Saturday was a big day for the two money men poached from rugby league to join the AFL expansion army. Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau both took significant steps forward, although one was a far greater stride than the other.
Indeed, with one full year of top-flight footy under his belt, Hunt is now the success story of Andrew Demetriou’s edgy code conversion experiment.
Meanwhile, Izzy is at square one, if not a little further back, trying to emulate his predecessor.
It won’t be easy for Folau, the former Melbourne Storm centre who hadn’t held a Sherrin until about 20-odd months ago, when the AFL threw a laundry bag full of cash in his general direction.
Izzy signed on the dotted line like any of us would, and now he’s the face of the Greater Western Sydney Giants.
Good for him. It’s all rosy off the field, but the time has come for him to at least try to play football.
Against the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood in the NAB Cup, he was served an entree of the AFL experience. It was a milestone moment in itself, but it also showed how much further he has to go.
The level of competition he faced was in a completely different stratosphere to the one he warmed to last year in the NEAFL, where he found a niche at full-forward.
Despite his one-year apprenticeship playing against local teams in New South Wales, what he’s doing now is still completely foreign to him.
In rugby league, his game was simple. In attack, he received the ball and dodged his way to the try-line, bracing for contact that he was expecting. In defence, he had to stop people in front of him from doing the same.
Now it’s different. As a spearhead, the hits could come from anywhere. The game happens in front of him, but also behind him, to his sides and all around. They don’t call Australian rules ‘aerial ping-pong’ for nothing.
All up in his four ‘quarters’ of football against the Dogs and the Pies, Izzy racked up three touches – all handballs, and none came against the reigning premiers. As a result, Operation: Temper Folau Expectations has gone up a notch at Blacktown.
His positioning was all over the shop. He looked lost, confused, and was probably very frustrated.
But once upon a time, Karmichael Hunt was in the same boat.
Not on Saturday morning, though. In warmer climes up in south-east Queensland, Hunt was in his element. It began with Gold Coast’s first internal trial – the probables in red versus the possibles in white.
Hunt’s first win that day was that he was wearing red, not white. There’s no longer a question of whether K fits in at AFL level in the eyes of Guy McKenna.
Gold Coast are convinced he belongs. The Suns are now beyond the point where they’d be playing Hunt for promotional reasons. The novelty is long gone. The headlines have all been used up. They’ve got flags to win in the next few years.
His performance in the scratch match suggests he will be playing plenty of AFL football this season, and all of it on merit. And most of it in midfield, as well.
The guts is the natural place for the Broncos old boy to be. In his own words: “In my make-up I’m more of a reaction player so being in the midfield, hunting the ball and going after it, I feel more comfortable.”
But it’s not just a change in position that has helped Hunt grasp the complexity of Aussie rules. Perhaps he’s been assisted by the knowledge gleaned from his childhood flirtation with the sport. Folau never had that base to build on, not matter how flimsy.
And on top of that, Hunt is now leaner and meaner. Say goodbye to K the beefcake – not only is he now built for the roving, mobile nature of the AFL, but he’s also kept his mongrel. You can just imagine some of his big hits being used as the perfect foil for the Suns’ gentler on-ballers.
Izzy, too, has dropped a lot of weight – but Hunt’s dedication to his fitness, to learning his new craft, to becoming the best he can be has impressed just about everyone who’s crossed his path.
That includes his teammates, who voted him onto the Suns’ leadership group on the weekend. You need no further endorsement of the man. Last year, those same players would have been entitled to ask what Hunt had really done to earn his spot in their squad ahead of bone-a-fide footballers. Now he is one.
A world-beater? Maybe not. But a good, solid contributor. That’s all you can ask for.
Hunt faced the same challenges that Folau now has before him. The same need for spatial awareness, the same jarring adjustment period, the same task of completely rebuilding his body for a brand new sport, the same mental challenges.
But was Karmichael an exception?
Is he just a freak, both in mind and body? Remember his seamless transition into rugby union before he joined the Suns. Hunt is a born athlete, and has proven his adaptability.
Folau has been blessed by the gods as well, in terms of physique, but taking the raw tools and turning them into ability is far easier said than done. A lot has to go right.
Can he do it? Nobody really knows for sure. But if he needs any inspiration, K is a model example.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I just noticed the vid on this page, that was quite funny.
toa
Guest
Stabpass, 150% correct.
dan
Guest
at least we don't have to listen to that "we are the Magpies.... the back-to-back Magpies" crap anymore. Back-to-back with a one year gap, maybe. Hopefully more.
Republican
Guest
Hardly a great bench mark for Izzy, Hunt i.e.
stabpass
Guest
Hunt and Folau, along with Nic Nat are important for the AFL in their endeavours to break down the myth that polynesian kids hate and will not play Australian football, clearly these kids are drawn historically and culturally to either form of rugby, and things will change slowly, but change they will. So as much as it is about football, is it about generational change of peoples attitudes, clearly now polynesian kids can see Hunt , Folau, Rodan, Carlisle, Nic Nat playing Australian football, so it is Ok for them as well, to have a go. (simplistic i know) but that is the general gist.
Redb
Roar Guru
Hunt won't be going anywhere near the NRL, why would he go back to a game he was clearly ready to leave. He will resign with the Suns, it's across the line and NRLers just bleat about it lol
Paul
Guest
I read that and it doesnt say he has resigned at all. All it says is they have agreed to pay him the same money. Goodluck to them, hes not missed in RL and i read some where that the AFL recorded a 23 Million Dollar loss, No wonder if you are paying average players overs.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Just on this - the AFL have recontracted Karmicheal Hunt - this almost certainly will see him at the Suns. "Hunt's new deal will again earn him about $1 million a year for seasons 2013 and 2014 but the percentages of where the money comes from in his complex salary arrangements could alter slightly. The Suns paid Hunt an average AFL wage of about $250,000-$300,000 in that initial deal and topped it up with an ASA (Additional Services Agreement)." ref: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-has-agreed-to-re-contract-karmichael-hunt-as-an-ambassador/story-e6frf9jf-1226279513624
toa
Guest
Converting from an NRL team to a foundation French RU club only to excel in both the game & key position is mind blowing. I believe several established NRL players on long term contracts fail to reach what k achieved in 6mths including speaking french. Everyone is built differently we tend to mimic what we see,read & hear about the advantage Izzy's body type is compare to karmichaels figure and Vince has got right. After adjustments physical perception equates to nothing unless you have the ability to process information. I like Izzy a lot but like Mike Pyke and other football converts karmichael is wire differently. How can someone hold his nerve & continue to improve when just about everyone is trying to rape your reputation? Personally I hope they enjoy the financial benefits that comes with the job because you wont find me doing it. The thought of Jonathan Brown running towards me.... ah no thanks. If I've learnt anything from this transition to date it's how difficult & unrewarding playing in the back line is. Rumor has it Izzy was about to opt out his contract due to difficulties he was experiencing playing as a backmen & karmichael reportedly doesn't seem to be the same player he was 6mths ago. My predictions is izzy will if not before come right by round 5.
Paul
Guest
Wookie, apart from the initial shock you have got nothing and the same shock and exposure will hit AFL when they come back but with interest and ridicule. Unless they both achieve superstar status in your game its a failure, and you dont have any representative fixtures to show it, and whilst they were big in league its not like the AFL recruited a Lockyer or Thurston or Slater who may have actually been able to drag fans across. In NSW izzy was/is considered a traiter to his State before he became a traitor to his code, and KH was considered a traitor to his country (in footy terms) before he became a traitor to league. Not very good picks IMO.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
And if he goes back so what? The AFL generated a ton of exposure and awareness by recruiting them and then playing them in RL territories. This has always been about marketing with the hope that they'd be good players. Hunt and Folau will at least be able to say they tried at the end of it all, and Gold Coast and GWS will move on without them. But make no mistake - marketing first, football second. If they go, they go.
Paul
Guest
Red B, not desperate just luaghing at what i think will happen.
Redb
Roar Guru
Ian, They're getting desperate lol
Paul
Guest
Can u imagine Karmichael running out for the Gold coast Titans and Izzy for the penrith panthers when their contracts are finished, I can and im sure so can Gus Gould and Michael Searle
Paul
Guest
The latest round of talks, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday last week, were cancelled at the 11th hour by Hunt's manager David Riolo because of a family illness. They will now take place early next year. Thats all i took out of the link. Sounds like he was waiting for the IC in RL. Pretty lame excuse for a family illness to not go through with the meeting, i have used the same line on my boss!!
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/12/18/374931_gold-coast-afl.html
Paul
Guest
Did he sign a new contract? If he did it didnt make any of the news i read
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Looking forward to seeing how Hunt has progressed over the pre-season. He now has two pre-seasons under his belt, he's entering his third season of Australian Football, and by all accounts, his engine is getting up pretty close to AFL standards, such that he can finally have a run in midfield.
TomC
Guest
I'll have a good look at him against the Lions and Dees on Saturday night.
Phelpsy
Guest
I was there too - he seems to have adjusted- althoughh still looks to give off as first option - whih isn;t too bad a thing but maybe predictable. I was near him at the interchange with my boy - and gee he is one muscle bound fellow - and also a leader - telling people what to do etc.