Karmichael Hunt feels he belongs. Israel Folau looks like he doesn’t.
But as he finds his way in the AFL, Folau can pick up some first hand tips in Canberra on Saturday when he and Hunt take to the same field for the first time since they were rugby league teammates for Brisbane in 2009.
This time, the multi-million dollar code switchers are on opposing teams and at different stages of their development in their new game.
In his second year of AFL, Hunt looks like he’s landed as an intimidating and influential force in the Gold Coast midfield.
Five games into his career, Folau still looks lost, averaging 5.4 touches for the equally fledgling Greater Western Sydney.
But Folau can be heartened by Hunt’s rapid progress this year.
Hunt has leapt from an average of eight disposals in 2011 to 16 this season, topped with a career high 22, including 14 contested possessions, against Fremantle last week.
But it’s the physical qualities he’s brought from rugby league which are making the biggest impact.
Indeed, former Hawthorn hardman Dermott Brereton even described Hunt as the most feared player at the Suns.
“He’s been able to successfully transfer his functional strength that he used in league and union to AFL,” Suns’ football manager Marcus Ashcroft says.
“He now knows what the rules are and he knows how to use his strength to great effect in an AFL game.
“Where he’s had a big effect in the last month is his work in and around the contest.
“He’s been able to shepherd with great effect, burrow in and get the ball and also protect his teammates.
“He’s been able to bring teammates into the game … the team performance has been seeing the effects of his individual work.”
Folau’s GWS coach Kevin Sheedy says Hunt’s development is scary and his ability to learn would make him a great teacher.
“There’s a scary sort of person developing here. This is a guy that could be a great coach one day,” Sheedy said.
After an apprenticeship in defence last year was followed by a heavy pre-season to build his endurance, Hunt has shifted into the midfield with a greater awareness of the game.
“In the early part of this year, he was able to gain confidence each week and get that sense of belonging,” Ashcroft says.
“The more confidence he got in games, the more he felt he could compete and be very good at what he does.
“It’s been no surprise in the last three or four weeks he’s been able to play the way he has.”
He feels so much at home now, Hunt recently extended his contract with the Suns until the end of 2014 and Ashcroft is confident there’ll be no return to rugby league.
“He loves being here, he’s up for the challenge for a further two years. And the way he’s playing, we can all see he’s getting better and better each week,” he said.
“Everyone’s astounded how well he’s gone so far. He keeps defying belief with the way he goes about it, it’s hard to know where that can go.”
But Ashcroft says he wouldn’t go so far as saying Hunt has arrived.
“We think the last month he’s played at a very high level and whether that means he’s arrived or not, that’s for others to judge,” he said.
“But, internally we’re happy with his progress and hope he can keep going.”
Sheedy is also impressed with Hunt’s progress and says he’d love Folau to follow the same route.
“His reading of the game now is so much better now that he’s played a year of it,” he said of Hunt.
“We think that’ll happen to Izzy eventually.”