A freakishly talented athlete with an unquenchable thirst for success, Karmichael Hunt continues to amaze AFL fans across the country with his drive, ambition and constant ability to silence his critics.
In this week’s SUNS TV Player Feature, Hunt opens up about his injury-plagued 2013 campaign and his desire to bounce back stronger than ever after earlier establishing himself as one of the team’s leading midfielders.
“Obviously going in to this year I would of loved to have gained a bit more traction but it’s been a terrible year of injuries for me but that’s the nature of the beast of football,” he said.
Seen as a possible run-with specialist during the pre-season, Hunt was looking forward to taking on some of the AFL’s leading midfielders this season, a role that would have tested his rapidly-improving endurance.
After just six games into the 2013 premiership race, injury struck the 26-year-old former Rugby League international, forcing him to withdraw from the side in Round 7 due to hamstring tendonitis.
And after missing almost two months of Premiership action, things took a turn for the worst during his return match in Round 14, with a calf injury again forcing him to the sidelines.
Hunt said it was the first time in his career injury had forced him from taking to the field for such an extended period.
“It’s probably the longest I’ve had on the sidelines in any code, so it’s been quite frustrating as you could imagine,” Hunt said.
“Hamstring tendonitis is something I hadn’t been aware of. Out of all the injuries I’ve had in my career it’s probably been the worst, because it took away all my power and speed which is are some of my greatest assets”
However, after an extensive rehabilitation program designed specifically for the tri-code pioneer by High Performance Manager Stephen Schwerdt and his sports science gurus, Hunt is feeling better than ever.
“I’m probably at my fittest and healthiest I have been all year at this point.”
Focused on ending the season on a high alongside the rest of his Gold Coast team mates, Hunt is looking forward to tackling another pre-season and re-defining his position in the starting line-up.
“Because of how unique my situation is, I didn’t come to the Club as a midfielder or forward, I came as a Rugby League player.”
“So wherever the coaches want me to play is where I will focus on in the off-season.”