This is an insult to our stars: Michael Voss
* Dan Koch
* From: The Australian
* June 01, 2010 12:00AM
BRISBANE Lions coach Michael Voss has launched a stunning attack at the AFL's role in the multi-million-dollar deals on offer to rugby league stars Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau, declaring them an insult to the current stars of the game.
Voss, one of the most respected voices in the game who was recently voted the player of the 2000s, said AFL players had every right to feel slighted by demands from the game's governing body regarding the need for them to "invest" in the expansion and development of Australia's indigenous code.
"I know when I came through as a player I was on the AFLPA executive and we were forever sold on the notion of the investment in the game the players have to make," Voss said.
"We would always put some of our interests behind because game development was seen as exceptionally important, but what we thought we were investing in was Auskick and under-10s, under-11s and under-12s.
"We didn't think we were investing in two players who could become the highest-paid players in the AFL. That seems ridiculous to me that we could do that.
"If I am in the AFLPA now I am looking at the next broadcast rights deal and saying we need a bit more money because looking at this situation I am thinking the game can clearly afford it."
Hunt had his first official day at his new home at the Gold Coast Football Club yesterday, meeting with the coaching staff and players and perusing the club's facilities.
And at a packed first media conference the tri-code pioneer was adamant there were many other players in the NRL capable of following in his footsteps.
At the top of that list is Hunt's former Broncos teammate Folau, who is weighing up an offer in excess of $1 million a year to join the Great Western Sydney AFL team.
In contrast to Hunt's versatility, Folau would be likely to fill only one of two positions: fullback or full-forward.
While conceding the public would measure the success of any convert by the number of games they played and the quality of their on-field output, GC17 boss Travis Auld said there was a bigger picture to consider.
"People are interested in him playing football," Auld said. "He is going to be playing football in front of a million people each week; that is what the AFL does and that is when people will judge him."
"Karmichael gets paid a very comparable amount to play football to other AFL footballers, but he also has a responsibility to promote our game and our football club and I think he is already doing that.
"Look who is here today: that is a pass. Look when we first made the announcement: that was a pass. Every time he has stood in front of a camera or got in front of a microphone has been a big tick for me.
"The way he approaches (things), he is very humble and we couldn't be more impressed."
That, however, didn't sit well with Voss. "I think it is good to think outside the box, but for me it is not so much about whether they make it or not," he said.
"I think (the real question) is, is it really worth paying that much to be able to get that. I think there is something not quite right about that.
"No one is saying we don't want the project to work. But the fact we are adjudicating the project based on how many articles we have in the paper as opposed to how many games he played . . . I don't get that."
While there was speculation yesterday that Folau would seek out Hunt for advice before making an announcement on his future later this week, Hunt conceded he could offer little given he has yet to even take part in a training session with his AFL team, let alone play a game.
As for his assessment of Folau's ability to make a success of whatever sport he chose to pursue, Hunt was much more confident.
"He definitely has the skill set to make the transition (to AFL)," Hunt said.
"Anything is possible. Izzy is such a talented individual and has shown he's got all the attributes to make the switch, but whether he makes the call or not to cross over is fully up to him."
