By Patrick Devery

While the Gold Coast SUNS was humbled by the Lions on Saturday night, there was one reason for hope amidst the gloom - for the second week in a row, Karmichael Hunt looked a footballer.

Not a high profile rugby league convert trying hard, but a top-level AFL footballer.

At the Gabba on Saturday night, Hunt had 21 disposals and six tackles. He got himself into position to have a crack at a couple of goals but managed only a behind.

The numbers are sound rather than spectacular but numbers don’t measure willingness or tenacity. They don’t define difficulty or pressure. They can’t really let you know if a player had a fair dinkum crack.

Hunt did, and his coach Guy McKenna singled him out as one of the few SUNS to have shined on an otherwise dark night.

"I don’t think he backed off any of his assault on the ball or man," McKenna said

"I thought he did his best under fire."

Under fire is seemingly how Hunt likes it best. It is amazing how many of his disposals are collected and given under extreme pressure. His ability to break or stand in a tackle and provide a handball is becoming a big winner for the Suns, who are learning to run off their tough inside man.

Crucially, too, Hunt’s capacity to make the right choices is growing by the week.

McKenna did find some other positives in the loss, highlighting the games of Seb Tape and Nathan Bock. He was also full of praise for the run-with job done by midfielder Michael Rischitelli.

"I thought Michael’s performance on Rich was fantastic," McKenna said.

"We decided to break that tag in the last quarter just to try and stimulate some form of football going forward and surprise, surprise [Rich] bobs up in that last quarter and has eight [disposals] and kicks two goals.

"I thought Riska’s performance for three quarters, given his role, was first class."