What Are Your Thoughts On Karmichael Hunt's Defection To AFL

[the_boy_jake]

PS if I was coaching Karmichael Hunt I'd be sending him videos of players like Chris Johnson, Daniel Chick, hard running, nuggety half backs. He's a bit taller than Johnson, but Hunt will play a bit shorter in height I would think until his leap and overhead mark improve. I think for a good while he'll need to play back pocket, half back where the play is all in front of him.

[cub]

[one-eyed]

A nice way to get around the salary cap big time if it pays off.

KARMICHAEL Hunt's estimated $1 million annual package will be exempt from the AFL salary cap, but he will not be the Gold Coast Football Club's marquee signing.

In a move that will send shudders through the NRL, the Gold Coast Football Club activated a little known 10-year-old rule which allowed them to poach one of rugby league's biggest stars without needing to fit his contract under the salary cap.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/afl/story/0,27046,25855108-5016169,00.html

[julzqld]

He hasn't got a hope in Hades of making it to senior level.  And he has many detractors in rugby league - he ain't as good as some make out, although his ego would tell you otherwise.  Think Des Headland or Nick Davis to rugby league.  This is an exercise in PR for one K. Hunt - no-one else.

Yeah I agree.  More exciting if it was someone like Falau or Billy Slater.

[Smokey]

I think it will be a mistake to overrate the tackling effect.  Sure, he might have a solid technique that he can use to his advantage at times but generally the tackling in league is different to the tackling in AFL.  In AFL you try to pin 1 arm or 2 arms to prevent ball movement or failing that you try to knock the ball free - your arms are the primary weapon.  In league the primary focus is to prevent the ball carrier's forward movement and then pin the ball as the secondary action (or rely on the secondary tackler who should be following right by your side to assist) - your legs and shoulders are the primary weapons.  Interference with the ball itself in the tackle is against the rules.  And in league the tackle is almost always set from a front on position allowing the tackler some time to aim and set the tackle.  It's a whole different skill set that only has some relevance to our code.

And as for learning all the skills and nuances of our game to a senior level standard at the age of 22?  Nope - can't be done, even if he had some grounding as a junior.

And comparing him with the Irish recruits is flawed - the Irish already play a much more similar game and start learning ours from 17-18 years of age - 4 to 5 crucial years of age difference.

[one-eyed]

Andy Goodwin's son turned us down to play NRL. Currently is in the Storm's U18 side.


League invades AFL turf
Peter Kogoy | July 30, 2009

Brentnall says Tom Goodwin, a rising star in the Storm's under-18 team, typifies the changing football landscape.

"His father Andy was born in England where he played both union and soccer until he was 18, came to Australia and went on to play for both Richmond and Melbourne in the AFL," Brentnall said.

"Young Tom's dad learned the game at Box Hill before he was picked up by the Tigers and retired from the code at age 39 after spells with Devonport and Frankston."

Brentnall says Goodwin junior could have played AFL, but he spurned overtures to play for Richmond under the father-son rule, to play rugby league.

"The Goodwin case is being replicated in our junior Victorian sides as more kids with a rules background swap codes."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25854814-5012431,00.html

[tiga]

Lets face it, any Aussie Rules player worth his salt would not convert to league. I have played both codes competitively and enjoy supporting both, but I have to say there is no doubt far less skill is required to play league. As a junior I played Aussie Rules and then when I moved to NSW I played league at school with some degree of success. A friend of mine played League all his life and was very good at it, then in seniors he switch back with me to play Aussie rules and he couldn't cut it. In his words he said the pace of the game was crazy and he was always finding himself out of position as he couldn't quite grasp the fact that your opposition can come from anywhere and is not all lined up in front of you.

[mightytiges]

he was always finding himself out of position as he couldn't quite grasp the fact that your opposition can come from anywhere and is not all lined up in front of you.

That's the hardest part for anyone converting from another footy code. Aussie Rules is the most free form football code given there's no offside. You can legally be anywhere on the ground and you need excellent awareness otherwise you'll get cleaned up before you know it.

[one-eyed]

Karmichael Hunt exposes loophole in AFL rules
Greg Denham | July 31, 2009

As an AFL rookie-listed player, the only financial stipulation is that a minimum wage of $35,000 must be paid, but there is no maximum, and that amount is not included in a club's salary cap.

So in Hunt's case, the Gold Coast will be able to seriously front-end his contract next year while he is a rookie -- taking advantage of the "no maximum" clause -- before severely reducing his remuneration once he is put on the primary list for the remaining two years of his contract.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25858969-5013406,00.html

Inglis comes out of contract in 2012 out of interest....

Storm star Inglis yesterday refused to rule out following Hunt to the AFL and said: ‘‘To be honest, I wouldn’t mind having a crack, I played a few games when I was in high school but that was about it,’’

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/inglis-shows-afl-interest/2009/07/30/1248546822354.html

[the_boy_jake]

Lets face it, any Aussie Rules player worth his salt would not convert to league. I have played both codes competitively and enjoy supporting both, but I have to say there is no doubt far less skill is required to play league.

Would agree, apart from the rugby halfback and five-eighth who do 90% of the creative process and as a result I think are just as if not more skillful on average than AFL players and also are generally strong characters as the team is always looking to them. Hunt was a 5/8 growing up until Lockyer switched there I think. He has a lot going for him.

[Mr Magic]

Lets face it, any Aussie Rules player worth his salt would not convert to league. I have played both codes competitively and enjoy supporting both, but I have to say there is no doubt far less skill is required to play league.

Would agree, apart from the rugby halfback and five-eighth who do 90% of the creative process and as a result I think are just as if not more skillful on average than AFL players and also are generally strong characters as the team is always looking to them. Hunt was a 5/8 growing up until Lockyer switched there I think. He has a lot going for him.

Given the heavy emphasis on foot disposal at the elite level, there's only a handful of league players I have ever thought could make the conversion to AFL easily.

Andrew Johns would have been excellent at the sport I reckon.

[Go Richo 12]

Lets face it, any Aussie Rules player worth his salt would not convert to league. I have played both codes competitively and enjoy supporting both, but I have to say there is no doubt far less skill is required to play league.

Would agree, apart from the rugby halfback and five-eighth who do 90% of the creative process and as a result I think are just as if not more skillful on average than AFL players and also are generally strong characters as the team is always looking to them. Hunt was a 5/8 growing up until Lockyer switched there I think. He has a lot going for him.

Given the heavy emphasis on foot disposal at the elite level, there's only a handful of league players I have ever thought could make the conversion to AFL easily.

Andrew Johns would have been excellent at the sport I reckon.

True, but Johnsy may failed a few urine tests as well!

[the_boy_jake]

Given the heavy emphasis on foot disposal at the elite level, there's only a handful of league players I have ever thought could make the conversion to AFL easily.

Andrew Johns would have been excellent at the sport I reckon.

Johns is probably the most clever footballer I have seen in any of the oval-balled varieties.

[Chuck17]

Hopefully he is only mucking around with this kick

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/hunt-in-another-switch-to-halfback/story-e6frexni-1225756318856

[tiga]

Jamie Soward from the Mighty Dragons is currently without doubt one of the biggest and best kicks in league. He is also one of the fastest. I'm talking Deledio or Nahas fast. In all honesty I think he would be better than Inglis at adapting to AFL. He would be a ripper on the wing or a Half forward flank. He also kicks really well on the run and in pressure situations.
Watch a few Dragons games and you will see. I watch all of them being a Dragons supporter but I am not biased when saying this. He will be the next Andrew Johns.