AN undermanned Gold Coast Football Club could have used the bigger body of Karmichael Hunt against the Northern Bullants in the VFL at Visy Park in Melbourne today.

Hunt, who is expected to debut next week, sat in the coaches box as the boys found the going tough with a heavy 26.10 (166) to 9.7 (61) loss to the Bullants.

It was a typically Melbourne day with wet, cold and gray conditions greeting the GCFC players as they arrived at the traditional home of the Carlton Football Club.

They had many out on the day, including suspended vice captain Charlie Dixon, young gun David Swallow and defender Jack Hutchins.

And it was always going to be a tough match on the road after last week’s wet weather scrap in heavy conditions against Collingwood at Southport.

Ruckman Zac Smith (two goals), skipper Marc Lock (two goals) and midfielder Daniel Harris all impressed, as did defender Mitch Harley, Trent McKenzie and livewire Brandon Matera.

But it was just not the Coast’s day, which was evident by the injury sustained to defender Michael Coad.

Coad, who was outstanding in the first term, was taken to hospital after suffering a heavy knock to the ribs in the second quarter.

The GCFC failed to kick a goal in the final term with the contest already over by three quarter-time.

The third term was a tough one with the experience and bigger bodies of the Bullants proving too much for the young Coast.

A depleted GCFC had goals to Joey Daye, McKenzie and Lock in that term, but conceded eight goals to the red-hot Bullants.

The second term, which saw the Bullants get out to 33-point at half-time, could not have gotten off to a worse start with the injury to Coad.

He is the leader down back and his absence was always going to have an impact.

The home side kicked two goals but they then responded through forward Lewis Moss, who was the recipient of some Ablett magic.

Ablett brilliantly flicked it on to Moss, who booted a long goal off his left boot from 40 metres out on a tight angle.

Russell also kicked a goal from a free kick, but it was all the Bullants’ quarter.

The GCFC started well in the first term with their tackling pressure and defensive work a feature.

In these kind of wet conditions, Smith was an unlikely choice as the first goalkicker of the match.

But the big man delivered – taking a strong grab and kicking truly in the opening minutes to give the Coast the perfect start.

It was soon followed by Harris, who kicked a clever snap goal to extend the lead to two goals.

The Bullants got better as the term went on and kicked two late ones with the last goal a result of a 50-metre penalty given away by forward Alik Magin for running through the mark.

Smith then kicked his second for the term after winning a free kick from a ruck infringement.

A goal to the Bullants on the siren reduced the GCFC’s lead to a solitary point at the first change.

The GCFC will now return home and rest up before coming back down to Melbourne next weekend to face the Coburg Tigers at Craigburn.