Dunstall established his reputation as one of the best full-forwards in Australia during the 1989 VFL season. He won his second straight Coleman Medal with 128 goals during the home-and-away season and finished third in the Brownlow Medal vote count. He kicked ten or more goals in a match twice: In Round 16, he kicked 11 goals against , and 11 goals against in Round 22. Dunstall added ten more goals during the Finals series, four of those in the epic 1989 premiership victory, to take his overall tally to 138 goals for the season. He also won the club best and fairest award for the second straight year. Representing Victoria in the State of Origin series, Dunstall won the Simpson Medal for best on ground in the match against Western Australia played in Perth.