Enter Micheal " AFL hater" Searle

[CoastBhoy]

Hunt punt a `Chaser stunt'Luke Turgeon

July 30th, 2009

BEWILDERED Titans boss Michael Searle has blasted the Gold Coast Football Club's shock decision to sign rugby league international Karmichael Hunt as a circus-style Chaser stunt.

Searle said he thought it was a bad joke put on by the noted ABC television pranksters when he first heard of Hunt's defection yesterday.

"I honestly thought it was a Chaser stunt," he said.

"As far as publicity stunts go, it will probably be remembered as the most expensive publicity stunt in professional sport. The kid has never played AFL.

"We will get all the rhetoric now that he played AFL as a junior and it is a game he has always wanted to play and all that stuff they roll out.

"He has always said he doesn't like the spotlight and he wants to get away and go overseas and now he turns up playing AFL?

"It is a joke.

"This decision has treated the Gold Coast like a circus."

"No one who lives on the Gold Coast wants us treated like a circus."

The 22-year-old Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Origin representative is on track to be the first rugby league international to play Australian rules football at the highest level in a move which has rocked the NRL.

Searle said he was not concerned by the rival code's decision to raid rugby league playing ranks.

But he could not understand why they would make their marquee No.1 club signing a player who had only kicked a Sherrin a couple of times in his life.

The Coast has failed to attract a high-profile AFL player to the tourist strip.

St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt, who was touted as a possible foundation skipper, and fellow local products Sam Gilbert and David Hale have all turned their backs on the bid so far.

Searle said the decision to sign Hunt raised questions over the seriousness of the Coast's entry to the AFL.

"It is so disappointing to think they couldn't get somebody like a Nick Riewoldt as their No.1 signing," said Searle.

"That would give credibility to the licence.

"But instead, they have just turned it into a circus and that is what is going to happen when you run a licence from Melbourne.

"This would have looked like a really good idea in Melbourne.

"But it is not about short term publicity stunts.

"Our first signing was Preston Campbell, I don't think you need to say any more. That sent a very clear message to every player that came here that we were serious about the place."

Gold Coast Titans co-captain Scott Prince said it smelled like a publicity stunt but gave former Queensland teammate Hunt the benefit of the doubt.

"Along with everyone else I was very surprised," he said.

"It has got that smell about it, where it is just a mad gee-up.

"But at the end of the day Karmichael is the type of guy that wouldn't want to go there and make a fool of himself.

"He is a freak talent so I think he could make a pretty good go of it.

"But it will be interesting to see what he looks like in the tight shorts."

 

[Upgrayedd]

Quite Bitter isn't he?

 

[Dez!]

That last line is a bit odd.

 

[Subprime]

No surprises in his comments, they are basically the same surly, anti-Australian game crap re-bundled for the topic of the day.

Good for a laugh tho'. Can't wait for Roy Masters to comment on this one.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

sour grapes ewwwwww

 

[Hawks1523]

Whining bitter little bitch.

 

[melbournemartin]

He's never played AFL before?

Newsflash: neither have any of the other draftees!

If he played up until 16 then he's played almost as much as the other draftees and you'd probably think that 5 years of professional experience in another code would even more valuable than that extra year as a 17 year old.

I can't wait to see him play. Now we just need to poach the other freaks like Folau and Inglis.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Apart from the glib last line, Searle does have a point tho.
The GCFC should be trying to make a serious attempt (like the Titans did) in signing a lot of big true AFL names to the club.
That's one thing about this move (hunt signing) that I think detracts from the GCFC and the AFL heirachy....a move which has just as good a chance of succeeding as falling flat on its face and further embarrassing the AFL and the GCFC.

 

[Subprime]

Apart from the glib last line, Searle does have a point tho.
The GCFC should be trying to make a serious attempt (like the Titans did) in signing a lot of big true AFL names to the club.
That's one thing about this move (hunt signing) that I think detracts from the GCFC and the AFL heirachy....a move which has just as good a chance of succeeding as falling flat on its face and further embarrassing the AFL and the GCFC.

I don't think they can sign current AFL players at this stage. They won't be able to until the Oct 2009 trade period (correct me if I'm wrong).

The fact is that RL poached players from RU for nigh on 80 years so they really have no high ground on this issue. GC are taking a calculated risk and they probably need to do that to succed. Making the switch from RL to AFL is probably equivalent to switching from Gaelic so this may or may not work out.

But if the player and the club want to take a punt it is really none of Searle's business and he should just do what the Broncos CEO did, wish him all the best and say there's a spot here for you if you want to come back.

 

[melbournemartin]

Difference between a switch from Gaelic is that RL is a professional environment, unlike Gaelic.

 

[Father Jack]

He goes on about circuses yet he acts like a clown. He really needs to stop acting like a spoilt child.

 

[Exe Gesis]

I don't think they can sign current AFL players at this stage. They won't be able to until the Oct 2009 trade period (correct me if I'm wrong).

The fact is that RL poached players from RU for nigh on 80 years so they really have no high ground on this issue. GC are taking a calculated risk and they probably need to do that to succed. Making the switch from RL to AFL is probably equivalent to switching from Gaelic so this may or may not work out.

But if the player and the club want to take a punt it is really none of Searle's business and he should just do what the Broncos CEO did, wish him all the best and say there's a spot here for you if you want to come back.

Poaching....it's not about a moral high ground at all. League-Union conversions are more reasonable due to vast similarities. Gaelic-AR same. But otherwise, it's naturally always going to come across as a publicity stunt, a shallow attempt. Jonah Lomu attempts to court him to League could be looked at as that, but nowhere near as superficial as the Hunt one. If the NRL were to poach Barry Hall and he became, say, a Titans back-rower, it would be the same superficiality. Just trying to get people to GCFC games for the curiosity factor/circus of it. Like Michael Jordan to Baseball. Unless you're Jim Thorpe or Bo Jackson, 99.9% of athletes are bound to fall flat on their face trying to excel, or even not embarrass themselves, in an apples-to-oranges sporting crossover.

This CAN detract from GCFC's attempts to market itself as a genuine AR attempt on the Gold Coast, to give it a chance to succeed there. Last thing they need is more glitz and pomp a la Warwick Capper type stunts and marketing.

 

[matahari]

This is surely a joke hunt is not even a great kick in his own sport will be interesting viewing though

 

[Redb#]

sour grapes.

Mr Searle, "Winners are grinners , Losers can please themselves"

Take your pick and get on with it.

Redb

 

[magic_johnson!]

I want to know how far before the first season did the gold coast sign preston cambell?
It's funny how he think's K.Hunt is going to be their marquee player.

 

[Subprime]

Poaching....it's not about a moral high ground at all. League-Union conversions are more reasonable due to vast similarities. Gaelic-AR same. But otherwise, it's naturally always going to come across as a publicity stunt, a shallow attempt. Jonah Lomu attempts to court him to League could be looked at as that, but nowhere near as superficial as the Hunt one. If the NRL were to poach Barry Hall and he became, say, a Titans back-rower, it would be the same superficiality. Just trying to get people to GCFC games for the curiosity factor/circus of it. Like Michael Jordan to Baseball. Unless you're Jim Thorpe or Bo Jackson, 99.9% of athletes are bound to fall flat on their face trying to excel, or even not embarrass themselves, in an apples-to-oranges sporting crossover.

This CAN detract from GCFC's attempts to market itself as a genuine AR attempt on the Gold Coast, to give it a chance to succeed there. Last thing they need is more glitz and pomp a la Warwick Capper type stunts and marketing.

Gee whiz in my experience on BigFooty the RU and RL types try to emphasise the vast differences between their games.

As for Michael Jordan, he tried his hand at Baseball because always wanted to and because he wanted a new challenge. Remarkably similar reasons to those that Hunt gave.

It strikes me that if a guy who played both games as a junior, as Hunt has, wants to try his hand at the one he hasn't played at senior level yet it can hardly be described as superficial or resembling a circus act.

If it was Andrew Symonds ten years ago trying out for the Broncos or another Australian cricketer today trying out for the Titans I doubt Searle would describe it as a circus act.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Obviously Searle is going to put a negative spin on this one, and as you hypothesized, a positive spin if Symonds converted to League. Tho, there will still be NRL journalists who would say the same negative thing (symonds, negative).

RU-RL are similar codes, obviously there are differences, same as gaelic and AR compared. But RU/RL are cousins or same species of football. And gaelic and AR likewise. That make 'those' crossovers more likely to succeed. Unless, like I said, one happens to be Jim Thorpe, and i doubt Hunt is one-hundredth of an athlete that Thorpe was.

Which goes back to the point, that Searle (despite his bias) still has a point.

 

[Subprime]

If he has a point I must be missing it due to the vitriolic bile that its wrapped up in.

 

[Exe Gesis]

The 'point', taking out the vitriolic bile, would be this....

The GCFC could've done a lot better by focusing its efforts on legitimate AFL coup signings, rather than chasing a RL convert like Hunt as a marquee signing. The motive behind it, 'he's a RL player in a RL region trying out at AFL so should generate fan support and frenzy', is a bit of the old gimmicky thing that the Gold Coast sporting community actually wants to try to avoid, that Capperism.


Also, just wanna give another example...

Steve Waugh as a teen played soccer and cricket at a very high level. If Waugh had chosen soccer instead of cricket, he probably would've ended up a socceroo. But if Waugh in his mid-twenties, in the middle of his cricketing career, decided to convert to soccer, it would've been highly improbable for him to have become an NSL starter (let alone socceroo caliber) player. Especially in that timespan afforded Hunt --- slot straight into VFL in season 1, and overall a 2-3 year window to be a marquee AFL player or even just a genuine starting list contributor.

 

[Subprime]

Like I said earlier, I dont think the GCFC can actually sign anyone yet. AFAIK they need to wait until the trading period just prior to entry. Searle may not be aware of this but he could bother to find out. They've signed a heap of juniors but Searle ignored this in his rant.

Its been made fairly clear he's a project player with marketing potential. Nothing wrong with that in the realm of professional sports. They've got the cap space and the money so why not take a punt on him if he's keen.

Whether players can make it as mature agers who switch sports is up for question and I think I said earlier the GC are taking a calculated risk here. Time will tell.

If he doesn't make it he could go to RU or back to RL. I doubt anyone in the AFL world would get their knickers in a knot like Searle does.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Fair points too Subprime.
Just im not a 'hater' of any code/sport in the world.
I actually hate the constant chest-beating of "my sport is better than yours" that goes on especially in Australia.
I'm rooting for the GCFC, just always going to be critical of possible cringeworthy decisions, signings, guernsey, logo, etc.
I prefer no-frills, no-gimmicky, type administration.

Gotta appreciate that knickers are bound to get in a knot with this Hunt signing. Des Hasler's comments were spot on....intended signing by AFL/AD to 'threaten' RL, gloves off, NRL has to pull its fingers out, and work a lot harder/smarter, making their on-field product better, improving junior programs, implementing a commission and expansion to AR regions like WA/SA.

Not sure what the rules around signing marquee AFL players, but, they must be allowed to, or have some leeway, if they've tried to get Reiwoldt and others.

 

[Subprime]

I can remember a time when Super League was going to take over the world. How's that for gimmicky.

Anyway RL had teams in Adelaide and Perth and facilities were upgraded by state govts to suit them and then in the re-unification they got canned. If RL wanted to go back the stadiums are already in place. No one is stopping them.

The Hunt story has created plenty of publicity and the journey he takes will create interest in the future. The Broncos CEO was matter-of-fact about the defection and wished Hunt well etc - came across as magnanamous and classy. Searle ought to look and learn.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Some have responded magnanamously. Some haven't.....especially the dyed-in-the-wool QLD RL'ers like Wally Lewis (and you gotta understand their/that mentality to not deride it face value).
I'm not personally bugged or anything by it....like i said, follow all codes, etc. My only two wishes are...

1. NRL: to do as Hasler suggested, and pull its finger out, also fix the onfield game of nagging bad rules and redundant rules.

2. GCFC: to not end up a gimmicky organization, and represent the region well and legitimately in an AR sense.

You're always going to get the RL'ers (including media types) who will get their knickers knotted up. To be expected because they ARE gonna feel 'threatened' by it like some turf war thing. There's bound to be the exact same 'grr' in both the AFL and NRL head offices, behind the scenes, in private, that we dont hear about or gets downplayed as 'meh' when they interview.

 

[Subprime]

Searle seems to trot out the same old stuff no matter what, dunno why.

If RL came back to Adelaide and Perth as Hasler wishes, I doubt it would cop the garbage that the AFL cops in NSW and Qld from the local Aussie Rules officials or press, I don't remember that happening last time round.

I think GC have taken a punt like Collingwood did with Marty Clarke. Sure there are differences but Hunt already knows what it means to be a professional sportsman and was identified a junior prospect, the punt may come off and make a difference.

I don't see it as being a gimmicky move, its left-field for sure and controversial until everyone gets used to the idea, but it may actually work.

 

[Exe Gesis]

To be honest, ive never even heard of Searle before, and cant really judge whatever other stuff he's written---garbage or not.

Im 100% sure WA/SA would embrace RU/RL better than even Victoria, and better than NSW/QLD embraces non-Rugby codes. Victoria-NSW-QLD have more of a grudge or tension going on. WA/SA'ns are generally a bit more tolerant of intra-Australian sports than the other states.