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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.
This is getting ridiculous. Perhaps even beyond ridiculous. I’m talking, of course, about The Karmichael Hunt Experiment and how a player with just two AFL games to his name is being so grossly over-scrutinised.
I’m talking about those out there who think a player’s first two games are ever a good way to judge what kind of career that player will have.
I’m talking about those who yesterday talked up the chances of Hunt moving back to rugby league soon because he’s “struggling” in his transition to the AFL.
I’m talking about those who are already saying he can’t legitimately hold his spot in the team and needs to be dropped.
One bad kick? “He doesn’t have the skills to be an Australian Rules footballer!” One mistimed handball under pressure? “He looks lost out there!” One average game on debut? “He’ll never make it!”
It’s all crazy talk, honestly. Imagine if Jim Stynes or Tadhg Kennelly copped that kind of scrutiny after two games. They’d be tempted to head straight back to Ireland!
Then the game would’ve missed out on two great talents – one a Brownlow medallist, the other a premiership player.
(Stynes, for what it’s worth, had just five touches in each of his first two AFL games. Kennelly had only two disposals and gave away one free kick in his second game.)
The Hunt Experiment should be viewed for what it is – a player from another code with limited exposure to the game crossing over. Instead, it seems as though people are expecting Hunt to be an instant superstar, or to at least instantly look at home on a football field.
But seriously, that was never going to happen. Remember, we are talking about a player from another code with limited exposure to the game crossing over.
Former basketballers that cross over can spend two full seasons playing in the reserves before they see senior action. Premiership ruckman Dean Brogan (formerly of the Adelaide 36ers) played just eight games in his first three seasons at Port Adelaide.
Kennelly did not play any senior football in his first year at the Swans and played just eight games in his second season.
Compare this to Hunt, who had half a season in the VFL prior to this year, and one thing becomes obvious: he’s not supposed to “look at home” on a football field yet. He’s got a lot of learning to do and would still be developing even some of the more basic skills (like, as we saw on the weekend, what to do with the footy when you’re in space and running inside 50).
Right now, he’s supposed to look somewhat ordinary. If he’s to ever shake that tag, it will happen over time. Not instantly. Not in his first two AFL games.
Having said all that, there’s one other thing that really gets me about all that’s been said about Hunt this week, which has flowed on from all the stuff that’s been said before this week. And that thing is this: has anyone actually considered the fact that Hunt – the struggling ex-league player who needs to be dropped – might actually be playing his role for the team?
I’m serious. His opponent on the weekend was Jarrad Grant. His primary responsibility was to defend Grant, to prevent him from scoring. So how many goals do you think Grant scored?
Reading the papers, you’d think he dominated his less-experienced opponent, or at least bagged two or three. But if you guessed that, you’d be wrong.
Grant was held goalless.
Now yes, being a defender in 2011 is about more than stopping your opponent. You’ve got to win some of the ball yourself. That side of things does not come naturally to Hunt and it’s a side of his game he’ll need to develop.
But let’s not overcomplicate this. As a defender it’s Hunt’s role to, well, defend. And he did a pretty good job of that on the weekend. His opponent was held goalless!
However, in the chase for a good story, that was forgotten this week. It almost seems as though some out there won’t be happy until he’s getting 30 touches a game and in Brownlow contention.
He’s a second-gamer. Better yet, he’s a second-gamer from a non-Aussie Rules background. Better yet again, he’s a second-gamer from a non-Aussie Rules background playing senior AFL football earlier than someone with a lesser profile might have.
Let’s have a bit of perspective please.