flawed.  A concerned passenger who did not recognise Hunt alerted the flight crew and he was detained on arrival in Melbourne, where he was questioned for approximately 30 minutes and let go without any charges filed against him.

===Leon Davis controversy===
Hunt was involved in a controversial incident involving a racial slur in 2005, when he called Collingwood's [[Leon Davis (footballer)|Leon Davis]], who is of Aboriginal descent, 'as black as a dog' during the call against [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] mid-way through the season. Hunt made the comment when he trailed off while saying "Neon Leon hasn't lit up tonight; he's as black as a dog's guts in the night", claiming it was to describe Davis's poor form in that match in terms of a [[Neon lighting|neon lights]] metaphor; other members of the commentary team had been using different neon lights metaphors in the same context. Hunt's apology to Davis was initially rejected,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/07/19/1121538946296.html|title=Hunt apologises for racial 'stuff up'|first=Jesse|last=Hogan|date=19 July 2005|access-date=14 December 2011|newspaper=The Age|location=Melbourne}}</ref> and only accepted later in the week after a face-to-face meeting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-111317985.html|title=Contrite Hunt says Davis accepts appology ''(sic)''|publisher=AAP General News (Australia)|date=21 July 2005|access-date=14 December 2011}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Byron Bay fight===
In 2005, Hunt and his son were involved in an incident in Byron Bay where he claimed to have been attacked by local teenagers.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rex-hunt-and-son-attacked-by-gang/2005/10/31/1130720472614.html Sydney Morning Herald: Rex Hunt and son attacked by gang]</ref> The teenagers involved, however, claim Hunt was extremely intoxicated at the time and that his son had thrown the first punch.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Sophie |date=2005-11-04 |title=Rex Hunt, a black eye, some goths and a stiletto -- what's the real story behind the Byron Bay biffo? |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2005/11/04/rex-hunt-a-black-eye-some-goths-and-a-stiletto-whats-the-real-story-behind-the-byron-bay-biffo/ |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Crikey |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-11-08 |title=Teenagers claim Rex Hunt started brawl |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/teenagers-claim-rex-hunt-started-brawl-20051108-gdmehe.html |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref>

===Infidelity===
On 17 May 2006, [[News Ltd]] exposed Hunt's 15 years of secret sexual liaisons.<ref name="thousand">[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/05/17/1147545367773.html The Age: Mrs Hunt: I'll stand by Rex]</ref> When confronted, Hunt confessed he had paid three women in succession for ongoing sexual relationships over a period of more than 15 years. The final relationship, with a beautician in her 30s, began in 1997 and cost Hunt $1000 a week. Hunt acknowledged he is a hypocrite given his repeated attacks on other media personalities for sexual infidelity.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/football-fish-and-farce/2006/05/17/1147545391177.html The Age: Football, fish and farce: when celebrity culture blurs the media's ethical lines]</ref> Hunt followed this by an interview with radio broadcaster [[Neil Mitchell (radio presenter)|Neil Mitchell]] on Melbourne radio 3AW. A quote from Rex Hunt's radio comments, <blockquote>''That's what a fool does.  I'm invincible, I'm paying money... uh... The girl's happy, she's got no money, I got my rocks off.  How good is this?''</blockquote> has gained its own notoriety by being featured repeatedly on national [[Triple M]] radio program ''[[Get This]]'' hosted by [[Tony Martin (comedian)|Tony Martin]], [[Ed Kavalee]] and [[Richard Marsland]]. Robyn Hood, 40 at the time, one of the three women involved, subsequently sold her story to ''[[New Idea]]'' magazine. Robyn was quoted as saying: <blockquote>''Rex was never unfaithful to Lynne. "We never had sex... he was affectionate, very touchy-feely... then he'd either, in the car or out of it, depending on how cold it was, fling off all his clothes. The more public, the greater the danger and the more exciting Rex apparently found it''.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/we-never-had-sex/2006/06/19/1150569245318.html The Age: We never had sex]</ref></blockquote> Rex Hunt's wife of thirty four years, Lynne, said she would stand by Hunt and also revealed she suffers from [[bipolar disorder]], which had placed pressure on the couple's relationship.<ref name="thousand" />

===Road-rage incident===
In 2009, Hunt was found guilty of recklessly causing injury after allegations he bashed a cyclist with his own bicycle in a Melbourne [[road rage|road-rage]] attack. He was sentenced to perform 100 hours unpaid community work, without conviction.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/news/rex-hunt-to-dodge-bars/news-story/0644c938bd7a6cfc53acefb7f05e4d84 |title=Rex Hunt set to avoid jail for cyclist assault |access-date=18 May 2021 |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518074959/https://www.news.com.au/news/rex-hunt-to-dodge-bars/news-story/0644c938bd7a6cfc53acefb7f05e4d84 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Thief encounter ===
In December 2021, it was reported that Hunt confronted and thwarted a would-be thief when a reporter’s laptop bag was snatched during an exhibition boxing match in Melbourne.<ref name="7news.com.au">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-26 |title=Sam Newman shares devastating health update of AFL legend Rex Hunt |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/sam-newman-shares-devastating-health-update-of-afl-legend-rex-hunt-not-in-a-good-place-c-9563451 |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=7NEWS |language=en}}</ref>

=== Facebook rant about Daisy Pearce ===
He became embroiled in a high-profile hostile war of words after making a Facebook rant calling for controversial [[Australian Football Hall of Fame|AFL Hall of Famer]] [[Wayne Carey]] to replace AFLW champion [[Daisy Pearce]] on Channel 7’s live football coverage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 April 2023 |title=Rex Hunt condemned over Facebook rant targeting Daisy Pearce |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/rex-hunt-condemned-over-facebook-rant-targeting-daisy-pearce/news-story/fd7b91291d5f151f04c7dd49dbdb4005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708225802/https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/rex-hunt-condemned-over-facebook-rant-targeting-daisy-pearce/news-story/fd7b91291d5f151f04c7dd49dbdb4005 |archive-date=8 Jul 2022 |website=news.com.au}}</ref>

=== Health scare ===
In January 2023, at 2:15 am, Hunt called police after pulling over his car to the side of the road in a health emergency, where he was subsequently taken to hospital. Before and since, Hunt has opened up about his mental health struggles that have dogged him since his retirement from playing football:<ref name="7news.com.au"/><blockquote>I was gone ... despite the clown of the circus having a rubber nose, behind the makeup and rubber nose may well be the loneliest person in the world.</blockquote>

==Personal life==
Rex is married to wife Lynne and has three sons and one daughter.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.rexhunt.com.au Official site]
*{{IMDb name|2401933|Rex Hunt}}
*[https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Players/Hunt,_Rex.php]
{{VFL Frosty}}
{{1969 Richmond premiership players}}
{{1973 Richmond premiership players}}
{{Richmond leading goalkickers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Rex}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian police officers]]
[[Category:Australian television presenters]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Richmond Football Club players]]
[[Category:Richmond Football Club premiership players]]
[[Category:St Kilda Football Club players]]
[[Category:Geelong Football Club players]]
[[Category:Sandringham Football Club players]]
[[Category:Australian rules football commentators]]
[[Category:3AW presenters]]
[[Category:Australian fishermen]]
[[Category:VFL/AFL premiership players]]
[[Category:People from Mentone, Victoria]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]]