Karmichael Hunt left a couple of Sydney Swans bruised and battered in his return to the AFL, but a number of factors will be taken in to account before he is selected to travel with the senior team to Perth for the round 13 clash against West Coast.

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said Hunt did all that was asked of him in the 35-point loss to the Swans, where he finished with eight touches and laid two tackles.

Hunt laid one bone-crunching tackle at a centre clearance and was handy around the ground after coming in to the senior side following some sterling performances at NEAFL level.

“Clearly, ‘K’ (Hunt) coming in for his first game; you’re jumping out of the frypan in to the fire, so to speak, playing Sydney,” McKenna said.

“All the things we picked him for he did really well. Spent some time over the ball. A few of their lads would have been a bit sorer tomorrow than if other players had played.

“Obviously the technical side of the game and the vision side of the thing is a constant learning curve for ‘K’, but he certainly provided what we needed, that’s for sure.”

The GC SUNS have just a six-day break before taking on the Eagles in Perth on the long, fast track at Patersons Stadium.

Hunt has had to deal with a variety of injury problems this season, and McKenna said a number of factors would be weighed up when deciding whether the powerfully-built midfielder would be retained in the 22.

“They’re all the things you have to factor up; match-ups, ground conditions.

“Where that forward role, midfield role, bench role, sub role lands; number seven could be there, or he may not be there.”