Karmichael Hunt to play for GCFC?

[RUNVS]

I though the position of "ruck rover" had gone the way of the dinosaurs. Havent heard that term for ages. Now days its 18 midfielders and 4 KPP make a squad.

Maybe i should have said he would make a good half back or midfielder

 

[Bomber Bears]

Definitely. Far better to be a sports-lover and appreciate them all. We do already like when the Soccer WC is on, RU WC, AFL GF, RL GF, Wimbledon, British Open Golf, etc etc. Many one-eyed fans of codes get right behind the Wallabies, Kangaroos, Aussie IR team, Socceroos, etc. Even netball ive grown to appreciate recently watching a lot of it on ONE HD, that ability of theirs to like really stretch out AND bend sideways while maintaining balance on one foot with physical pressure applied by defenders, when receiving a pass....those Goal scoring girls.



Not always, yes. Your point is valid. Tho it'd still be predominantly the money why they came over to RL. There was the honor of dual international. There was just the love for RL over Union. But still money dominant reason. Why RL even existed and became so popular at the turn of the century (money, health insurance).

I still really 'see' it happening in the future. The codes wont ever die. Like how there'll always be AR and RL comps in the USA or Denmark. Or gridiron and ice hockey leagues here etc. Codes wont die out. But codes will get swallowed due the globalism and money and us being absorbed into the rest of the world and our region. But I'll stop harping and repeating on it. Grrr.

League was started because working folk couldnt afford to miss work if they were injured on the weekend but the higher ups thought it was dishonourable to receive any compensation - hence League began. It wasnt until the 70's that players even began to play league full time and the game didnt become almost completely professional until the 90's.

 

[bresker]

The Dogs drafted Tom Williams after he grew up playing rugby union with limited AFL experience. He still looks raw after 5 years in the system, so get working Karmichael Hunt.

 

[campbell]

The Dogs drafted Tom Williams after he grew up playing rugby union with limited AFL experience. He still looks raw after 5 years in the system, so get working Karmichael Hunt.

Hunt did play AFL up here though.
It a common thing up here. I know Under 18's kids who play League on Saturday night and AFL on Sunday, and one kid even plays Seniors AFL on Sat arvo. Sports mad,he is a great little player. Made the Qld teams for his age.

 

[Gman]

RL are a bunch of sooks

If an AFL player defected to RL say Max Rooke, I doubt he would have been taken to the gallows for a lynching, more so he'd be getting "all the best", "good luck" and let's see how he fares. But RL media/supporters see everything as a threat...most insecure bunch of people I have ever witnessed.

He had rejected Brisbanes offer and was looking at going to Union

AFL stepped in and spoke with him

He decided to try Aussie Rules, he was most likely going to leave League

Had he gone to Union there wouldnt have been such an outcry, but wow are they shitting their panties by anything AFL does

Personally I dont want to see the demise of any code and I dont think it will happen. I feel NRL will be affected more so and the reason is that it is played in an area where there is a huge population and soccer/Aussie Rules and Union are played there. There is a lot of room for growth for these codes and it is expected as a business to have these codes expand their interest into these markets.
Scare tactics alone wont dismiss peoples interest in a sport...

Looking afterand expanding your own code is what it's about

None of this AFL /NRL hatred existed until AFL had received more $$ for tv rights, ,then the sookiness from RL supoorters/media started.
The announcement of two teams up north only enraged them more...
Then they started to compare incidents from both codes, if something happens in RL, their supporters will automatically point the finger at AFL "Miss, miss what about them??".... G E T O V E R I T ! ! !

Case of small penis syndrome...they are jumping at shadows with any mention of AFL...funny to watch and listen too but it's getting a bit tiresome...Grow up leaguie people...

 

[gostk86]

Gman we all knew Hunt wasnt going to be in the NRL next year..i dare say its more a shock for people than anything he is going to AFL..

Fans are worried because the NRL lacks leadership and we have no plans..

 

[Gman]

Gman we all knew Hunt wasnt going to be in the NRL next year..i dare say its more a shock for people than anything he is going to AFL..

Fans are worried because the NRL lacks leadership and we have no plans..

Agree, it was massive initially and now it will become an interest in his endeavous.
Believe me it was a shock not only for RL supporters but a huge shock in AFL cricles

But that's the thing, RL has not stopped comparing itself to Aussie Rules. What do they expect a business to do? Ofcourse they will expand and expand they are.
RL should look at their own code and do whats best for their code...all these gayfl, fumble ball etc wont get them anywhere. Aussie REule sis not Union, it is totally different as a sport, it will create it's own niche in an open market.

I have always said, soccer is the code that will take supporters/players away, it is already happening. Its interest is growing alot quicker than the rest of the codes put together

 

[gostk86]

Agree, it was massive initially and now it will become an interest in his endeavous.
Believe me it was a shock not only for RL supporters but a huge shock in AFL cricles

agree..i still cant believe 2 footy codes and everyone involved, this was kept a secret lol

But that's the thing, RL has not stopped comparing itself to Aussie Rules. What do they expect a business to do? Ofcourse they will expand and expand they are.
RL should look at their own code and do whats best for their code...all these gayfl, fumble ball etc wont get them anywhere. Aussie REule sis not Union, it is totally different as a sport, it will create it's own niche in an open market.

nrl and arl..2 very different agendas..which is why the proposed commission is badly needed asap

it comes down to how much more money you have..

I have always said, soccer is the code that will take supporters/players away, it is already happening. Its interest is growing alot quicker than the rest of the codes put together

im not convinced on soccer yet..crowds arent as good as aleague predicted, their tv ratings are pretty ordinary as well..soccer has always been the biggest junior sport, so theres no surprise there

 

[CambridgeOxford]

Can't believe all the salivators over this geezer. I agree with Jonathan Brown.

It is a publicity stunt first - then if he even plays Aussie Rules in the VFL he will have to fine down to a playing weight of about 10kgs less ie he will be small - 6ft 1 and around 85kgs. I'd like to see him take Lynch, Kosizike etc at full pace at that size! He will get swamped in the VFL. Setanta was the best young athlete in Ireland and played a far similar game with higher endurance and 3 dimensions and has had years of effort put into him and still is borderline. Sure this campaigner can receive in RL but in Aussie Rules you have to get your own ball and provide leads. Doesn't matter how 'tough' people say he is if he can't get the egg he will be worthless. As for his hits - even if he makes it that far the way the AFL is being steered by Demitrou and the Vic clique it will be non-contact by then and he will be wearing a skirt.

 

[JeffDunne]

Re: Carmichael Hunt to play for GCFC?

What's the AFL got to do with this? I'd imagine it would have been entirely negotiated by the GC.

As usual Rob, you should know better . . .

Andrew Demetriou was pivotal in snaring Karmichael Hunt

THE AFL's most powerful man, Andrew Demetriou, played a key role in convincing Karmichael Hunt to make his shock decision to switch codes. On the same day in late May that the AFL used Nathan Buckley to steer Hunt through a 40-minute training drill, Demetriou hosted Hunt and his girlfriend at his Toorak home.

Guess my left nut is safe too.

Hunt will earn up to $600,000 a year playing for the Gold Coast, but considerably more from development and promotional roles that will be funded by both the AFL and his new club.

 

[db swannie]

It has been mentioned already, but I'm amazed at the thin-skinned nature of RL fans. League Unlimited is weird place!

If the situation were reversed there's few in AFL who would be very concerned. TBH I'd be quite curious if an AFL player went to league, just to see how they'd go, but it's highly, highly unlikely ever to happen.

It's true that AFL players occassionally go over and try their hand at gridiron, but that's usually only after their careers have wound up in AFL (Rocca, Graham, and now Nick Davis prime examples)...This is different from what's happening in league, because players are jumping ship in the prime of their time. RL should be worried about this, not so much where they end up going.

I followed league in the 70s, when it was a grassroots game played at local grounds (grounds which I attended often), but I wouldn't go near a game now. I hope league gets that local feel back, because that's where its strength once lay...

 

[jonesy86]

Just saw footage of Brisbane Broncos training today and they had a Sherrin out in the warm up and did handball drills with rugby balls as well.

 

[damochandler]

vlad said there wont be any more atempts to poach more league or union players across. find that very hard to believe. any club would try to do it if he is exemp from the salary cap. just like hunt is

 

[bigburger]

I reckon this is ****en sick. Can't wait to see how he goes. West Coast's next target should be Dan Carter imo lol.

 

[matahari]

this will fail enough said

 

[db swannie]

this will fail enough said

what's your criteria for failure? his defection has already 'bought' the gold coast team more advertising than what they'll pay him. for once i agree with mike sheehan: you can't buy this type of promotion, it's even better than advertising.

if you mean "fail" in the sense that he can't play afl, well that's your opinion, which is fine, but the jury, as far as i'm concerned, is well and truly out on that one. i guess we'll find out in 2011.

 

[Blight von Torp]

League Unlimited is a strange place - WTF is a 'merkin'?

Yeah a lot of bitterness over there. Funny, if an AFL player wanted to try their hand at League, I'd just be curious as to how they'd go. I guess they're coming from a place of insecurity, and feel that their code is under attack.

 

[damochandler]

this will fail enough said

my reaction was the same at first. but he could do well in the game. if he can get hick and handballing right. he will go well. he has got plenty of speed and agility

 

[PAFC04]

I haven't read the full thread, but has anyone thought that this player or any other Rugby League player will be seen to be a pansy coming from the different battle.

One would say that Rugby League is a much tougher game on the body than AFL. AFL would require a fitness level higher than League....

I don't know about the changing of codes, it will be interesting to see if he is any good.

Its good to see that AFL has got started on the right foot with regards to relationships

 

[PAFC04]

my reaction was the same at first. but he could do well in the game. if he can get hick and handballing right. he will go well. he has got plenty of speed and agility

My guess is that he would be more of a liabilty than an asset in the first year or two....

 

[damochandler]

My guess is that he would be more of a liabilty than an asset in the first year or two....

that's why i am a bit mythed at the reason why they let him go play uniom for 6 months. you would think they would have him training and getting himself ready straight away. but he did fit in weel straight away with the bronco's when he was 17. just the last couple of year i thought his form started fade

 

[OzBomber]

Surprisingly this is NOT a photoshop.

 

[AG]

^^That kick has helicopter written all over it.

 

[old_clint]

Surprisingly this is NOT a photoshop.

Nor this.

 

[queenslandfan]

I followed league in the 70s, when it was a grassroots game played at local grounds (grounds which I attended often), but I wouldn't go near a game now. I hope league gets that local feel back, because that's where its strength once lay...

You mean like now? they still play games at Leichardt, Kogarah, Cronulla, Campbelltown, Brookvale, Parramatta, Penrith! You seriously cannot say AFL is more localised when all of the Melbourne teams play out of 2 stadiums. which are both right next to the cbd.