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.
Macca
Guest
"You can only pick up so many quality second tier players – if it was an effective way of recruiting, as it was in the past, all AFL clubs would be doing it." Firstly nearly all the clubs are, even Collingwood, and secondly wouldn't anyone of the players I mentioned performed better as a player and cost significantly less leaving plenty of money for marketing? And it's not like these players are 30, they'll still be playing good football long after Hunt has gone back to the NRL
Dan
Guest
When it comes to the Suns; if Hunt ain't playing I ain't watching. I don't know who Harbrow is. If AFL were paying Hunt for his ability, he'd be playing for free just about. They're paying for his profile. I watched archived news footage on the internet a few days ago about Folau's progress at GWS. It was TV 3 news in NZ.
Rob McLean
Guest
Yes they do ring a bell - but those players can't be sustained by the club all at once. Short term pain, long term gain. Collingwood's premiership was built on smart recruiting of quality youngsters. It is a very young side for an AFL premier. That's the pattern all AFL clubs follow. You can only pick up so many quality second tier players - if it was an effective way of recruiting, as it was in the past, all AFL clubs would be doing it. In the past clubs would trade for an established player and give away a top ten draft pick. Now, those established players are only worth middle to late draft picks. The higher draft picks all go to the kids. Everyone expects the Suns to struggle now but in four to five years time, it is expected with the quality of the young players they have picked they will be a power in a few year's time, given the right coaching. We'll see what the outcome is I guess.
SEANO
Guest
The difference is simple. Stynes and Kennelley were both on minimum wage in the beginning unlike hunt who is on millions. If Hunt or any other player came in on a rookie wage and made it on his own terms with his own skill we would all be willing him on. He is being judged as one of the higest paid playes in the comp. Compare his output vs money to Harbrow this year and you will understnad my point!
Steve
Guest
Did he do any leaping when he played League? He was out marked my Jarruh and could not get off the ground so to speak. Those who seen Sundays game will know what I mean.
Macca
Guest
Rob - Michael Barlow, Ed Curnow, Tendai Mzungu, Cameron Pederson, Nick Duigan ring any bells
Macca
Guest
Ian - If you read my post in regard to this earlier my point was they could pay an established player for promotional duties just like they are for Hunt and not impact on their salary cap. I also mentioned that due to the large amount of first year players and the fact they have extra room in the salary cap they probably aren't close to the cap anyway. As for getting all the uncontracted players they could, maybe they should of used the money to get a decent player instead of Nathan Krakouer. Plus is that even true, they could get 8 uncontracted I thought and only one from each club. they traded for either Brennan or Rischitelli so who are the 8? Also Hunt got at least 5 goals kicked on him yesterday (Jurrah 3, Dunn 1, Jamar 1) as he is only as good as his lst game shouldn't he be dropped now?
The Cattery
Guest
Did the Storm win the grand final in their very first season? Didn't anyone in League land question how that was even possible? The Suns have been given every advantage by the AFL, have been building for 3 years, and are stilll getting thumped by 15 goals three games into their first season. How can a club win the whole comp in their very first season? Based in an area that doesn't play the game?
Macca
Guest
Billy Slater doesn't ring a bell?
Guido
Guest
Hunt played better yesterday. Whereas in earlier games, team mates appeared to avoid passing to him via kick or handball, they seemed more confident in his abilities. He has excellent hand skills and scooped a couple of the ground very efficiently. I personally think he is too short for defence and has not got a high enough leap. If he can fit enough, maybe further forward will be his best suited position.
Bayman
Guest
I didn't see all of today's match against Melbourne but I did see a bit of that third quarter. Certainly Hunt did some good things and his attack on the footy was first class. Hunt was always going to struggle early with the nuances of the game but he will give a contest and attack the ball hard which will no doubt result in spillages and opportunities for teammates. The Coasters played as well as I've seen them for that third quarter but still lost by a lazy 90 points. The phrase "character building" comes to mind. It is going to be a very long season for the Gold Coast.
Bayman
Guest
The Bush, Coad, I believe, was taken from Sturt in the SANFL. There may be others but I've not really kept track of their full list.
The Cattery
Guest
Karlos These are the stats from the game: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/super-scoreboard?match_id=10310406 Hunt is in the bottom 3, as he has been in every game (at least one of the blokes below him went off with an injury). His Supercoach average is currently running at 27, which is very low. He had 3 kicks and 6 handballs, including 2 uncontested marks. 3 of his 9 possessions were contested. Most, if not all of those 3 contested possessions came during that brief period where he looked quite good, showing that he might make it yet (next year). I only remember one of his 3 kicks, it was a short pass that went horribly wrong, and which is why I suspect he has been instructed not to try them too often. His handballing is good, usually finding runners a few metres away from him, that's not a bad ploy and you can expect that his coaching staff have worked on that with him, but it does mean that occasionally he will sell his team mates into a spot of bother. But it's all part of the learning curve, good on him for giving it a go.
Steve
Guest
I hate to say it but the "Cattery's" assessment on Hunt's last game was SPOT ON! I seen him less than 10 metres from the ball and he didn't chase or go in for the 2nd and 3rd efforts like other AFL players do.
The Cattery
Guest
Yes, he had a good period during the 3rd quarter where he picked up a few touches, started a chain of handballs that resulted in a goal. He won some contested footy during that period, which is pleasing for him and his coaching staff. But overall: 1. he leaks goals 2. the smallest bloke on the field out marked him with ease, i.e. he's very weak in the air 3. he's still struggling to run out a full game 4. clearly he has been instructed to not try and kick the footy from deep in the back half 5. he doesn't have a second effort in him, he's often standing there watching with the ball only 10m away from him, not a good look 6. anytime the ball is zipping around (which is often), he doesn't really know what he is meant to be doing, and by the time he works it out, the ball is long gone (or it's a goal to the other team). It's almost one year since he started training with the team, and I'd say he is exactly where the coaching staff expected him to be.
Sherrin-Burley-Faulkner
Guest
Very few IMO have bagged him, most are interested, did not see the game, but sometimes it's easy to play well in a team that gets flogged, by picking up uncontested possies, but usually in a team that gets flogged it's pretty hard, no matter how good you are, to play well. He would want to be very driven to succeed, because his body shape for a start, is against him, and whilst his skills can be up to it, his feel for the game may not, or in fact ever be. But good luck.
karlos
Guest
Almost made it through a full game of AFL tonight to see how Hunt went and from very limitted knowledge of the game he appeared to be doing a lot of things right. Whilst the media and many AFL fans are generally out to bag the guy because they are worried he will be good (and show again how easy the game can be picked up by a novice), the blokes calling the game were impressed with many things he did. He seemed the best GCS player in the third quarter with some good handballs and strong running.
Rob McLean
Guest
Macca, the Suns picked up some players from the second tier, Sturt's Michael Coad being one. However, the gap between AFL and the second tier is much larger these days than 15-20 years ago before full professionalism arrived in the AFL. Draft practices in that same time have evolved, meaning that recruiters are looking at the long term rather than short term fixes as occurred in the past. If the Suns had recruited experienced players from the second tier, most would have three or four seasons and then that would be it. Instead, they have used their high priority draft pics to pick up youngsters who in five years time will be at their peak and the Suns will be well placed. That is how all clubs build their stocks now. That is why the Suns didn't pick the bulk of their players from experienced second tier stocks.
ac
Guest
Is Hunt going back to the NRL? I heard he was
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I don’t agree with either of your contentions. The first is that it was a mistake to recruit them, when the evidence arguably indicates the opposite. The second is that it is somehow wrong for the AFL to recruit, or poach, NRL players. Why? The AFL and NRL are competitors, neither owes the other anything, and the AFL has an obligation to its stakeholders to get the best possible talent wherever it may be, and to grow the competition. If it impacts negatively upon rival codes, so be it. As for whether it would be wrong for the NRL to poach AFL players, you actually encourage AFL players to cross over, and then we will discuss it. :P Seriously, the NRL has the same rights and obligations as the AFL, and if you want to poach AFL players, go ahead. I don’t think it is at all wrong for the AFL to poach NRL players, and just because the NRL may have a problem with poaching players from a rival code, doesn’t mean the AFL has to agree