Gold Coast's Karmichael Hunt handballs under pressure in the Queensland derby against the Brisbane Lions. Picture: Chris Hyde. Source: Getty Images
HAVING tackled the biggest props in rugby league, Gold Coast Suns code-hopper Karmichael Hunt is making it look just as easy stopping the biggest names in the AFL this year.
In a new role as a midfield assassin, Hunt has already claimed the scalps of St Kilda star Nick Dal Santo, Melbourne's Nathan Jones and Brisbane's former rising star Daniel Rich.
Ahead of the Suns' showdown with fellow fledgling club GWS in Canberra today, the former rugby league international revealed to The Daily Telegraph pre-season training sessions tagging Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett have
been one of the reasons for his improved consistent form this season.
In a wide-ranging interview Hunt also opened up on "rough patches" he and Israel Folau both experienced in their first AFL seasons and his burgeoning golf game.
Natural ability may be the reason for his skill on the golf course, but it has nothing to do with the 26-year-old's rise on the football field.
Having played AFL briefly in high school before being recruited by the Brisbane Broncos, it is a cop-out to think genes or talent are the reason he has succeeded in AFL when Folau hit the wall.
It is only through gut-busting work that Hunt has developed into the player Suns coach Guy McKenna trusts with the most difficult and crucial defensive assignment each week.
"I worked my butt off, I'm still working my butt off," he said. "I don't know if it's a cop-out or not, but I don't think everyone realises how hard I've had to work and
how hard the work is I still need to do to get to where I want to head.
"There have been rough patches. I get enjoyment out of being able to see improvement. You know, like in any game, the goal is trying to get better.
"There are hurdles, but you've got to find ways around it, work through it. I've always found motivation there. It was obvious the only way out for me was to work through it."
Hunt last week played on the half forward line for the Suns and could start there again if he is not given the job of shutting down Giants' prolific ball winner Callan Ward.
While the Giants overran the Suns in Canberra for their first win, the Suns appear to have made the most progress this off-season and have won eight quarters of football - and their round one clash with St Kilda - compared to the Giants' four.
Hunt's golf game is also advancing rapidly, and he is now playing off a handicap of 14 after less than two years hitting casually.
Good enough that his friendly competitions on the Burleigh Heads links with Jared Brennan, Nathan Bock, Brandon Matera and Tom Murphy, usually finish with teammates handing him their pocket money.
"Of late, I probably have been collecting a little bit of the money," Hunt said.
"But out of all of us, Nathan Bock has been playing the longest, so I'd say traditionally he is usually at short odds when we start. We're both on the same handicap at the moment.
"I got him the other day, though. It's a bit of a release. I just have to balance that with my home life with my family.
"I have a little 10-month-old daughter (Halo Amelia), which obviously takes up a fair bit of my time as well."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Hunt tackles the AFL's best
Dengan url
http://sudahterlupakan.blogspot.com/2013/04/hunt-tackles-afls-best.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Hunt tackles the AFL's best
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar