Karmichael Hunt becoming a gun AFL player

Your comment regarding the possession may have been in response to me pointing out that 4 players got more than 30 possession for the suns on the weekend but that doesn't shange the fact that it doesn't make any sense. Are you trying to say that Bennell, Prestia and co would not be selected before Hunt in years to come? Are you saying that Hunt is will not be struggling for selsction against the player I listed plus new recruits. And just because I don't agree with the AFL's desire to expand into those areas doesn't exclude me from rational thought. And yes I agree there are some things stats & expert opinion don't reflect but that is why I ensure I state that I haven't seen the game, so people can judge my opinion on that basis (it's also why I asked for extra data in my original post), but in my example of Hunt V Ellard what "exxtra' is hunt doing that Ellard isn't? You and others are always decrying my supposed bias for questioning Hunt and the expansion teams but it is clear that there is also a fair amount of bias the other way. You also seem adept at ignoring my main points and focusing on the triviality.

Macca the possession trade off comment was residue from your obsessions of gauging players base on their possessions rate. lost my grip!!! your words - " As for watching the game, as the blues are on free to air nearly every week I really don’t see the point in shelling out my hard earned to watch the Suns and GWS get beat". your counter comment - "I have watched Suns games by the way, just not the past couple"...that would take us back to the all the games prior the Norths fixture now be careful how you answer this one!! "I admit I can’t see the reason for bringing in these 2 expansion teams (especially GWS) but if they had of said Tassie instead I could see some sense in it".....Well you openly have an agenda & it would make sense if you honestly admit any positive or negative press encompassing both Suns/GWS is sure to be refuted forever the day forward. Your right stats don't lie although relying on them without viewing actual matches clearly gives an false representations of real time effort/non effort.

TOa - NOw you seem to have lost your grip on what you actually said, you cut and paste one quote from me and surrounded in with waffle about players trading possessions for wins which both makes no sense and was not being contested. I have watched Suns games by the way, just not the past couple and just because my observations are based on stats, reports and others analysis deosn't make them wrong. For example this article praises Karmichael Hunt for a 16 possession game, this week Ian Whitchurch says Ellard from the blues is a downhill skier for a 19 possession and 10 tackle game. The observation that Hunt is treated differently to others and that his possession tallies wouldn't guarantee him games in most other siides and especially a Suns side with mature top draft picks is hardly outrageous!

Ranting!!! I've merely responded by cutting pasting comments from the abysmal tripe you've try to feed us. The fact of the matter is you have base your assessment on reading stats rather than watching a single suns/gws game. note - "As for watching the game, as the blues are on free to air nearly every week I really don’t see the point in shelling out my hard earned to watch the Suns and GWS get beat." It reinforces my comment you lack time & patience....hard earned....its free to air!!!!!

Toa - You seem to be ranting. Of course they would swap individual stats for a win, who said the wouldn't. And this week both the suns and Hunt did more than the basics but that doesn't change the past where below par performances got rave reviews. In fact I have seen less media coverage of the suns 7 point loss and Hunts 22 possessions than I have of the previous weeks efforts. And as a gerneal rule coaches don't use their best player to "tag" someone, they don't "tag" inside players like hunt as much as they would an outside player and if they are going to tag a player getting 37 possessions would be up higher on the list than someone getting 22 but yes they are all general assumptions. As for watching the game, as the blues are on free to air nearly every week I really don't see the point in shelling out my hard earned to watch the Suns and GWS get beat.

Macca, if you want to understand watch the game, assessing one stats and claiming the assumption lyons was more worried about the Suns disposal leaders stinks of arrogance. The suns as whole performed well and any coaching staff will mention team care factor outweighs individuals performances. I guarantee Harley, Illes, Prestia, Horsely & Hunt if given the opportunity would swap their numbers if it meant a win against the dockers or anybody else. note your comment " I criticise Hunt isn’t because I am against expansion it is because I am sick of everyone treating Hunt and the expansion teams in general like superstars for managing to barely do the basics." Once again watch the game your claims of barely doing the basics leads me to think you don't have the time or patience to watch this young outfit grow.

I didn't see the game but if you are saying that Lyon used Pavlich to "tag" hunt you do not know the meaning of the word tag. I am sure Lyon would of been more worried about Bennell, Prestia and Illes. Bu yes Hunt did have a reasonable game

Micka - Bennell had 37 touches and 3 goals, Prestia 32, Illes 32, and Horlesy 30 plus, add in Swallow then Ablett & Rischitelli and Hunt becomes the 7th or 8th best midfielder. Then factor in another draft or 2 plus some more natural progression and his spot is very vulnerable. So yes as I have said Hunt is improving and yes by the stats his game on the weekend was a good one (although I didn't see it) but he has a long way to go given the quality of the list. The comparison to RObinon actually proves my point, Robinosn had a very good year last year (much much better than Hunt) but his form hasn't been as good so far this year and he has significant pressure coming from the likes of McLean, Ellard, Robinson et el. Once Carrazzo Laidler, Judd, Yarran & Waite come back into yesterday's team who knows who will have to make way.

Folau is still in development. You cant lump Hunt in with Folau as they are at different stages and I'm sure if you had seen Hunt live you would be impressed from where he was in 2011. I think Folau will go more into the ruck to get him involved. He also could be used like a Buddy or Ryder in the midfield where a tall can bustle through using height.

Hunt's diving mark near the top of the 50 was more impressive than his goal. He is reading the play and positioning himself.

And so, as the Suns battled bravely against the Dockers, went down by 7 pts without Ablett, Harbrow and Rischitelli and with Bock out of action from early in the game, and one K.Hunt got in the top 5 votes in the Sunday Herald Sun with 22 effective disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 goal 1 bh - - and it seems clear that his decision making with the ball is pretty well spot on. He's getting consistently now about the 15-20+ disposals. But, also being very influential in a positive way. He's trending everything in the right direction. and - despite getting in the votes - I didn't see his name mentioned in the actual article about the game - - so, he's at the point now of no longer being a novelty side show act. That - I reckon, is akin to the soccer fraternities desire years ago to be regarded as 'mainstream' - - well, K.Hunt is on the verge of being 'AFL mainstream'. Did anyone see his goal highlighted anywhere on the weekend?

FLK - you make Aust Footy sound like basketball. It's not wholey dependent upon attracting 6'8" + giants. Although, so long as the game of basketball at the top level is a mess in this country, then the AFL will continue to be able to attract people of such proportions. But, they still need suitable talent. re Aust Footy around the world. The limitation of ovals is only for the full 18 a side (on the field) version of the game - as too your issue around 18 + 7?? (generally it's 18 + 4 I/C = 22, but, gee, we played for many years with 18 + 2, and the old VFA was 16 + 2). Anyway, in many of the places around the world where the game has grown at grass roots level (in the main without any AFL HQ involvement, at very least in the early days) - the locals play modified footy. AFL 9's has been very much driven from overseas and is now appearing in Australia. 9's or 12's or whatever is generally the localised version of the game - on a soccer/rugby pitch - and what often happens is the localised version (within a given city) will see 2 or 3 teams play local games and then form up a city team for the 'premier' competitions which may be on the far less available larger fields and may be 18 aside. As an example - in Europe, the main regular Euro tournament was the Euro9s. However, in the last couple of years with the formation of the European Australian Football Association (note, founded by 15 nations....that's more than founded FIFA!!) there's now an annual 18 aside European Championship. You just never know - - perhaps one day there'll be grass laid over the running track at Yokohama, or Berlin Olympic stadium or the new London Olympic stadium.......... (re the islanders - yes, the AFL is trying to make itself available to Pacific region peoples - both those in Australia and those playing the game already in places like Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and PNG, oh, & NZ. There's a valid talent pathway established now, and we just see what might be produced. It was cool to see East Timor debut at last years International Cup in Melbourne, along with Fiji and Tonga.)

Macca - "I am sure Simon Blakc has been hit just as hard many times in his 300 game career and I have no doubt the pther players wish him well, whether the fear him or spend any time strategising around his ability his very doubtful" Macca please explain why Ross sent instructions to start tagging Hunt? i.e.: Pavlich "And I am sure Harley could of been helped by any number of the experienced players and coaches on the Suns list on how to deal with life in the AFL" Macca don't read the article below if your NOT SURE of "K's" ability to provide guidance for his young team mate. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/afl/13607086/hunt-backs-in-rising-sun-bennell/

Macca said | May 2nd 2012 @ 4:02pm | Report comment "Micka – The young blokes are already more talented, they just have to develop their bodies, and they will improve at least as fast as Hunt so 20-25 touches a game (which is a big assumption by the way)" The 22 possies on the weekend might say otherwise Macca... Hate to say it, told ya so. We don't even have to wait a year or two to see it. Just admit that he is an AFL footballer. If opposition coaches can say it, surely you and republican can come down from th high horse and chop him out the credit that is due... So is Karmichael better than mitch robinson?

I'm not questioning your right to post Frank - comments from a broad spectrum is a great thing. I'm questioning you posting the identical comment under 3 different stories.

It's not a testament to his uniqueness, it's a testament to the AFL's desire to market him and their battle for supremacy with the NRL. Folau isn't earing his moring on the filed either and I am sure we will hear planty of things about him being fantastic as soon as he kicks 2 goals in a game but I can at least see the sense in him becasue of his age, the GWS can afford to plough 4-6 years of development into him and end up with a player in the prime age range, Hunt on the other hand will be getting too old by the time he develops.

I just stumbled across the answer myself. Qld Country U16s has just defeated PNG by over 10 goals: http://www.aflq.com.au/index.php?id=5&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1168&tx_ttnews[backPid]=4&cHash=1462fc70cd Not sure who Qld Country represent given the other teams are: South-East, Gold Coast, Western, Northern and Sunshine Coast, but whoever they are, they are not coming from a traditional AFL area, so to defeat PNG by 10 goals is a pretty good result for them.

Is it on right now?

Macca, Your wrong, in the media an emerging player from a different background always get more coverage. That Hunt gets more than most is testament to the uniqueness of his switch and his value to the Suns brand going forward. You seem to have a problem with him and or Folau specificially. Get over it. Dont read or comment on the articles, ignore them.