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Karmichael Hunt of the Gold Coast in action during the AFL NAB Cup Round 02 match between the GWS Giants and the Gold Coast Suns at Blacktown Olympic Park, Blacktown.
When one player is commanding a $1.5m salary to play AFL football, not even a Gold Coast bye round will keep him out of the media.
With the Gold Coast bye this round, Karmichael Hunt is set to receive a deserved rest after playing every Suns game to date. In the space of time, Gold Coast has surpassed many pundits’ predictions by pulling off wins against Port Adelaide and Brisbane.
Few can argue that the Suns are developing quickly and look nothing of the team which somewhat embarrassed our code in Round 2 against Carlton.
Hunt himself has improved a long way, which is evident in his confidence to kick the ball forward and crash packs without taking out his own players.
I assume he apologised to Michael Rischitelli. Defying more conventional game plans for defenders, Hunt’s role each week revolves around himself rather than opposition forwards. Each game he learns more about the game and how it is played, is deemed a success thus he retains his position.
Shutting down an opposition forward is an added bonus. To this criterion, Hunt has certainly had a successful season to date and will look to ‘learn more’ following the bye.
Standing at 186cm and 92kg, Hunt does not conform to any traditional defenders role. He does not possess the height or vertical leap to play on the talls but lacks the acceleration and engine to run with the smalls. Nor does he have the disposal ability by foot to play as a flanker.
Coming from rugby, his tackling was expected to be fierce, frantic, ferocious and feared. He has laid 10 from seven matches. Frivolous may be a better word.
Because of this, there is no logical opponent for Hunt each week which has reflected dearly on his performance. Taking a look at his opponent each week, medium forwards are reveling in the moment when Hunt walks toward them before the bounce.
Round 2: Andrew Walker – five goals.
Round 3: Josh Hill – two goals.
Round 4: Liam Jurrah – three goals.
Round 5: Daniel Motlop – four goals.
Round 6: Kyle Reimers – eight goals.
Round 7: Ash McGrath – six goals.
Round 8: Patrick Dangerfield – six goals.
Conceding 20 goals in the previous three games highlight the toll AFL football is having on his body, and the bye looks to have come at a perfect time for him after Guy McKenna would have rested him against Adelaide had it not been for the bye this week.
Although not all of those goals are the direct result of Hunt, most have resulted because the Suns lack the support to assist Hunt when coaches target the Hunt match-up, as they are entitled to.
With the guidance of McKenna, Hunt plays in defence so that he can see the entire field in front of him, therefore maximising his opportunity to ‘read the play’. This of course has given oppositions a major flaw in the Gold Coast back line to exploit.
Due to his salary and marketing opportunity, Hunt is unlikely to be dropped due to leaking too many goals. Right now he wouldn’t VFL selection.
To his credit, McKenna is very reluctant to play a loose man in defence to ‘minimise the damage’ which means Hunt will always have a direct opponent. He now understands ball flow within the game and the importance of holding structure and is reflecting on the Suns improvements.
Hunt is the most expensive player on the payroll and scoreboard but to say he is the worst player in the league would be ridiculous because he is being asked to play an unprecedented role and meets the coaching panel’s objectives by showing signs of improvement.
There are many players across the league that fail to do what their coaches ask of them.
With a week off, it looks like Hunt will continue to struggle at AFL level when the Suns resume.
Nevertheless, Israel Folau should feel quietly confident that his body shape will be much more appreciated by our code.
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