Karmichael Hunt of Gold Coast in action during the VFL Round 09 match between the Coburg Tigers and Gold Coast at Highgate Recreation Reserve, Melbourne. Slattery Images
Hamstring tightness may have cut it short, but Karmichael Hunt’s VFL debut yesterday at least had its moments – some good, some bad. At the end of it, the only conclusion to draw was that the NRL convert has a significant amount of work ahead of him.
Hunt lined up at full forward for Gold Coast, who were playing Coburg in Craigieburn, and the afternoon practically got off to the perfect start.
Roughly six minutes into the match, Hunt ran into some space inside 50 to get on the end of a well-timed handball, which enabled him to run in for an easy goal. Better still, as he was drilling it home he was pushed in the back – winning him a free kick, in the goal square, and his second goal.
Yep, two goals in the space of 20 seconds. There was a fair bit of luck in both of them but still, not a bad start at all.
A few minutes before that, he laid an impressive tackle close to the boundary and fifty metres out, which won him his first kick at senior level. The shot at goal went out of bounds, but it didn’t take long to realise tackling was his real strength.
There were a number of examples throughout the first half of Hunt laying strong tackles and creating pressure. The team sheet may have listed him at full forward, but he was playing more like a small forward than any key position player.
Outside of those frantic first few minutes and those tackles, however, the highlights didn’t come all that frequently. His first handball was a slick pass under pressure, but that was about it.
At one stage he gave away a 50 metre penalty for the way he returned the ball to a Coburg player, a sign that there are rules he still needs to learn.
He gave away a free kick for tackling a player without the ball, a sign that he did get frustrated by going extended periods without being involved in the game.
His involvement lessened greatly as the game progressed, a sign he mightn’t yet be prepared for the length of the game.
And of course, he came off grabbing his left hamstring in the third quarter, a sign those massive thighs mightn’t yet be prepared for this game, either.
So obviously, there’s room for improvement. He needs to get his fitness right, which will come over time. So too will his knowledge of the rules.
But few would have expected a greater output than what they saw yesterday.
For someone who’d only spent a couple of weeks training at Gold Coast, and had very limited Australian football experience before that, two goals against a VFL side – plus a few other positive signs, and in only two and a half quarters – seems like a decent enough return. For now, at least.
Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna had hoped Hunt “might grab one or two” marks playing up forward, which didn’t happen. It’d be fair to say marking would be hard to practice on your own when you’re in France, but nonetheless this is an important skill for any player, let alone a potential full forward.
So yes, Hunt still has plenty of work ahead of him to make it as an AFL player. Nothing on that front changed yesterday.
But at the very least, it’s good to finally be able to talk about him playing football for once.
Michael C
Guest
pathetic really, ain't it - - that some people are so 'anti-AFL' that they want to dispute a 5000ish crowd or not at a VFL game at Craigieburn!!!! btw - did the above objectors only tune in for the first 5 minutes and that was it??? because there was still hundreds queing to get in........a lot of people either couldn't find a carpark or forgot the game would start at 1pm for the ABC broadcast.
Michael C
Guest
what was the NRL GF rematch crowd last week??,.....7500,.......not far off!!!
coasty
Guest
OK you got me. 6,500 at Cowboys - Roosters at SFS this year.
bazza
Guest
When was the last time an NRL game got a crowd of about 5,000
Beaver Fever
Guest
http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?p=18080081#post18080081 You've got to admire Karmichael for making the switch AFL regardless that he's getting paid to much. The pressure on the bloke is enormous his got people from AFL and NRL criticizing him from all directions, his not skilled enough, he won't make it, he shouldn't be playing his taking a potential stars spot, his a traitor to NRL, his pay is an insult to all AFL players etc.... That's a lot of negativity one bloke has to deal with whether it's warranted or not. The situation will be easier for Folou given Hunt will have taken the brunt of many supporters disdain. I expected his first game to be a bit of a shocker but i don't think it will be an indication of whether he will fail or not. It will come down to how well he can learn and adapt during the remainder of the season. Don't underestimate the value of an AFL preseason too. This is a good post.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
5,000 looks pretty spread out in a big aussie rules ground.
mushi
Roar Guru
biggest alarm bell for me was that he admitted he used to cramp up in league and union from over work - not a good sign
MattS
Guest
Stormgal, don't you realise the media have to announce something decent. It was stated all week in the media what a big crowd the game would draw. Well, by appearances, it didn't. But then again we wouldn't want a bunch of AFL supporters jumping into the yarra screaming " but we live for our big crowds.." would we?
Joel
Guest
So? Are you trying to say it will be easier for Hunt because he's a professional? The AFL has soccer players, rugby players, basketballers, gaelic footballers, hurling players and probably others that have come to the sport relatively late.
StormGal
Guest
I really can't see how his body shape will change that much even with more aerobic work and running. He might shed a few kgs, but essentially his shape will stay the same. Were the 5,000 fans that supposedly attended this game, hidden in a stand or something lol
BennO
Guest
He was a fullback in league here but I think he played fly-half while in union over in france, so he would have been involved in a fair bit of play. Either way though, the extra bulk and the different type of fitness required will take time to adapt to.
Karlos
Guest
Coming over from Union his fitness was going to be down quite a bit rather than coming straight from the NRL. The extra weight he had for Union wouldn't have helped and he was ONLY a fullback. Hardly a position that has a high work rate.
BennO
Guest
"Hopefully some of the Rugby folk take note and start to develop a greater appreciation..." Agreed. Some of the whinging etc that has gone on has been pretty poor - easy game, no skill, league's got the best athletes etc. Very immature I reckon.
BennO
Guest
I have to say it's been great work by the AFL to recruit Hunt and Folau. I'm first a rugby supporter, second comes NRL and while the Lions were winning years back I took a passing interest in AFL results (not matches). I don't understand the game and have never particularly enjoyed watching it. But I'm gunning for those two, hoping they do well for their own sakes. It's very exciting to watch someone you've admired as a sportsman in a game you followed having a go at something so different. So I've been watching a few more AFL games in the past few weeks to get an idea of what's ahead of them and I'm already starting to understand it more and enjoy it more. Not quite a committed fan yet, but there's still plenty of games to be played I guess. Seriously good move by the AFL to recruit those two.
Coasty
Guest
So true. Pretty sad when a 3rd tier comp pulls a crowd as big as some games in the NRL.
Beaver Fever
Guest
Why in the hell was Coburg playing in woop woop.
Beaver Fever
Guest
It may be a amatuer sport, but at the top level they train like professionals, similar to ... say ... WAFL, no money in it, but training, fitness, match tactics etc are professional.
Coasty
Guest
Great publicity for the VFL too. I haven't seen any of that for years. I remember the days growing up in Adelaide the SANFL guys were heroes, now you dont hear about them much, as obviously the Crows and Power blokes get all the glory. I think KH will make a better than average AFL player, with the odd moment of brilliance. Good on him for giving it a go.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Does free publicity work both ways? I'm sure the NRL hasnt ever gotton this much publicity for a VFL match :)
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Cheers for the comment, Forgetmenot. I'd also like to say kudos to the ABC -- Coburg-Gold Coast wasn't originally scheduled as the game they were covering for this weekend, and they switched games to make it happen pretty late in the piece (two weeks ago, maybe less?) so good on them. And setting up the live stream was brilliant. Great coverage.