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Against a stunning backdrop of a brilliant blue Pacific Ocean bathed in brilliant winter sun, former rugby league and union star Karmichael Hunt, Gold Coast Football Club’s highest profile recruit, was today officially welcomed to a third elite brand of football at North Burleigh Surf Club.

A large contingent of local and interstate media joined GCFC club heavyweights to hear what Hunt - recently returned from a successful stint in French ‘Top 14’ provincial rugby - had to say about his keenly anticipated switch to AFL.

But despite all the hoopla - and a heavy dose of jet lag - the man in the spotlight, looking fit and strong in the bright red of his new club, coolly described his unwavering commitment to GCFC’s bold experiment.

Was he feeling any pressure?

“No. Not at all, mate. I just take in my stride as I normally do. Pressure hasn’t affected me too much over my career.”

He wasn’t being aloof, mind you. It was more the self-assuredness of a class athlete who knows what he needs to do to extract his personal best. Truth be told he was more than just a little humbled by the task ahead. There’d be a lot of challenges, he acknowledged - the technical side of the game, the strategy, the track and gym work required to re-condition his body so he could sustain the rare physical demands of his new sport at the highest level.

And humility is something he’ll need to have plenty of, particularly early on.
His last game of rugby was the final of the Heineken Cup at Stade de France in front of 80,000 people. His VFL debut will probably be against Coburg Tigers at Craigieburn in outer-suburban Melbourne.

Hunt was unperturbed when the disparity was pointed out.

“Oh well. There’s obviously not going to be as many people. But there’s still going to be a footy match and there’s still going to be a contest and it needs to be won. And I’ll be out there giving one hundred percent.”

Did he impose any expectations on himself?

“Not at all. I obviously expect of myself that I turn up to training and give one hundred percent. It’s how I’ve always been whether on the basketball court or the rugby league or rugby union paddock. I turn up wanting to learn to get better and it’s not going to change now I’m at the Gold Coast. I think that’s one of my bonuses. I want to turn up to training. I want to get better as a player.”

Earlier on, Gold Coast Football Club CEO Travis Auld spoke passionately about the club’s journey to this point, and of his faith in Hunt’s natural ability and professionalism to help carry the club forward. He mentioned other successful conversions. Brisbane’s Daniel Merrett had come across from rugby league, he said. And Carlton’s big Irishman Setanta O’hAilpin started out in hurling.

“I do ask you don’t to judge him too quickly,” Auld said. “Give him a chance to learn our game. He knows he’s got a big challenge ahead. He knows how much hard work is in front of him, but that’s certainly something he hasn’t shied away from in the past.”

GCFC Senior Coach Guy McKenna said the club’s decision to take on the challenge of reshaping Hunt’s prodigious athletic talent wasn’t taken lightly. He also said Hunt’s contribution would in many ways transcend on-field performance.

“We looked at the total package. And the total package says that he’s a professional. For us as a young developing group…it was paramount…to have someone of a professional quality go in amongst that group. [Media] will probably judge him fairly critically on the field. But off the field we’re really excited about what he can deliver on the training track and in the gym because of his steely want, his steely desire to make this work. We’re rapt.”

He said the defensive aspects of Hunt’s history in rugby would be an obvious transferable asset.

“It’s become a big part of AFL, the defensive mechanisms. So Karmichael’s probably almost going to become an assistant coach in that area.”

As for learning the other parts of the game McKenna said the best way for Hunt to progress was to throw him in the deep end, for Hunt to simply go out there and have a crack.

“Go out there an enjoy it,” he said. ”Go out there and make some mistakes. You’re going to learn from those mistakes. Go out and take a few catches and kick some goals. Stop a few [goals] while you’re out there too if you can. From that we’ll figure out whether he’s better back of the ball, forward of the ball or around the ball.”

So with his inaugural media conference at an end, Hunt moved downstairs to the beach for some photographs and one-on-one interviews. On the way he grabbed a sponsor-badged Sherrin and took a couple of very natural-looking one handed bounces. He followed them up with a few neat drop punts down on the sand. For the record, each bounce returned to his hands with a minimum of fuss, and for each kick the ball drop was precise and the ball spun perfectly.

Hunt’s first full training session will take place at Carrara on Wednesday at 9.30am.

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