Karmichael Hunt Biography

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has stopped short of labelling the Karmichael Hunt experiment a mistake, but concedes the code-hopper's legacy has been "tarnished" by the illicit drugs scandal that has engulfed Gold Coast.

"He was a formidable brand who gave traction to this club, provided leadership in various forms to a number of young players," McLachlan said.

"So I don't think it's right to characterise it as a mistake, but obviously his legacy has been tarnished in recent months."

Karmichael Hunt has been fined $2,500 after pleading guilty to four counts of possessing cocaine.

Hunt, 28, pleaded guilty to four charges of possessing cocaine at Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday after purchasing a total of 12.5 grams of the drug on four occasions from September 1 to October 3.

The Australian Rugby Union and the Queensland Reds, Hunt's new club, added a $30,000 fine and a six-week suspension to his punishment.

He was also stripped of the club's vice-captaincy and ordered to undertake a drug rehabilitation program.

Hunt was originally charged with supplying cocaine before the charges were downgraded.
Hunt bought the drugs from alleged trafficking syndicate kingpin John Touma, a former professional rugby league player from the 1980s.

On two occasions Hunt bought 3.5g of cocaine from Touma, with alleged syndicate member and former North Sydney and Wests Tigers NRL player Matt Seers acting as a middle man for the third and fourth deals.

Police prosecutor Kirsty Johnson told the court the deals had occurred at a pizza store in Mermaid Beach and the Crowne Plaza hotel in Surfers Paradise.

Gold Coast remains confident its players will not be caught up in the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission investigation that has led to former player Karmichael Hunt facing drug charges.

In a meeting at the club on Monday, the Suns asked their players to come forward if they had any information in regard to the ongoing investigation.

"When they (the players) arrived back at the club (after the weekend), the senior coach (Rodney Eade), the general manager of football operations (Marcus Ashcroft) and myself met with them and re-emphasised the seriousness of the matter," Suns CEO Andrew Travis told ABC's Gold Coast radio station.

"And we said if anyone had information that our expectation would be that they would come and share that with us as a club, and nobody's come forward at this point in time."

AFL football operations manager Mark Evans says the League had been in contact with Gold Coast since the revelation that former Sun Karmichael Hunt has been issued with drugs charges.

"We'll be having plenty of conversations just to make sure that the Gold Coast Suns are dealing with this appropriately within their playing group and having those discussions," Evans said.

"We have [contacted them] and I would expect they would have some discussion within their club about that, and I think that's entirely appropriate and something that we would say needs to be done a few times each year in every club anyway, as part of their on-going education program."

Karmichael Hunt has been charged with supplying cocaine.

The Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission (QCCC) served the notice on Thursday afternoon, alleging Hunt and three others arranged for the supply of cocaine for personal use and on-sale to friends between June and December, 2014.

Hunt, 28, is currently a vice-captain for the Queensland Reds rugby union team after ending his four-year, 44-game AFL career at the end of last season.

"The ARU's integrity team and the Queensland Rugby Union are making inquiries into the reports," the statement said.

"We'll be in a position to comment in more detail once these inquiries have progressed."

Gold Coast said it was also too early to comment.

"The Gold Coast Suns have been made aware of charges laid against Karmichael Hunt through the media reports this morning. As this matter is now before the court, it would be inappropriate to make any comment."

Karmichael Hunt says he is feeling less stressed since quitting the AFL but that he does not regret the experience.

The 27-year-old switched to rugby union in September after ending a lucrative five-year experiment as the headline act of expansion side Gold Coast.

"You can imagine the stress with trying to learn the game and skills and physically trying to change my body shape to play AFL football," Hunt said.

"The AFL was a fantastic challenge for me. It was the hardest challenge going around and I am happy I went for it."

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan has defended Gold Coast's decision to recruit rugby league star Karmichael Hunt on a multi-million dollar deal.

"He took an incredibly courageous decision," McLachlan said of Hunt.

"To leave his comfort zone ... and to go out and play and commit to the Suns, and being such a huge brand, I don't think we can underestimate the impact he had on creating the culture as well as the profile of that club."

Karmichael Hunt's AFL career is over.

After five seasons with the Suns – including their VFL year - 27-year-old Hunt told his teammates on Thursday morning he would not be continuing at the club.

A string of injuries including a broken toe, staph infection and concussion has restricted him to just one senior game this season.

"My family and I have been considering my next step as an athlete for some time," Hunt said.

"I will be forever grateful to the AFL and Gold Coast for giving me such an amazing opportunity.

"I've enjoyed every aspect of it and the game and the Suns will always be part of mine and my family's life.

"It has been an amazing challenge and an incredibly fulfilling one, and I wish the Suns all the very best in the future."

Hunt says that while he enjoyed the game of Australian Rules football, his body was not capable of withstanding the rigours of a career at the highest level.

"I couldn't see myself… getting through another pre-season," Hunt said.

"What these boys go through year in, year out in terms of physicality, and the demands they put on their body is second to none.

"I survived four of them (pre-seasons) - I certainly wasn't looking forward to undertaking another."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna has made an emphatic defence of the AFL career of Karmichael Hunt with the Suns.

"Put yourself in his shoes," McKenna said.

"Play elite sport in rugby league and play for Australia, State of Origin, go to the top of that tree, then make that conscious decision (to switch). I don't care how much you get paid.

"One thing as a sportsman you don't want to do is be a liability to anyone. You don't want to get gifted games.

"No matter what you get paid, you have to stand and repay the club. To make that decision and go from ... one of the best rugby league players in the world, to be the 700th best (AFL) and to work your way up (is incredible)."

Karmichael Hunt has been dealt another blow to his waning AFL career, being ruled out of Saturday's NEAFL match with a knee injury.

The injury is just another setback for the out-of-contract Hunt, who has endured a catalogue of problems in 2014 that have restricted him to just one senior game.

Despite the latest hiccup, Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says the rugby league convert will be given chances over the remainder of the season to revive his career.

"He's a bit stiff to not be playing this week, we probably think he'll play next week," McKenna said.

"Like other players that are out-of-contract … they've got six weeks to prove whether they should or shouldn't be (re-signed)."

Karmichael Hunt's manager David Riolo insists no deal has been locked in for the Gold Coast star to switch codes yet again.

Speculation linking the 27-year-old with the Queensland Reds rugby union team has intensified in recent days, but his manager insists it's pure speculation.

"All it does is take up my morning, wasting my time with stuff that's not done yet," Riolo said.

"He might end up there. I don't speculate on players' contracts. He's still looking at all his options."

Karmichael Hunt will make his return to AFL football against the Swans after more than nine months between senior games.

"I feel ready, as ready as I'll ever be," Hunt said.

"I haven't had a game in the AFL for, oh, I can't remember. I missed most of the year last year with hamstring tendinitis and obviously had some bad luck this year.

"No doubt there'll be a feeling out process early in the game but I look forward to the challenge and look forward to playing with the boys again."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says Karmichael Hunt is close to finally getting a senior game this year.

"Karmichael's form has been good over a month, and he's assured me he's fit," McKenna said.

"Given his hardness and his ability to stay strong over a contested footy, that's what finals games are won and lost on, and we're playing Sydney this weekend, so I'd give him a good chance."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says Karmichael Hunt is still passionate about AFL football despite being relegated to the reserves for the first six rounds of 2014.

"As far as a source of motivation, he is one of the rare ones that is 98 per cent motivated," McKenna said.

"The beauty about it is, the more we discuss is Karmichael in, is Karmichael out, you boys (the media) talking about it, it only stokes his fire.

"Keep doing it if you like and make it your story if you wish it to be. It's not stopping him doing what he wants to do, and that's play AFL football at the highest level."

Karmichael Hunt is still in Gold Coast's best team when fully fit, which is not far away, says Suns coach Guy McKenna.

Hunt has played two strong games in the reserves after a disrupted pre-season due to a toe injury, but was still unable to force his way into Saturday's team against Hawthorn despite the absence of the suspended Brandon Matera.

"We always thought he just needed another run and this (weekend) is the run," McKenna said.

"The fantastic news is he's fitter and his games… have been very good."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says midfielder Karmichael Hunt is not in the club's best 22 at present, but remains confident the rugby league convert will stay with the Suns when his contract expires.

"He's not in our best 22 at the moment, but his two (practice) games this year could not be faulted," McKenna said.

"What I have learned about Karmichael Hunt is that when he's challenged he wants to bash it (the challenge) straight down. He's not in our best 22, but it won't be long before he gets the chance."

Jobe Watson joins Demon Jimmy Toumpas, Magpie Patrick Karnezis, Giant Stephen Coniglio, and Lin Jong from the Western Bulldogs as new multicultural ambassadors in 2014 to help grow the game alongside existing ambassadors Nic Naitanui, Bachar Houli, Karmichael Hunt, Majak Daw, and Alipate Carlile.

"Since the introduction of the AFL multicultural ambassador program in 2012, we are delighted by the enthusiasm, insight and cultural guidance the ambassadors have provided to communities and the AFL industry," AFL chief Andrew Demetriou said.

"In 2014, we are excited to have Jobe, Jimmy, Patrick, Stephen and Lin as part of this important program and look forward to the 10 ambassadors playing a lead role in encouraging individuals and communities to unite through their passion for Australia's game."

Out-of-contract Karmichael Hunt remains coy on his AFL future beyond 2014.

"Whatever happens at the end of the year will happen, but for the most part I'm just focusing on playing footy," Hunt said.

"Hopefully I can stay injury free and put some good games together this year because I'm enjoying the coast and really looking forward to the year."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says Karmichael Hunt is an important member of the Suns' squad despite persistent rumours of a return to rugby league.

"He's gone out and played 40-odd games, kicked match-winning goals, had some good performances, and like any first, second or third year player will do, he's going to have some ups and downs," McKenna said.

"I can't control what's being said about him. We know his importance to our side and his continued growth within our team."

Gold Coast respond to media reports that Karmichael Hunt plans to leave the AFL to return to rugby league with the Brisbane Broncos.

"Karmichael is contracted to the Gold Coast Suns for the 2014 season. At this point his pure focus, and that of the coaches', is on working really hard during pre-season to prepare himself for next year," a club spokesperson said.

"Karmichael had an injury interrupted season in 2013 and we are excited about the role he can play for the team next year with a full pre-season under his belt."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says Karmichael Hunt must improve his fitness if he wants to play in the midfield.

"We know going forward for us to become a legitimate finals contender next season, we have to make sure we've got blokes that can run out four quarters of football," McKenna said.

"He wants to be a bona fide midfielder, and we're going to give him every opportunity. He just needs to get fit.

"He understands the young group is coming and he wants to make sure these blokes can't fight past him. He's not going to lie down and make it easy for them."

Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft says Karmichael Hunt is a required player in 2014 and that the club is happy with his progress.

"We've had no indication (that Hunt wants to leave) and we don't enter into speculation," Ashcroft said.

"He's got to be looked at as a development player, not a mature player.

"Sometimes he gets perceived as a team leader because he is a mature man with experience at elite levels of other sports.

"But he is very much still developing and in the right direction.''

Karmichael Hunt says he expects to improve in 2013, as he did in 2012, despite not placing any specific expectations on himself.

"I didn't go out last year to have the year that I did," Hunt said.

"I just went out and put my best foot forward. I guess if you give 100 per cent effort and your intentions are to succeed and get better then I don't see why you can't continue to improve."

Karmichael Hunt says he is looking forward to his new role as the Suns' tagger and will work closely with skipper Gary Ablett to learn his craft.

"I'm relishing it at training. I'll obviously be around the ball a lot more, and hopefully I can get a few jobs done," Hunt said.

"Gazza has been on the sidelines a bit of late and I haven't been able to mark-up on him, but I'm sure he'll teach me a few lessons once he's ready to go.

"I think he's got every trick in the book, and if he can give me any insight into what he doesn't like, I'm sure it's going to be beneficial for my game."

Gold Coast announce a revamped leadership structure for 2013 that will not include former leaders Karmichael Hunt, Zac Smith and David Swallow.

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna plans to transform Karmichael Hunt into a midfielder by first playing him as a tagger in 2013 on some of the competition's best clearance players.

"Playing on them and squeezing the life out of them and then learning to work off them, the good taggers end up doing that," McKenna said.

"Eventually, the best way to stop them is to beat them to the ball but that tends to happen over years. It is the evolution."

Karmichael Hunt drops up to 15kg, tipping the scales at 87kg, the lightest he has been throughout his professional career.

"Karmichael has been training well and is in great shape at the moment but you can't not lose weight given the amount of running he has had to do," Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft said

"Especially in his new role in the midfield, he has covered a lot of kilometres.

"He has had a season in the VFL and two seasons in the AFL so it was only a matter of time before his body shape became more suited to the demands of our game."

Gold Coast Suns coach Guy McKenna says that Karmichael Hunt, unlike Israel Folau, will not be returning to the NRL anytime soon.

"I don't think that is going to happen (with Hunt), that's for sure," McKenna said.

"K represented Australia (in rugby league) and won titles at the Broncos. He was elite at that sport and he came back to be the 700th player in the AFL and has had to work his way through.

"I know we finished 17th last season, but he was in our best midfield most of the year and it's a great testament to his drive and coachability."

Fellow rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt says he was shocked to learn of Israel Folau's decision to quit the AFL, but says it was the right one.

"I was a little bit shocked like most people," Hunt said.

"I guess it's a pretty brave decision on his behalf and I respect his decision because he felt his heart's not in.

"It would have been unfair to a lot of people, including himself, if he just stayed on and carried on. I wish him well."

After a successful second year at the Suns, Karmichael Hunt has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a chest injury.

"I think everyone including people outside the media would say that he has been a success this year," Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said.

"He has definitely improved on last year and after a switch [from defence] to the midfield. We were always confident about him but I would say he has even pleasantly surprised us.

"He made a big impact on games, not on sheer weight of possessions but with his physical impact on contests. He was a tower of strength for us. There is a good reason he is in our leadership group."

After feeling "cooked" in his first year in the AFL, Karmichael Hunt says he is approaching the end of this season in top condition and is only one of four players from Gold Coast to have played in all possible 17 matches so far this year.

"I feel like I'm only getting better. I felt probably the best I've felt in a long time. I don't want to have a rest but I'm not too sure what the coaches are thinking," Hunt said.

"The experience of last year - and I've got two pre-seasons under my belt - I'm definitely in better shape than I was this time last year. I've felt like I'm moving well and don't feel like I'm holding the team back at all."

Karmichael Hunt's match-winner against Richmond earned the AFL priceless coverage in Queensland and NSW.

"From media coverage of the Gold Coast-Richmond game, Karmichael's straight shooting alone received twice the television coverage during the day following the match than did TV coverage for the entire match the previous round between the Suns and the Cats," Media Monitors' John Chalmers said.

"The coverage in both instances was biggest in NSW, followed by Queensland, then Victoria, reflecting the traction the game is attaining in the northern states."

Karmichael Hunt can scarcely believe he had the chance to live every young footballer's dream in kicking the winning goal after the siren.

"It's a dream of a lot of people to be in that situation and I was very lucky to be that man last night," Hunt said.

"I've definitely dreamt of that and had scenarios in my own head where I could prepare myself if I ended up in that situation, and lucky enough last night I managed to kick the goal."

The upcoming State of Origin rugby league series has AFL convert Karmichael Hunt dreaming of a time when Gold Coast features in September action.

"Rep footy gives everyone a chance to experience a truly big game with all the fanfare and crowds that come with them," Hunt said.

"And finals and rep footy are played at an intensity that just isn't matched by home-and-away matches - they are the ultimate test."

Suns midfielder Karmichael Hunt says a 'chip on his shoulder' leads him to try to prove himself.

"I'm always trying to prove myself. I've got a chip on my shoulder; that's how I approach every day," Hunt said.

"I want to turn up and get better and I think that attitude has helped through my career and I'll continue to have that attitude until I retire and that's not going to change. I'm not satisfied, I've got a long way to go. I just want to improve."

After an impressive display in the midfield against North Melbourne, Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says Karmichael Hunt is on the verge of becoming a bona fide AFL player.

"He's an amazing person - a very driven person. He knows he was probably 600th or 700th player in the (AFL) list, probably our 50th player at one stage too," McKenna told Channel 7's Game Day.

"But he's fought his way into our midfield.We talk about the blink factor - how tough it is in there - he just doesn't blink. He's gone to another level. I don't know (if he's) bona fide - give him another one or two years and we can say bona fide."

Rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt has signed a two-year contract extension at Gold Coast that will keep him at the club till at least 2014.

"Half-way through last year I thought, you know, I really love playing AFL," Hunt said.

"I said to (assistant coach) Ken Hinkley the other day I haven't had this much fun since I was playing basketball.

"It's all been a challenge for me, such a new game, a foreign game for me. I still feel like I'm getting better and feel like I've got a lot of improving to do."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna praises Karmichael Hunt's work ethic.

"Karmichael would have to be one of the most professional athletes I've come across," McKenna said.

"It's been really exciting watching him grow. The work he has done over the pre-season to earn himself a spot in our midfield has been phenomenal. I have no doubts that he will continue to get better."

Karmichael Hunt is named in Gold Coast's leadership group.

"It's a privilege to be voted in by the boys as a leader," Hunt said.

"I look forward to the role and taking it on board and helping us reach the goals we want to achieve."

Hunt's promotion is endorsed by Suns captain Gary Ablett.

"It's a great effort to get up in the leadership group, especially coming from another code. He's been fantastic for everyone around the club and I'm super proud of him," Ablett said.

"I've been able to see since day one that 'K' was always going to be a leader of this football club and it's a great reward for him."

Karmichael Hunt has fended off approaches from other codes, saying he is close to putting pen to paper on a new deal with the Suns.

"I've made it very clear to whoever I've spoken too and obviously the club as well that I'm very happy on the Gold Coast and I feel in terms of my potential that I've got a lot to fill out," Hunt said.

"I love the boys and I love what we're building and I'd love to be a part of it in the future. My intentions are to be on the Gold Coast beyond next year."

Karmichael Hunt rules out returning to the NRL or the French rugby union to stay at Gold Coast.

"I am happy on the Gold Coast and really enjoying AFL. I'd like to be a part of this team for a while yet," Hunt said.

"At this time of my career, with my age and my ambitions and drive for what I want to do as an athlete, going back to France right now on a long-term deal is not what I want to do."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says Karmichael Hunt may spend time in the midfield in 2012.

"He's showing an aptitude and a willingness to get in and around the footy so I think there'll be some football with Karmichael played around our midfield this year," Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said.

"He's got the body to do that and his body is designed more for the stop-start nature of the midfield."

Karmichael Hunt is set to extend his contract with Gold Coast, refuting claims he may be considering a move back to the NRL or rugby union.

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett says Hunt's work ethic is among the best he has ever seen at AFL level.

"Ever since he's come to the club he's been fantastic," Ablett said.

"I've been playing AFL football for 10 or 11 years and I've really not met that many guys with the same workrate that K's got."

Karmichael Hunt says he is not contemplating a return to rugby league and is happy with the progress he has made in Australian football.

"I'm not even thinking about anything else but AFL," he said.

"Twelve months is a long time and all I'm focussing on is getting better as a player. I'm enjoying my time in AFL. I feel like I've got a lot of improvement to do, which I want to do, and whether that's in the next 12 months or a couple of years beyond my contract we'll have to wait and see."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says code-hopper Karmichael Hunt is in need of a break after his body went into 'meltdown'.

"He looked cooked when I subbed him off against St Kilda [in round 19]," McKenna told Fox Sports' On the Couch.

"Since then he had a meltdown, then he got the flu and he had diarrhoea. I said: 'Mate, I think it's your body having a cry for help here...

"I'll say he's probably hit the wall in terms of carrying that body around for 13 weeks of an AFL season and three weeks in the seconds."

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett says he believe rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt will stay with in the AFL and with the Suns for years to come.

"I think I know what he'd like to do. I'm sure he'd like to continue playing AFL football and I think he will," Ablett said.

"I think he'll play some fantastic footy with us over the next couple of years and hopefully he's around for 10 years and [will] win some premierships with us down the track."

Karmichael Hunt is set for a recall after the Suns missed his defensive pressure and 'leadership' against North Melbourne while he played in the twos.

"We do miss him, but it's more about education and development of his game going forward that we're looking at right now," Gold Coast assistant coach Dean Solomon said.

"Internally we're rapt with him. It's been through the media he's copping the criticism. On the back of eight or nine games he's played, he's shown great leadership values, and on the weekend he's gone back and done exactly what we asked of him which is a credit to himself."

Karmichael Hunt will be the hunted when he lines up for the Gold Coast reserves as an attacking midfielder.

"We think he can experience a different environment there. We want to play him as an attacking midfielder so he gets exposed to different decision making elements of the game and we feel there's probably a bit less pressure in the northern footy league than the AFL," Suns development coach Andy Lovell said.

"We'll just play it by ear and see how he's going. We'll expose him to being the hunter and we'll expose him to being a free flowing midfielder."

Karmichael Hunt will play in the Suns' reserves team this weekend as he returns from a one game suspension.

"Our long term strategy and plan for Karmichael was to, at some stage, let him go back and play at the lower level to further improve his development offensively and also on-ball as a midfielder," Gold Coast general manager of football operations Marcus Ashcroft said.

"The match committee has decided this week is as good a time as any to send Karmichael back."

Karmichael Hunt continues to come under scrutiny by the media but Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says the rugby convert is still improving.

"I think defensively K is very good, but as we said to him last year, don't sit back and try not to make a mistake," he said.

"If he gets the ball and take the game on we're going to find where he's at and he moved forward with the ball at times and the more he does it, the better he's going to get. The more time he plays with the other five back fellas the better he's going to get."

Karmichael Hunt makes his AFL debut for Gold Coast at the Gabba with 5 disposals (2 kicks and 3 handballs) and 2 tackles in a 119-point loss to Carlton.

Karmichael Hunt says he is working hard during the pre-season and looking forward to representing the Gold Coast in 2011.

"Confidence is a huge thing for me. I've always tried to have that good mental platform so I can go into every match feeling good," Hunt told the Herald Sun.

"You get that confidence from knowing you have done everything you can to be ready and I'm confident I will have done everything I can to be ready.

"I just want to be a dependable and reliable player for my teammates and give 100 per cent every week. I'm confident I'll be able to do that."